Written Answers Nos. 1819-1839
1819. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will immediately release the data for the numbers hospitalised and in ICU to date in 2022 based on their vaccination status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1937/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1820. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when medical records requested by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be issued; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1939/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1821. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a series of matters in relation to mental health services (details supplied) will be examined and addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1945/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1822. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his views on and response to the recent launch of the European Commission Beating Cancer Implementation Roadmap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1948/22]
View answer1824. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be invited to make a presentation to health officials on the European Commission Beating Cancer Implementation Roadmap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1950/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1822 and 1824 together.
Ireland is very supportive of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, which closely mirrors the goals of our National Cancer Strategy - to reduce the cancer burden, provide optimal care, maximise patient involvement and quality of life, and enable and assure change. Indeed, a large number of actions under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan will support and complement work already being undertaken as part of the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.
Ireland is already involved in a number of actions outlined in the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan Roadmap, including:
- The Joint Action on Comprehensive Cancer Care Centres (CraNE);
- The Joint Action on strengthening eHealth, integrating telemedicine and remote monitoring in health and care systems for cancer prevention and care; and
- Engaging with the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) regarding proposals on inter-speciality training of cancer specialists.
In addition, Ireland is represented on the Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (SGPP) sub-group on cancer, which advises the European Commission on implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, as well as its Thematic Groups on Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures and a Cancer Inequalities Registry.
Ireland continues to engage with European counterparts, including the European Commission's Directorate on Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), on an ongoing basis regarding the implementation and progression of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.
By participating in these important initiatives, we can ensure Ireland’s continued involvement in European cancer control initiatives, all of which will contribute to the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
1823. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way the Government intends to interact with the Achieving a Tobacco Free Europe programme of actions as outlined by the European Commission in its Beating Cancer Implementation Roadmap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1949/22]
View answerMy Department is already engaging at EU level on actions outlined in the implementation roadmap of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
In 2020 and 2021, my Department, in collaboration with the Health Service Executive, contributed to the European Commission’s review of the Tobacco Products Directive and to an evaluation of the European Council’s recommendations on smoke-free environments. My Department has also engaged with our colleagues in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners on a survey seeking the views of Member States on the proposed revision of the Tobacco Tax Directive. The Department of Finance is the lead department in relation to the Tobacco Tax Directive and the review of the legal framework for cross-border purchases of tobacco by private individuals.
As members of the Expert Group on Tobacco Policy and its subgroups, officials from my Department and representatives of the Health Service Executive engage on all aspects of tobacco control at EU level including the implementation and review of the Tobacco Products Directive. This engagement will continue as we work through the various stages of the Beating Cancer Plan Implementation Roadmap.
The Health Service Executive is also participating in the second EU 'Joint Action on Tobacco Control' project, with a new sequence of work packages to increase collaboration on enforcement of tobacco control measures across the EU.
1825. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to wavering the Government levy that is applied to prescriptions for patients in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1953/22]
View answerPrescription charges were introduced in the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010, to address the rising costs in the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme.
On 1st of November 2020, GMS prescription charges were reduced by €0.50c for all medical card holders. For persons over 70, the charges were reduced to €1 per item with a maximum monthly charge of €10 per person or family per month. For persons under 70, the charges were reduced to €1.50 per item with a maximum monthly charge of €15 per person or family. In addition, prescription charges do not apply to persons who qualify for the Long Term Illness scheme.
Eligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. In November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. This increase ensures that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over now qualify for a medical card.
Since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card. This entitles them to GP visits without charge.
Finally, any further reductions to prescriptions charges will be considered in the context of Government priorities and the funding available to the health service at the time.
1826. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the neurology services that are available to patients in County Wexford living with a neurological condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1954/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1827. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for homecare support in County Wexford; the average length of time that persons have been waiting; the single longest period of time that a person has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1955/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
1829. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an urgent outpatient appointment at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that they were referred for an appointment in May 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1963/22]
View answerUnder 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.
1830. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting to be seen by child and adolescent mental health services by CHO and LHO in tabular form; and the length of time persons are waiting to be seen. [1967/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1831. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for prior authorisation and reimbursement made under the cross-border directive in each of the years 2018 to 2021, by medical procedure in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1972/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1832. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if support will be considered for additional expenses such as accommodation for the family of patients who have to travel for treatment under the cross-border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1975/22]
View answerThe EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) provides rules for the reimbursements to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level. The CBD enables persons resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for healthcare in another Member State by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
The EU CBD is a patient centred initiative and does not extend to the family members of a patient. Reimbursement under this scheme is made at the lesser of either the cost of the treatment in Ireland, or the cost of the treatment incurred by the patient in the other State. Details are available from the HSE's CBD National Contact Point (NCP). It is important to note that reimbursement is confined to the costs of the care itself and does not include any additional costs, such as travel or accommodation costs, incurred by the patient. There are no plans to expand coverage of the scheme to cover the costs of the family members of patients.
1833. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if and the way in which a section 39 organisation can become a section 38 organisation; the steps and changes required to accomplish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1976/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. A full response is being prepared and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1835. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the status of the investigation into an incident (details supplied). [1978/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1836. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an operation at Louth County Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1986/22]
View answerUnder 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.
1837. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if it is possible for those who test positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom to receive a certificate of recovery in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2024/22]
View answerThe 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.
Ireland has an EU Digital COVID Certificate Third Country portal which is accessible to all eligible Irish passport holders vaccinated partially or completely outside of the EU; applications in relation to recovery are not eligible.
On the 28 October 2021 the UK was awarded an equivalence decision by the EU meaning that COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in accordance with the system entitled “UK COVID Certificates” shall, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the Union, be considered as equivalent to those issued in accordance with EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation.
As such, recovery certificates issued in the UK, in accordance with the system entitled “UK COVID Certificates”, are now considered as equivalent to EU Digital COVID Certificates.
1838. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on a vaccine (details supplied); if the G7 countries are supporting the manufacturing of this vaccine which has the potential to produce vaccines for sub-Saharan Africa, southeast Asia and Latin America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2033/22]
View answerIreland 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.
Five vaccines have been authorised by the EU to date; Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Janssen and NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax). Under the provisions negotiated by the European Commission, the Covid-19 vaccines are used once they comply with all the requirements of quality, safety and efficacy set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation. No vaccine will be used until market authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is obtained and any authorised vaccine will be subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA). The purpose of any medicines regulatory regime, be it at a national or centralised level, is to protect patient and public health through the operation of structured, consistent evaluation system which assures patient trust and confidence in the therapeutics utilised. The vaccine referred to be the Deputy has not been the subject of an application to the EMA for market authorisation.
In terms of vaccine distribution to countries outside the EU, universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority for the EU and for Ireland. Ireland concurs with the position statement of the G7 Ministers of 16 December 2021, where they reiterated their continuous support for COVAX, their commitment to the global effort on vaccine rollout and their support for accelerated development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics in pandemics. The COVAX donation mechanism represents the most appropriate opportunity to distribute vaccines quickly and fairly to those who need them most. In this regard, the European Union committed to donate 250 million doses to low and middle-income countries in 2021, with 380 million doses ultimately donated and more than 255 million of these doses already delivered to recipient countries.
1839. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the minimum staffing requirements for liaison psychiatrists as outlined in A Vision for Change; and the current level of staffing for same. [2034/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
