Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1346. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62957/21]
View answerHealth Services
Questions (1346)
Written 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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1347)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1347. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if a vaccine (details supplied) will be made available in Ireland; and if so, when this will be the case. [62959/21]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. Ireland has entered into seven Advance Purchase Agreements (APAs), subject to regulatory approval, for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccine from a range of manufacturers including Valneva.
Five vaccines have been authorised by the EU to date; Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Nuvaxovid (Novavax) and Janssen. A number of vaccine candidates are currently under rolling review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) including VLA2001 (Valneva), CVnCoV (CureVac) and Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac).
When medicines are under rolling review, EMA’s human medicines committee CHMP evaluates clinical data as soon as these become available until it decides there is enough evidence for the manufacturer to apply for market authorisation.
Health Services
Questions (1348)
David Cullinane
Question:1348. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to paediatric palliative care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62960/21]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1349)
Niamh Smyth
Question:1349. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if assistance will be provided in relation to this matter given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62962/21]
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 (1350)
David Cullinane
Question:1350. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide paediatric palliative care for the south-east region; his plans to recruit a full-time paediatric palliative consultant in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62964/21]
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 Staff
Questions (1351)
Martin Browne
Question:1351. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time consultant maxillofacial surgeons attached to Nenagh Hospital in 2020 and 2021; and if this number will be increased. [62969/21]
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 Staff
Questions (1352)
Martin Browne
Question:1352. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time consultant paediatric cardiologists at University Hospital Limerick in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [62970/21]
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 Services
Questions (1353)
Mark Ward
Question:1353. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the removal of night-time confinement in the National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62976/21]
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 (1354)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:1354. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on respiratory sleep therapy services as defined in the HSE National Drawdown Framework including the provision of CPAP devices by HSE area in each of the years 2017 to 2021. [62977/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have referred this to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as it possible.
Health Services
Questions (1355)
Mattie McGrath
Question:1355. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if due cognisance was given to the implications of the removal of the words committing medical practitioners to make every effort to preserve the life of the baby when amending section 48 the 8th Edition of the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners published by the Medical Council as it relates to informing medical practitioners’ actions when dealing with cases in which babies survived abortions and were born alive. [62983/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners is developed and published by the Medical Council, in line with current legislation.
The development of professional and clinical guidelines on any medical issue, including on termination of pregnancy, is the responsibility of the professional groups concerned.
The Deputy can be assured that medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice.
Health Services
Questions (1356)
Mattie McGrath
Question:1356. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way information arising from calls to the HSE MyOptions service is recorded; the way records are kept by the counsellors; and the way this information is stored. [62984/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
Health Services
Questions (1357)
Mattie McGrath
Question:1357. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the processes followed in relation to the disposal and internment of human remains arising from the operation of the Health (Regulation of the Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. [62985/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
Health Strategies
Questions (1358)
John Lahart
Question:1358. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his views on the report recently launched by Tallaght drugs and alcohol task force with regard to emerging trends in relation to drugs and crack cocaine in particular. [62987/21]
View answerWritten answers
The report published by the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force highlights the problems relating to drug use in Tallaght, including crack cocaine. Similar issues affect other disadvantaged communities.
The report indicates that crack cocaine is a multi-dimensional problem that reflects the social determinants of drug use in disadvantaged communities, linked to unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion. It is also an inter-generational issue, as some families and children are caught in a cycle of parental drug use, addiction, trauma, and hidden harm. The problem requires an inter-agency response, involving An Garda Síochána, the education and youth services, the HSE, local development agencies and community organisations.
Two community projects, Jadd and Carp, continue to provide important drug and alcohol services for residents in the locality, including those who use crack cocaine. The HSE provides over €500,000 per annum to support these services.
I recently announced funding of €2m to enhance access to and the provision of community-based drug and alcohol services on a population needs basis. This funding will support the work of drug and alcohol task forces. €240,000 will be allocated to CHO 7 (which includes Tallaght and south-west Dublin).
On 14 January I announced €850,000 in recurring funding for an HSE-led initiative to expand harm reduction responses to high-risk drug use, such as cocaine and crack cocaine, at national level and in local communities. The funding will support models of best practice in cocaine treatment, including the development of training programmes for addiction service staff nationally. It will also establish targeted interventions in disadvantaged communities worst affected by cocaine and ‘crack’ cocaine.
I would encourage the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force to engage with HSE addiction services in CHO 7 on these new funding initiatives.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1359)
David Cullinane
Question:1359. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to press releases from NPHET; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62989/21]
View answerWritten answers
The significant IT disruption to all HSE IT systems, including the General Register Office (GRO), caused by the cyberattack earlier this year, reduced the capacity of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to notify COVID-19 data and resulted in a change to the reporting of epidemiological information. As a result, my Department has not been issuing NPHET press statements regularly on weekends but continue to share the daily figures on our Twitter account at: twitter.com/roinnslainte.
While there were no press releases published on the 4th and 5th December 2021, the information was made available on my Department's Twitter account. The release from Saturday the 27th November in relation to the reporting of the new variant SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) in Europe is available online.
Hospital Equipment
Questions (1360)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:1360. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if an MRI scanner can be purchased for Roscommon University Hospital to facilitate the midlands thus avoiding patients having to travel to Ballinasloe and Galway for their MRI scans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62993/21]
View answerWritten answers
Saolta Hospital Group advise that there are no current plans to provide an MRI scanner at Roscommon University Hospital. The hospital has a Service Level Agreement for the provision of MRIs with a private provider, MRI Alliance, who are based in Ballinsaloe.
MRI Alliance provide an average of 35 MRI scans each month to patients referred to, or by, Roscommon University Hospital. There are currently no patients who are classed as Priority 1 (urgent) or Priority 2 (semi-urgent) awaiting an MRI scan.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (1361, 1488, 1512)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:1361. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if refunds are available for persons who obtained antigen and PCR tests for travel which were then not needed as a result of the postponement of this requirement for entry to Ireland from 3 December to 5 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63000/21]
View answer
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1488. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a process will be put in place for Irish citizens who had paid for PCR and antigen tests in order to comply with the newly announced travel recommendations that a PCR or antigen test would be required for all passengers on inward travel to Ireland only for the measures to be deferred for 48 hours which has left a large number of citizens out of pocket unnecessarily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63386/21]
View answer
Michael Collins
Question:1512. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding PCR testing to enter Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63468/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1361, 1488 and 1512 together.
Temporary pre-departure test requirements for all overseas passengers to Ireland were in place from 5th of December 2021 to 5th of January 2022 as part of the response to the emergence of the Omicron variant.
There is no facility in place to pay costs for tests. In making regulations to introduce these testing requirements, regard was given to the need for balance between the importance of the measure to protect public health and providing sufficient advance notice so that travellers could be aware of a new legal requirement and to allow time to arrange testing before travel.
Since 6th January, travellers to Ireland from overseas are required to hold either accepted proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of arrival to the State.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (1362)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:1362. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he has examined the option of self-administered antigen tests and video monitored tests by medically trained staff, as is available in other countries, as an acceptable test for international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63001/21]
View answerWritten answers
Since 6 January 2022, international passengers to Ireland with an accepted proof of vaccination, or an accepted proof of recovery from COVID-19 do not have to show an additional pre-departure Covid test result. Passengers without proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 are required evidence of a negative / not-detected PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arriving in Ireland.
Under the current travel regulations, rapid antigen tests, including those self-administered video monitored, are not accepted for the purposes of travel to Ireland. All travel requirements are kept under close consideration in light of the epidemiological circumstances.