Wednesday, 19 Jan 2022

Written Answers Nos. 1415-1431

Health Services

Questions (1415)

Gino Kenny

Question:

1415. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if thighplasty is available as a treatment post weight loss via the HSE public system. [63167/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (1416)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1416. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a change of general practitioner in respect of an active medical card will be noted and changed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63169/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medicinal Products

Questions (1417, 1418, 1419)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1417. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63171/21]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1418. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when the stakeholder group to assess and strengthen the risk-reduction measures associated with sodium valproate will be established; the steps which have been taken to establish the inquiry; if the various stakeholders have been contacted to take part in the stakeholder group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63172/21]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1419. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when the four unfilled epilepsy nurse specialists which were agreed in 2018 for the implementation of the pregnancy prevention programme associated with sodium valproate will be recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63173/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1417, 1418 and 1419 together.

Details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland, and of the stakeholder group referred to by the Deputy, are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.

The HSE recently submitted a request to the Department for four epilepsy nurse specialist posts to assist in the implementation of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme related to the use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing age. Department officials will consider this request to determine whether funding can be made available in 2022; however, it is also open to the HSE to consider funding these posts from within existing resources.

Question No. 1418 answered with Question No. 1417.

Question No. 1419 answered with Question No. 1417.

Medicinal Products

Questions (1420)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1420. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when families impacted by sodium valproate will be able to access services which have been agreed under the community operations programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63174/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As these questions relate to operational matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.

Eating Disorders

Questions (1421)

Mark Ward

Question:

1421. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the €1.5 million put in place to develop three eating disorder teams raised during promised legislation on 14 December 2021; when they will be in place; the services that will be provided; the areas in which they will be located; if this €1.5 million will be sufficient for the delivery of three eating disorder teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63184/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Questions (1422, 1423)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1422. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated for a person (details supplied) under the disability services for 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63185/21]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1423. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the location of the funding that was allocated for a person (details supplied) under the disability services for 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63186/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1422 and 1423 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 1423 answered with Question No. 1422.

Hospital Services

Questions (1424)

Mark Ward

Question:

1424. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the cardiology department in Tallaght Hospital is operational for surgeries on a 24/7 basis; and if not, his plans to increase operating hours. [63189/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 Staff

Questions (1425)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

1425. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if there is a transfer mechanism for speech and language therapists working within the HSE who wish to move location given recruitment panels often specify that the applicant must not be currently employed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63193/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1426)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

1426. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all speech and language therapy vacancies in counties Mayo and Sligo; if therapists already employed by the HSE in another part of the State are permitted to apply for these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63194/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Question No. 1427 answered with Question No. 1345.

Care of the Elderly

Questions (1428)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

1428. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health when the proposed commission to examine care and supports for older persons will be established; if the views of groups such as groups (details supplied) that provide support to such persons will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63203/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

A key priority for 2022 is to deliver the Commission on Care. Currently the Commission is in the initial stages of planning and drafting the terms of reference.

Although in the early stages the longer term view is to examine current and future challenges associated with the provision of care in Ireland such as workforce-planning; financing, commissioning, and pricing of services; resource-allocation models; care-needs assessment across the continuum of care; care-coordination; regulation; the provision of personalized care; data-collection and performance-management; and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. The common challenge of ensuring the adequacy of service-provision in rural areas with low population-density could also be examined by the Commission.

The Commission on Care are new commitments, but the implementation of existing policies are all expected to contribute to and support the work of the commission and it is expected that various stakeholders will form part of the Commission on Care.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1429, 1601)

Alan Farrell

Question:

1429. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the vaccine certificate will be extended to persons who cannot accept the Covid-19 vaccine for legitimate medical reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63212/21]

James Lawless

Question:

1601. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in relation to vaccine certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1083/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1429 and 1601 together.

The current high level of COVID-19 infection poses a very substantial threat, particularly to those who are not fully protected through vaccination. Public health advice remains that those who are not fully vaccinated should avoid congregated indoor settings for their own and others safety.

The Department of Health is considering the issues arising for those people that cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons.

It is important to note that the number of people with an absolute contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination is very small. There are very few people who cannot receive one of the current vaccines due to pre-existing allergies or history of anaphylaxis. Further information, and details of the options available to those who have had a reaction to their first vaccine dose, is available in the Immunisation Guidelines 

www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf and in the document Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines for people with pre-existing allergic conditions www.rcpi.ie/news/releases/frequently-asked-questions-about-covid-19-vaccines-for-people-with-pre-existing-allergic-conditions/  

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1430)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1430. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the expiry dates of the 500,000 doses of a vaccine (details supplied) that were donated to Nigeria by Ireland through COVAX and which arrived in Nigeria on 29 November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63216/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority for Ireland and the EU. Ireland's first vaccine donation delivery through the COVAX donation facility took place in November with the delivery of almost 500,000 Janssen COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria.

It has recently been requested that, from 1 January 2022, donations to COVAX meet certain minimum standards including the recommendation for a minimum of 10 weeks shelf life when donated vaccines doses arrive in-country.

Officials in my Department engage extensively with relevant stakeholders to ensure donated vaccines distributed through COVAX have adequate shelf life to meet recipient country requirements.

Departmental Reports

Questions (1431)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1431. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the response of his Department to the findings of the Cost of Disability in Ireland research report; the plans that will be made in quarter one 2022 in response to these findings; if he will implement an all-Department response which will be timescaled and measured to ensure everyday costs are reduced for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63219/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Indecon Report on the Cost of Disability was commissioned by the Department of Employment and Social Protection. Please see the relevant press release here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b013c-government-publishes-the-cost-of-disability-research-report/

The report suggests the need for a multifaceted approach involving measures to support additional income, targeted grants, and better services or supports free of charge. The Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group (NDISSG), for its consideration and future monitoring of actions. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is a whole-of-government strategy, chaired by the Minister for Disability Services, that brings together relevant departments and agencies to develop coordinated policy and action on improving the lives of persons with disabilities. Members of the NDISSG have been asked to look at the implications of the report for their own areas of service delivery and the Report will be further discussed at the next meeting of the Strategy’s Steering Group.  

This Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. Our determination to improve services and supports for people with disabilities and their families is clear in our Programme for Government. The Health Budget 2022 provides an additional package of €115m (including €10m one-off Covid funding for specialist community-based disability services which are delivered or funded by the HSE, and builds on the €100m funding allocated in 2021 to enhance these specialist disability services.   

The Disability Capacity Review to 2032 sets out the Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements up to 2032.  This review has carefully drawn on best available evidence and information to estimate the scale of current outstanding need for HSE-funded disability services, and how the scale and shape of need is likely to evolve over the years to 2032. 

Work is underway on preparing an Action Plan for Disability Services 2022-2025, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to work towards implementing the Disability Capacity Review.