Wednesday, 19 Jan 2022

Written Answers Nos. 1861-1881

Health Service Executive

Questions (1861)

Pa Daly

Question:

1861. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a HSE appointment. [2126/22]

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 to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Birth Certificates

Questions (1862)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1862. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for birth certificates currently awaiting printing, posting or certification respectively by county in tabular form. [2131/22]

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.

Birth Certificates

Questions (1863)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1863. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average wait time from application to receipt of a birth certificate by county in tabular form. [2132/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1864, 1873)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

1864. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in which they are unable to access an EU Digital COVID Certificate. [2133/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1873. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person who cannot take the vaccine for health reasons can obtain a certificate to allow them to access hospitality, theatre and gyms. [2179/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1864 and 1873 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 and in the document Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines for people with pre-existing allergic conditions 

www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf 

www.rcpi.ie/news/releases/frequently-asked-questions-about-covid-19-vaccines-for-people-with-pre-existing-allergic-conditions/  

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1865)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1865. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rationale and reason persons who are booked in for respite care and who are fully vaccinated including a booster are being told that they must provide proof of a negative PCR test result before they attend for their respite care in the respite care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2140/22]

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 to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (1866)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1866. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the protection of liberty safeguards Bill; the legislative timeline for same; if it will be commenced before full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2141/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Heads of Bill to provide legislative clarity on the issue of protection of liberty safeguards are at a relatively advanced stage. Work on the Heads of Bill has been paused due to the diversion of resources, as part of the response to COVID-19.  A number of complex legal and policy issues which had arisen during the drafting process remain to be resolved. 

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has overall policy responsibility for the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and for the timeframe for commencing its provisions. 

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (1867)

David Cullinane

Question:

1867. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of contracts for and quantity of antigen tests procured to date or available to be further drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2147/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1868)

David Cullinane

Question:

1868. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of existing contracts for procurement of medical and respirator N95, FFP2 and similar grade facemasks; the number of facemasks drawn down in 2021 and to date in 2022; the number for future drawdown which has been agreed; the forecast of future supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2148/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has no contracts in place for the provision of the specified equipment. 

In respect of the HSE, as this is a service matter I have asked them to respond directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 1869 answered with Question No. 1840.

Question No. 1870 answered with Question No. 1750.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1871)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

1871. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his Department is collecting feedback from healthcare workers and service users as to the functioning of services relating to the Covid-19 pandemic such as availability of PCR and antigen testing and the vaccination roll-out; if so, the way such data is being used to improve the public health response; and if not, if he will consider introducing such a measure. [2167/22]

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.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1872)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1872. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the research that has been carried out on the benefits of vaccinating children from five to 11 years of age; the research that has been carried out on the incidents of myocarditis in children in this age cohort that have been vaccinated; and the research that has been carried out on the transmissibility of the omicron variant amongst children of this age who have been vaccinated. [2178/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

On December 7th 2021, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended that Covid-19 vaccination be offered to all children aged 5-11 years because of the favourable benefit-risk profile of the vaccine. In making its recommendations NIAC indicated that the vaccination of those aged 5 to 11 years is associated with short term, self-limited side effects. No new safety concerns were observed in the clinical trials, with no incidents of myocarditis reported. The number of subjects in the trials does not allow detection of rare or very rare adverse events such as myocarditis and follow-up is ongoing. The NIAC has advised that the decision to offer Covid-19 vaccines to those aged 5 to 11 years is a balance of benefits and risks, informed by ethical considerations

The full NIAC recommendation can be viewed here:

rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NIAC-Recommendations-on-COVID-19-vaccination-for-children-aged-5-to-11-years.pdf

Question No. 1873 answered with Question No. 1864.

Question No. 1874 answered with Question No. 1365.

Health Strategies

Questions (1875, 1923)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1875. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has met addiction nurses to discuss their removal from the National Oversight Committee on the National Drugs Strategy; and if not, the reason. [2185/22]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1923. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rationale for removing a nursing representative group (details supplied) from the National Oversight Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2467/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1875 and 1923 together.

