Written Answers Nos. 171-190
171. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details, including the names, grades and Department of members, as well as external representatives of, the recently established Food Reformulation Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62015/21]
View answer“A Roadmap for Food Product Reformulation in Ireland” was launched on 3rd December 2021 by Minister Donnelly and myself. The establishment of a Food Reformulation Task Force to implement the Roadmap was also announced. The publication of the Reformulation Roadmap fulfils a key element of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 and of the Sláintecare Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025. It was prepared by the Reformulation Sub-Group of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG).
As stated in the Roadmap, the Food Reformulation Task Force will be situated within the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The position of Task Force Lead has been advertised and further recruitment will follow. As also stated in the Roadmap, the Task Force will be overseen by an Oversight and Monitoring Group chaired by the Principal Officer of the Health and Wellbeing Programme, Department of Health, and will include representatives of the Department, FSAI and OPIOG.
172. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on Get Ireland Active - the National Physical Activity Plan; the status of the review of the policy; when a successor will be put in place; the process for putting a new policy together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62016/21]
View answerThe promotion of physical activity has been a priority for my Department in the context of the implementation of Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025, and, more recently, the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan.
This was evidenced by the publication of Get Ireland Active - the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP); 2016-2020 (now extended to 2022). The National Sports Policy (NSP) was published by our colleagues in DTCAGSM (then DTTAS), in 2018. The two policies are being implemented in co-ordination, with Healthy Ireland represented on the Sports Leadership Group and DTCAGSM co-chairing the NPAP Implementation Group.
NPAP implementation is overseen by a cross-sectoral Implementation Group co-chaired by the Departments of Health and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Departments of Education (DE), Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth (DCEDIY), Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH), and Rural & Community Development (DRCD) are also represented, along with Sport Ireland, the HSE, the Federation of Irish Sport, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and the academic sector. The Sports Leadership Group, chaired by Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers T.D., also has cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary representation.
The NPAP contains 60 actions intended to promote increased physical activity levels across the population, divided into 8 Action Areas. Key initiatives underway include support for the Active School Flag programme, and key initiatives, supported by Healthy Ireland through Sport Ireland, to support walking, running, cycling, swimming, outdoor recreation and collaboration with the research sector through Ireland's Physical Activity Research Collaboration (iPARC).
Implementation of the current Physical Activity Plan was to be reviewed in 2020; however, this was delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The policy has been extended to end 2022. Work has now begun on the review, with a number of stakeholder consultations held in recent weeks. The findings from these meetings and from the external review will inform the future direction of the next iteration of the NPAP.
Independent expertise, to conduct an impartial review of the progress made in implementation of the Plan, has been sought through a standard procurement process, in collaboration with the Office of Government Procurement. This process is almost complete and it is envisaged that the reviewers will commence work in Q1, 2022.
The external reviewers will develop, finalise and present a draft report to the National Physical Activity Implementation Group, which will include the review of implementation, analysis of policy and research materials and national and international guidelines and stakeholder feedback, and will inform the development of the next phase of the NPAP, including measurable actions. Once complete, the Review Report will be published on the Department's website.
173. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on actions arising from Action 2.1 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland the Obesity Policy and Action Plan since the stakeholder forum was held on 21 November 2018; the steps that are being taken by the physical activity group and the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group to progress this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62017/21]
View answerConnect, Collaborate, Create; Co-Designing Healthier Communities, A Healthy Ireland Stakeholder Forum on the Built Environment, was held on November 21st 2018, in the National Indoor Arena. The Forum was managed by the Departments of Health, Transport Tourism and Sport (DTTAS, now DTCAGSM) and Housing Planning and Local Government (now DHLGH) and Sport Ireland.
Both the National Physical Activity Plan Implementation Group (NPAP IG) and the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) were represented at the Forum, which brought together those with responsibility for planning and developing public spaces with those who have expertise regarding the impacts of the built and natural environments on health and wellbeing, sport and physical activity, obesity and mental health, with the objective of examining how our physical environment can impact on health and wellbeing.
Progress has been made in a variety of different areas since the Forum was held, and it is envisaged that this progress will continue. These developments include:
- A number of meetings, involving representatives of DHealth, DTTAS and DHPLG were held, following the Forum in 2019, to discuss the outcomes and the best ways of progressing these.
- The Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, originally published in 2013, was updated in 2019, accompanied by additional advice and a new website, www.dmurs.ie
- Implementation of the objectives of the NPF is supported by a €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development fund (URDF) in the period to 2027. There were 87 successful applications supported in Round 1 of the Fund.
