Written Answers Nos. 1714-1734
1714. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 485 of 16 November 2021, the names of the long-stay facilities that service users under the care of the Midleton, Youghal and Cobh, Glenville adult mental health teams may have been referred to for respite or long-stay placements since February 2021. [1407/22]
View answer1715. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if the clinical directors of the west Cork, south Lee and north Cork adult mental health services have agreed with senior management to accept referrals of service users under the care of the Midleton, Youghal and Cobh, Glenville adult mental health teams for long-stay or respite placements in the community residences attached to their local catchment areas into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1408/22]
View answer1717. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the reasons Carrigaline, County Cork was chosen as a site for a new community mental health residence in 2021 by Cork, Kerry mental health management over other towns such as Cobh, Carrigtwohill, Midleton or Youghal; the way this can be reconciled with a claim by an executive clinical director made at a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Health that the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton will not be replaced due to declining numbers of service users in County Cork requiring 24-hour staffed residential provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1410/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1714, 1715 and 1717 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1716. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the details of the procurement process for a community mental health residence (details supplied) in County Cork ; if the property was purchased on the open market; if not, if it was purchased through another process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1409/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
1718. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the staff to service user ratio across each 24-hour staffed mental health facility, continuing care and community residences and high-support hostels in CHO4. [1411/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1719. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the population size that will be served by a new community adult mental health rehabilitation team in County Cork; the timeframe for the appointment of team members; the details of the recruitment processes underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1412/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1720. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the way that serious concerns expressed by his Department in relation to the fire safety in the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton can be reconciled with assurances given to the public and families that the residents are not in danger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1413/22]
View answer1721. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the remaining works that are needed to be carried out to bring the Owenacurra Centre, Middleton premises up to an acceptable fire safety standard; the reasons these works have not been completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1414/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1720 and 1721 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1722. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the management structure that applies to the governance of unit 3, St. Stephen's Hospital, Glanmire, County Cork. [1415/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1723. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the details of the efforts already undertaken by the HSE towards the recruitment of a medical officer to St. Francis Welfare Home, Fermoy, County Cork to facilitate the reopening of respite services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1416/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1724. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he projects further reductions in 24-hour staffed residential provision for Cork mental health service users in the next five to ten years as per the arguments put forward at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Health on 14 December 2021 in relation to the closure of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, County Cork which according to HSE management are consistent with A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1417/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1725. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if it is his Department or the Revenue Commissioners that manages the EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1424/22]
View answer1790. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the management of EU Digital COVID Certificates is being managed by the Revenue Commissioners rather than the Department of Health; the reason a PPS number is required for receipt of a recovery certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1836/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1725 and 1790 together.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is proof that you have either been vaccinated against COVID-19 or received a negative COVID-19 test result or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months.
My Department has worked collaboratively with partners across Government, including the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, to ensure that EU Digital COVID Certificates are easily accessible to support individual's right of freedom of movement across the EU.
All information requested for the processing and issuing of a certificate is the minimum amount required.
1726. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of suicides in Ireland in each of the years 2018 to 2021, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1426/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1727. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of suicide resource officers employed by the HSE; the number of vacant posts; the length of time these posts have been vacant; when they will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1427/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1728. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of suicide resource officers employed by the HSE in counties Louth and Meath; the number of vacant posts; the length of time these posts have been vacant; when they will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1428/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1729. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if advice or assistance will be provided in relation to the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1429/22]
View answerThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation allows for the issuing of certificates based on vaccination to citizens vaccinated in a third country provided that the issuing Member State has been provided with reliable proof of vaccination.
Ireland has developed an EU Digital COVID Certificate Third Country portal which is currently accessible to all eligible Irish passport holders vaccinated partially or completely outside of the EU. This portal is available at www.covidcertificateportal.gov.ie
This portal will accept applications from individuals who are 18 years of age and older, hold a valid Irish passport, and a reliable proof of vaccination for a vaccine type currently authorised for use in Ireland.
1730. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the additional measures he plans to implement in 2022 to expand general practitioner capacity and otherwise assist the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1431/22]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
Several efforts to increase the number of practicing GPs have been undertaken in recent years. The number of entrants to GP training has increased from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with large increases made in recent years. Further increases are expected as responsibility for training has transferred from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners. Changes have been made to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to facilitate more flexible/shared GMS contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme. An enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was also introduced.
Recent developments in relation to general practice, in particular the 2019 Agreement on Contractual Reform and Service Development, have helped to re-establish general practice in Ireland as an attractive career choice. The additional investment, which will amount to €210 million annually once the Agreement is fully implemented, provides for an increase in capitation fees, improved maternity and paternity arrangements as well as enhanced supports for rural practices. In addition, targeted on-going funding of €2 million has been set aside to provide additional support to practices in deprived urban areas. The wider reforms in the health service will also help to provide an atmosphere in which the practice of medicine in Ireland will remain attractive.
These measures will make working in general practice more attractive to doctors, helping to increase the number of GPs across the country and helping to ensure that all patients have access to GP services.
1731. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the additional measures he plans to implement in 2022 to expand public primary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1432/22]
View answerThe development of primary care services – alongside social and community care more broadly – is central to this Government's determination to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system.
In Budget 2022, the Minister secured annual investment of €195m to enable the continued expansion of primary care services through the Enhanced Community Care programme. Amongst other initiatives, the funding will allow for the rollout of 96 Community Healthcare Networks (CHNs) to be completed and will enable the continued development of 30 Community Specialist Teams for Older Persons, and 30 Community Specialist Teams for the Management of Chronic Diseases.
The ECC programme represents a significant expansion in primary care capacity, and will see some 3,500 additional staff recruited overall, with approximately 2,300 to be recruited in 2022. This recruitment includes a particular focus on frontline nursing and community therapist staff.
We will also continue to develop new, state of the art Primary Care Centres (PCCs) to support the provision of the very highest standards of primary care. There are now 147 PCCs open nationwide, and 26 more are scheduled to become operational over the course of 2022.
In addition, several measures pertaining to General Practice will be implemented or expanded upon in 2022. The Minister ensured that Budget 2022 provided for the provision of GP care without charges to all children aged 6 and 7. This is the first stage of the phased expansion of GP care without charges to all children aged 12 years and under.
The Chronic Disease Management programme, which commenced in 2020 and was modified to facilitate remote reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic, is also being extended in 2022 to all adult GMS patients, while work is ongoing to explore the potential to further enhance the GP Access to Diagnostics programme introduced in 2021.
These investments and reforms are a demonstration of the commitment to shift the model of healthcare towards a more comprehensive and accessible primary care service in order to deliver better care closer to people’s home in communities across the country.
1732. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he plans to publish the long-term waiting list reduction plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1433/22]
View answerMy Department, 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 process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and will include representatives from the HSE and NTPF. The process and plan will be informed by the lessons and achievements of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and Taskforce. It will also build upon the recent successful delivery of the Acute Waiting List Action Plan and associated oversight forum, chaired by the Secretary General and with membership from my Department, the HSE and the NTPF, that has been in place since October 2021. A 2022 Waiting List Action Plan is currently being developed under the auspices of this oversight forum. This will form the first stage of the Multi Annual Waiting List Plan.
1733. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he plans to pay a pandemic bonus to healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/22]
View answerGovernment have indicated their intention to recognise front-line health sector workers in respect of the extraordinary contribution and commitment they have made in respect of the management of the pandemic.
The most appropriate means and timeline for such recognition is being considered noting that the pandemic is still ongoing.
1734. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his Department has examined changing non-consultant hospital doctor changeover and rotation requirements; if an analysis has been conducted on the effectiveness and comparative benefit of changeover and rotation; if so, the result of the analysis; if he has engaged with trainees or their union representatives to obtain their views; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1435/22]
View answerGiven it has specific statutory functions in relation to medical education and training, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to you on this matter.
