Holly Cairns
Question:1331. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the number of same-sex couples who have been reunified under section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 since its enactment. [2617/22]
View answerInternational Protection
Questions (1331)
Written answers
Records are not ordinarily maintained by my Department in a format that identifies whether or not an applicant for family reunification is in a same-sex marriage. However, following a manual search of family reunification records, I can confirm that no application has been identified where a same-sex couple has been approved for family reunification under Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015.
Under the provisions of the 2015 Act, to qualify, any couple must have been in a subsisting marriage or civil partnership prior to the date of the application for family reunification.
There is no entitlement under the 2015 Act for De-facto partnerships (same sex or otherwise); however, my Department's Non-EEA Policy Document on Family Reunification does provide options for such applications.
Health Strategies
Questions (1332)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:1332. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health when he expects the citizens’ assembly on drugs to convene. [2470/22]
View answerWritten answers
Consideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drugs use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year. An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly. This report, published in July 2021, will assist in decisions on future Assemblies use of virtual meetings.
By their very nature, citizens assemblies require large gatherings to be truly effective. Therefore, there has been an unavoidable delay in the establishment of the next citizens' assembly due to public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health continues to liaise with the Department of the Taoiseach on the timing and format of the proposed citizen assembly on drug use. It is envisaged that the remaining citizen assembly, including the citizen assembly on drug use, will be established after the Dublin mayor citizens' assembly has completed its work. The specific timing of each assembly has yet to be confirmed.
The Department of Health's approach to the citizen assembly on drugs use will be informed by the Government's health-led approach to people who use drugs, as outlined in the national drugs strategy. An important component of the health-led approach is the Health Diversion Programme. The Health Diversion Programme offers compassion, not punishment, to people who use drugs and connects them with health services and provides a pathway to recovery, thereby avoiding a criminal conviction. As outlined in the Programme for Government, the programme will be reviewed after the first full year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of it aims and to make any necessary changes. This review could usefully inform the deliberations of the citizen's assembly on drug use.
A strategic priority for the implementation of the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 is to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. This will include the exchange of best practice with EU member states, as part of the EU Drugs Strategy 2021 – 2025.
I believe that a citizen's assembly could usefully consider the learnings from the health diversion programme and other similar alternatives to coercive sanctions. It could also inform the development of the next national drugs strategy, to replace the existing strategy in 2025
Health Service Executive
Questions (1333)
Gino Kenny
Question:1333. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will conduct a review of service and staffing levels across the health service and ensure that extra permanent posts are sanctioned to ensure that the service can increase its capacity on a permanent basis to deal with non-Covid-19 care and the almost one million persons on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2628/22]
View answerWritten answers
Budget 2021 and Budget 2022 provided funding for a large permanent expansion of the workforce, both for the shorter-term needs brought on by COVID-19 and the long-term needs to build capacity to deliver healthcare needs for the population . A total of 11,447 WTE have been hired between January 2020 to November 2021. These years have seen the largest and second largest annual increases in the workforce since the foundation of the HSE. Funding will continue to be provided for the staffing requirements of the health service and staffing increases will be determined by the healthcare delivery needs of the service areas providing care.
In addition to this, the Department of Health is receiving technical support under the European Commission Technical Support Instrument (TSI) 2021 to develop a Health and Social Care Workforce Planning Strategy and Workforce Planning Projection Model based on international best practice. The project will be delivered by the Strategic Workforce Planning Unit in the Department of Health in the context of implementation of health service reforms and in collaboration with other DoH colleagues, HSE, and other Government Departments. Delivery of this project is expected to take 20 months from the commencement of the project in January 2022.
In terms of capacity building to address waiting lists, €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure were provided nationally as part of the Winter Plan and Budget 2021 to fund an additional 1,146 beds on a permanent basis in our acute hospitals. A total of 813 additional acute and 73 sub-acute beds have opened since 1 January 2020. An additional 411 acute beds are scheduled to open in 2022, of which 167 are due to open in quarter 1.
In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are working on initiating a comprehensive reform programme that will deliver a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This work will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and will include representatives from the HSE and NTPF. A 2022 Waiting List Action Plan is also under development and will form the first stage of the Multi Annual Waiting List Plan.