- An inter-Departmental Advisory Group, Town Centre First, was established by DHLGH in late 2020; the NPAP Implementation Group is represented by the Department of Health co-Chair.
- The Department of Rural and Community Development approved funding of €10.2 million for 153 projects under the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme towards the development of trails, walkways, cycleways, greenways, blueways and mountain access routes.
- Sport Ireland supported the development of Blueways (recreation on or near water) in RoI and NI, through the Blueway Partnership in 2019
- Sport Ireland carried out 247 walking and cycling trail assessments and inspections in 2019, and also delivered 7 training courses aimed at supporting the development of walking and cycling infrastructure countrywide;
- Sport Ireland published a number of guidelines in 2019, including the Great Outdoors – An Accessibility Guideline for Outdoor Areas in collaboration with the Irish Wheelchair Association and CARA, and the revised and updated Criteria for Walking Trail Development in Ireland in 2019.
- Sport Ireland, co-funded by Healthy Ireland, are progressing the development of a National Amenities Database, with will allow people to identify outdoor recreational amenities in their areas. The Trails Database is currently accessible, with full launch planned for 2023.
- In round three of the Healthy Ireland Fund a theme, ‘Spaces and Places for Health and Wellbeing’ was included for Local Community Development Committees of Local Authorities to put forward activities. Activities including the implementation of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland’s ‘Town and Village Toolkit’ were supported by the fund under this theme.
- As part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, a Community Enhancement Fund of €4.75m was made available for projects to be carried out in the 19 Communities. Some of the funded projects include improvements to make walkways and trails more accessible, outdoor exercise equipment and play areas for children.
Further progress in this area will be pursued in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government, and through the reviews of the National Physical Activity Plan and the Obesity Policy and Action Plan.
Implementation of the current Physical Activity Plan was to be reviewed in 2020; however, this was delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The policy has been extended to end 2022. Work has now begun on the review, with a number of stakeholder consultations held in recent weeks. The findings from these meetings and from the external review will inform the future direction of the next iteration of the NPAP. The Review of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan will proceed upon the receipt of an evaluation of the OPAP being carried out by the Centre for Health and Diet Research, UCC, which is expected in the coming weeks.
174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way his Department has deployed the additional €10 million in funding for auxiliary mental health announced in February 2021 as part of COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead; the way his Department has deployed the €10 million in once off funding for COVID-19 announced as part of Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62022/21]
View answerIn February 2021, €10 million in once-off funding as part of Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead, aimed at increasing mental health supports in response to the pandemic, was announced. Proposals for initiatives under the funding have been finalised and preparatory work has commenced. Funding will be released to the HSE in January 2022. Initiatives will include enhanced signposting and access to existing mental health services and supports, initiatives for children, young people and students, and additional psychosocial responses, recognising that people will require varying levels of support.
On Budget Day 2022 an additional €10 million for mental health services was announced by Minister McGrath. The funding was provided as a once-off measure.
To ensure that as many individuals as possible benefit from this funding, over €7 million will be allocated to improve the experiences of people using mental health inpatient units, day centres, community mental health teams and community residences in every community across the country. Funding will be used to improve the physical environments of some centres and enhance the range of social and therapeutic supports available.
As part of this funding, €1.8 million will be made available to mental health services for the replacement of fleet with green or hybrid vehicles in every Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO).
To ensure that the fund will impact on particular groups of individuals and specific areas of mental health service delivery, over €1 million has been allocated to enhance services and supports in areas such perinatal mental health, men’s mental health, trauma informed care, ethnic minorities, including the Traveller and Roma communities, eating disorders and dual diagnosis.
Areas of investment at CHO level include, for example, the allocation of €150,000 to improve and enhance acute inpatient mental health care in CHO 5; €500,000 for mental health day services provision in the East Cork area; and €170,000 for the continued operation of the mental health crisis café in Galway.
Almost €3 million will be made available to the community and voluntary sector, including €1 million in funding for the continued delivery of free counselling sessions through MyMind, who deliver support in over 15 different languages to people nationwide. This is particularly important given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Ireland’s population.
Further funding of €1 million will be distributed by Mental Health Ireland through their extensive network of grassroots mental health organisations in local communities nationwide. A call for applications to avail of such funding will be advertised shortly by Mental Health Ireland.
175. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed within the health service, by categories (details supplied), for the year ending 31 December, in each of the years 2014 to 2020 and at 30 October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62029/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
176. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the projected timeline of the transfer from University Maternity Hospital Limerick to the main University Hospital Limerick campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62035/21]
View answer177. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital costs associated with the transfer from University Maternity Hospital Limerick to the main University Hospital Limerick campus. [62036/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
In line with best international practice, it is Government policy, as re-iterated in the National Maternity Strategy, that the remaining standalone maternity hospitals, including the University Maternity Hospital Limerick, should be co-located with adult acute hospitals. This policy commitment is re-stated in the National Development Plan 2021-2030. In addition, in the context of promoting women’s health, the Programme for Government commits to progress the planning, tender and design stages for the relocation of the University Maternity Hospital Limerick to University Hospital Limerick.
The HSE’s Capital Plan 2021 indicates that the project brief for the University Maternity Hospital Limerick relocation is being developed. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
178. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the maternity services that are offered in Ennis General Hospital; and the days of the week and the times these services are available. [62037/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
179. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the number of maternity services through primary centres when they are developed across the county. [62038/21]
View answerAs this is a operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
180. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the high trolley numbers at University Hospital Limerick will impact capacity; the reason for approving the transfer of maternity functions to a location that is already at over capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62039/21]
View answerIt is acknowledged that acute bed capacity shortages in the Mid-West are a major contributor to overcrowding at the ED in UHL. As the Deputy will be aware, €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure were provided nationally as part of the Winter Plan and Budget 2021 to fund additional beds on a permanent basis in our acute hospitals. As part of this, 132 beds were opened in the UL Hospital Group, with 98 of these new beds opened in UHL. The provision of these beds over the past year has been a significant step in addressing the capacity issue in the Mid West.
This included a 24 single-room bed block which functions as dedicated Haematology Oncology Unit, and a temporary 14-bed single room block designated for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients. These blocks were initiated in May 2020 under the National Action Plan in Response to COVID-19.
This also included the 60-bed modular ward block, which became operational in November 2020 and which was established to provide a rapid build interim solution to begin to address the bed capacity issue at UHL and improve patient flow. The €19.5m four-storey ward block provides modern, single-room inpatient accommodation. As well as an improved experience for patients in terms of comfort, privacy, and dignity; it allows greater isolation of patients and improved infection prevention and control capabilities. The 60-bed block comprises four stories, with three inpatient wards of 20 single rooms each.
In addition, the development of the new 4-storey, 96 single bed acute inpatient ward block extension at University Hospital Limerick has full planning permission, fire certification and is fully designed. The project is currently out to tender with tenders due to be returned in late January 2022. The tenders received will then be evaluated, and it is anticipated that the works contract will be awarded in early Quarter 2 2022 subject to HSE Board approval and funding availability.
The HSE Winter Preparedness Plan for Winter 21/22 was published on the 15th November. The Plan centres on three core objectives: ED avoidance, patient flow and hospital egress to mitigate the expected challenges in providing emergency care this winter while also continuing to respond to Covid 19.
The Plan recognises that a whole system response is required and outlines how the HSE proposes to manage these challenges across primary, community and acute care including measures to allow the public system to access private healthcare capacity.
This plan endorses a home first approach, enabling and facilitating patients to receive the most appropriate care in their own homes and communities.
In line with best international practice, it is Government policy, as re-iterated in the National Maternity Strategy and the National Development Plan 2021-2030, that the remaining standalone maternity hospitals, including the University Limerick Maternity Hospital (UMHL), should be co-located with adult acute hospitals. In addition, in the context of promoting women’s health, the Programme for Government commits to progress the planning, tender and design stages for the relocation of UMHL to University Hospital Limerick. Co-location of maternity services with adult services provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services should the need arise. The availability of these services helps ensure the delivery of an optimum, safe service, particularly for high-risk mothers and babies.
181. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department is taking to tackle the waiting list for a child to be placed with a primary care paediatric occupational therapist (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62046/21]
View answerThe Department of Health and I are committed to the continued development of primary care services in Kildare and indeed across the country.
In Budget 2022, an additional €15m was provided for the Enhanced Community Care programme, bringing the total allocated to more than €195m. Funding under the ECC programme has enabled over 720 staff to be onboarded to primary and community services so far this year, and the additional monies provided for 2022 will allow for further significant recruitment. This expansion in primary care capacity is intended to improve access to services for those that need them.
As the particular case raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly, as soon as possible.
182. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of female prisoners who were awaiting transfer for an inpatient psychiatric placement over the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62055/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
183. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners allocated to medical card holders and general practitioner card holders following a refusal of three general practitioners to register them, by CHO area, in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62061/21]
View answer184. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners allocated to non-medical card holders by the public health system following a refusal of three general practitioners to register them, by CHO area, in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62062/21]
View answer185. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners allocated to children and infants following a refusal of three general practitioners to register them, by CHO area, in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62063/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 185, inclusive, together.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Certain groups, including all those under 6 years of age and those over 70 years of age, are automatically entitled to a GP visit card.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list. Likewise, a parent on behalf of a child GMS patient who experiences difficulty in finding a GP that will accept their child as a patient can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit also.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. The HSE has no role in assigning private patients to a GP practice.
In relation to the number of GPs allocated to medical card and GP visit card patients, and children and infants following three refusals, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
186. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the HSE can refer patients with specific eating disorders to a service (details supplied); the procedure for public patients to access this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62089/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
187. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the crisis in home care in that packages are being approved but the care is not being provided given the lack of home care workers; the steps he will take to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62091/21]
View answerI am, along with Government as a whole, committed to the development of improved community-based services, shifting care to the home, and offering greater choice for older people. We have prioritised home support services through an additional investment of €150 million in 2021, which has been maintained under Budget 2022. The HSE National Service Plan for 2021 set a target to provide 24 million hours of home support, which is an increase of 5 million on last year. It is estimated that by the end of October some 17 million hours had been provided to over 54,000 people. This is about 2.5 million more hours compared to the same period last year. Significant inroads have been achieved in reducing waiting lists for funding approval for new or additional service, reducing the numbers of people waiting for funding approval from over 7,800 in January 2020 to just under 400 by the end of September 2021. This has been achieved through a combination of validation of the waiting list and increased funding.However, there can be delays between the approval of funding and the actual delivery of home support hours, and the numbers of people in this category have increased steadily this year. This is primarily due to staff capacity issues. At the end of September, there were 4,933 people assessed and waiting for a carer to become available, whereas in January 2020 there were about 1,300 people in this category. Certain areas that are experiencing increased pressures due to staff availability are particularly affected. Despite the increase, it is important to note that the total number of people waiting for home support across both categories has reduced from over 9,000 at the start of 2020 to approximately 5,300 at the end of September 2021. The HSE is aware that there are increasing capacity issues across both direct and indirect provision and it continues to advertise on an ongoing basis for Health Care Assistants and recruits as many suitable candidates, where possible. The HSE conducts its recruitment through a variety of channels both locally and nationally. Due to the nature of Healthcare Support Assistant posts, this recruitment is normally conducted at a very local level and is ongoing continually across the HSE. Approved Home Support Providers also continue to recruit home support workers. I am committed to establishing a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group. The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes. Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, training, career development, and the sustainable employment of home care workers into the future.
A ‘call for submissions’ was issued to relevant national stakeholders on 3rd December 2021, with a closing date for receipt of submissions of 22nd December 2021. The Department's project team will analyse submissions received to inform the setting up of the Group in early 2022.
188. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages awarded in each of the counties in the CHO2 area; and the number of these approved packages in which care is not currently being provided. [62092/21]
View answer189. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages awarded by county; and the number of these approved packages in which care is not currently being provided. [62093/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
190. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to make access to QQI level 5 healthcare support as affordable and easy as possible for participants, given the major lack of home care workers. [62094/21]
View answerThe National Skills Infrastructure provides a robust structure for engagement with sectors on areas of identified skills needs. There are a range of programmes in place to support the home care sector which are delivered across the further education and training sector.
There are currently 89 courses leading to a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Level 5 Certificate for Healthcare Assistants available nationally through the 16 Education and Training Boards, with 98 courses due to be delivered nationally in 2022. Over 12,735 learners gained the QQI Level 5 qualification during 2020.
The majority of further education and training provision is free of charge or is heavily subsidised. However, learners may be required to pay a ‘course fee’ to cover course expenses such as books, uniforms, student services, professional registration fees and exam fees. These fees are set at local level.
The Governments Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 acknowledges that a significant area of growing skills demand is in the area of healthcare.
The HSE have committed as part of the Governments Action Plan for Apprenticeship to develop a public sector National Framework of Qualification QQI level 5 apprenticeship for the occupation of Healthcare Assistant.
Apprenticeship, in common with other education and training options, can support the widening of a recruitment base, retention of staff and deliver the skills needed once a learner is available and willing to work towards a qualification and the associated work-ready competency which apprenticeship delivers.
I am also committed to establishing a Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group and work led by a dedicated project team in the Department of Health, is currently underway.
The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes. Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, training, and the career development of home support and nursing home workers into the future.
Without pre-empting the work of the Group, this may include consideration of access to the QQI Level 5 qualification.
A ‘call for submissions’ issued to relevant national stakeholders on 3rd December 2021, with a closing date for receipt of submissions of 22nd December 2021. The Department's project team will analyse submissions received to inform the setting up of the Group in early 2022.