The national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery is a health-led response to drug and alcohol use for the period 2017-2025.  The strategy is dynamic with the flexibility to adapt to needs that may emerge over the lifetime of the strategy.  It is underpinned by a partnership approach between the statutory sector, community organisations, voluntary service providers, service users and Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.   Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery established a National Oversight Committee to give leadership and direction to support implementation of the strategy. The Committee consists of a cross-sector membership from the statutory, community and voluntary sector, as well as clinical and academic expertise.   The strategy outlines indicative membership and provides that the final membership is decided upon by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs strategy. 

The Department of Health completed a mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery and this report was published on 17 November, 2021.  Arising from the mid-term review, six strategic priorities for the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 were identified. These priorities strengthen the health-led approach, reflect commitments in the Programme for Government and align with the EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025. 

I have revised the oversight structures to drive the implementation of the strategic priorities for 2021-2025, following consultation with the national oversight committee in September 2021.   Strategic Implementation Groups (SIGs) will be established to support the implementation of the strategic priorities, under the auspices of the national oversight committee.  I have recently appointed independent chairs for these SIGs, based on their individual expertise in specific policy issues and their leadership skills. These individuals come from a diversity of backgrounds, including local development, health services, public administration, the legal system and academia.

The chairs of the SIGs are members of a streamlined National Oversight Committee, along with representatives of government departments, drug and alcohol task forces and community and voluntary organisations. I have appointed two Ministerial nominees, an academic expert and a clinical expert to the committee. These individuals were selected on the basis of their national and international expertise on drug policy. Neither was appointed in a representative capacity of any medical or other organisation. 

The inter-agency approach involving a partnership between statutory, community and voluntary bodies remains central to the strategy, as does strengthening the resilience of communities to respond to the drug problem. 

Partnership is central to the national drugs strategy and the new oversight structures are intended to strengthen the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in developing national policy.   The Department wants to broaden and deepen the involvement of community and voluntary groups in the implementation of the strategy.  The proposal for the establishment of a civil society group on drugs is one component of this, which is under discussion with the sector. 

I wish to acknowledge the ongoing contribution made by the organisation referred to by the Deputy to the national drugs strategy and I welcome their continuing involvement in the implementation of the strategy through the new strategic implementation groups, under the auspices of the national oversight committee. I have also invited the organisation to meet with me to discuss their concerns.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1876)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1876. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of addiction nurses currently working in the State. [2186/22]

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 to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 1877 answered with Question No. 1840.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1878, 1915, 1916)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1878. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a full-time coordinator for the Bray local drugs and alcohol task force which has been without a coordinator for three and a half years out of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2215/22]

John Brady

Question:

1915. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the measures being implemented to address the fact that a task force (details supplied) is currently without a coordinator and has been for three out of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2450/22]

John Brady

Question:

1916. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the stage the recruitment process is currently at for the recruitment of a replacement coordinator for a task force (details supplied); when it is likely that a coordinator will be in a position to take up the role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2451/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1878, 1915 and 1916 together.

Drug and Alcohol Task Force Coordinators are, in the main, employed by the HSE. The HSE allocates funding to the Regional and Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces for various support workers, such as posts of development worker and administrator.

The Department of Health has no role in the recruitment of HSE employees.  Task Force Coordinators are normally employed by the HSE and are subject to the recruitment and employment conditions of the Executive. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (1879, 1880, 1881)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1879. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has put a plan in place to deal with vulnerabilities in its computer networks (details supplied); if so, the details of same; the action that has been taken; the person who is leading the plan; when the HSE first responded to the issue; when the HSE first become aware of the issue; the meetings that were held to resolve the issue; the steps his Department has taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2237/22]

Alan Kelly

Question:

1880. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if HSE computer systems, devices or servers were compromised due to a vulnerability (details supplied); if so, the number of devices and servers impacted; if personal data was hacked; if online services or other services stopped working due to this issue; if the issue impacted the vaccination programme or the Covid-19 PCR booking and testing system; if data was compromised; if the issues have been fully resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2238/22]

Alan Kelly

Question:

1881. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the work that has been carried out to resolve a computer network vulnerability (details supplied); if specialist teams were set up or recruited to address the issue; if so, the details of the teams and external contractors or consultants that were hired as part of the response; the cost of same; the details of the systems that were compromised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2239/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1879, 1880 and 1881 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. 1880 answered with Question No. 1879.

Question No. 1881 answered with Question No. 1879.