Health Services
Questions (1334)
Gino Kenny
Question:1334. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will conduct a review of service and staffing levels across the mental health service and ensure that extra services and extra permanent posts are sanctioned to ensure that the mental health service can increase its capacity on a permanent basis to deal with the mental health crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1335)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:1335. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for orthopaedic treatment nationally; the average waiting for orthopaedic treatment for County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62937/21]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
At present the acute hospital system is prioritising unscheduled Covid-19 care and urgent time-sensitive work. The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
The NTPF has advised that, the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
Inpatient Orthopaedic/Paed Orthopaedic Average as of 23/12/2021
|
Co. Mayo |
Nos. |
|
Mean |
378 |
|
Median |
168 |
|
National |
|
|
Mean |
268 |
|
Median |
131 |
Outpatient Orthopaedic/Paed Orthopaedic Average as of 23/12/2021
|
Co. Mayo |
Nos. |
|
Mean |
326 |
|
Median |
247 |
|
National |
|
|
Mean |
346 |
|
Median |
246 |
Dental Services
Questions (1336)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:1336. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in the dental treatment services scheme by LHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62938/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1337)
John Brady
Question:1337. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no walk-in service for the civil registration service in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62939/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1338)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:1338. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the wait time for an MRI scan for a person (details supplied) who has already been waiting 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62940/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (1339)
Catherine Connolly
Question:1339. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Galway who have been approved for the home support service but are still on the waiting list; the number waiting over 6, 12, 18 and 24 months respectively; the longest period of time a person has been waiting; the average length of time that persons have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62941/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (1340)
Catherine Connolly
Question:1340. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each CHO who have been approved for the home support service but are still on the waiting list; the number waiting over 6, 12, 18 and 24 months respectively; the longest period of time a person has been waiting; the average length of time that persons have been waiting in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62942/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (1341)
Catherine Connolly
Question:1341. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of homecare hours applied for by CHO2 in each of the past five years; the number of homecare hours granted in CHO2 over each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62943/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (1342)
Catherine Connolly
Question:1342. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of homecare hours applied for in County Galway over each of the past five years; the number of homecare hours granted in County Galway over each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62944/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Legal Services
Questions (1343)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:1343. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of legal cases his Department faced in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; the amount spent in settlements, legal costs and awards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62947/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (1344)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:1344. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when medical card holders will be entitled to dental care cover for those in need of urgent care as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62954/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1345, 1427)
Ivana Bacik
Question:1345. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the status of phase two of the model of care for infertility as promised in the Programme for Government; and the plans that are in place to alleviate the financial burden for persons undergoing treatments such as IVF. [62955/21]
View answer
Patricia Ryan
Question:1427. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the progress being made with the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF in the public health system; when these services will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63202/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1345 and 1427 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, a commitment to “introduce a publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment” is included in the Programme for Government. The model of care for infertility was developed by my officials in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme in order to ensure that infertility issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
This model of care comprises three stages, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs), extending into secondary care (i.e., Regional Fertility Hubs) and then, where necessary, tertiary care (i.e., IVF and other advanced assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments), with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.
Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care has involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs within maternity networks, in order to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with infertility issues at this level of intervention. The completion of Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care, envisaged before the end of this year, will result in operational Regional Fertility Hubs in each of the six Hospital Groups across the country.
Phase Two of the roll-out will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system, but will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country, required resources have been allocated and the AHR legislation commenced.
Publication of the Bill to regulate the area of AHR is a priority for the Government and officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General are continuing to engage intensively in order to finalise this legislation, which encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction. I expect to be in a position to bring a Memorandum to Government seeking approval to publish the Bill in the coming weeks.
While advanced AHR treatment, such as IVF, is not currently funded by the Irish public health service, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. Given the costs associated with certain fertility medicines, I understand that these schemes can have a material impact on the total cost of AHR treatment for individuals who avail of them.
In addition, there is other support available in that patients who access IVF, or other advanced AHR treatment, privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme.
Nevertheless, my Department and the Government is fully committed, through the full implementation of the model of care for infertility, to ensuring that patients always receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the public health system. The underlying aim of the policy to provide a model of funding for AHR, within the broader AHR regulatory framework, is to improve accessibility to AHR treatments, while at the same time embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources.