Written Answers Nos. 297-317
297. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date regarding the development of a comprehensive cancer care centre for Galway University Hospital as provided for in the National Development Plan 2021-2030; when the SARS and the preliminary business case will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2785/22]
View answerThe model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight Designated Cancer Centres serving a defined population and geographic area. University Hospital Galway is one the eight centres. The centralisation of specialist services into Designated Cancer Centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports.
The National Cancer Strategy recommends that investment in the Designated Cancer Centres will have the goal of ultimately establishing at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre. The Department of Health and the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme have commenced consideration of the steps required towards the implementation of this recommendation. Decisions on the establishment of at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre during the Strategy period will be made in the light of available resources and developments in the best performing centres worldwide. This has always been seen as something that would be progressed in the latter part of the Strategy period.
298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a list of all dentists in County Kerry that are accepting medical card holders can be furnished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2788/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
299. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons treated by the National Gender Service in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and 2021 respectively; and the number of persons currently on a waiting list to access their services. [2795/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
300. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons treated under the HSE National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and 2021 respectively; and the number of persons currently on a waiting list to access the programme. [2796/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
301. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of frontline personnel whole-time equivalent in the National Ambulance Service at the end of each year since 2016; the number of additional personnel who are expected to be recruited in 2022; and the overall increases in personnel in whole-time equivalent terms that is projected for 2022, in tabular form. [2811/22]
View answer302. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place for development of the National Ambulance Service over the next five years. [2812/22]
View answer303. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of additional staff whole-time equivalent that will be required by the National Ambulance Service over the next five years; the estimated full-year cost of recruiting same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/22]
View answer305. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency ambulances currently in service according to the year they entered service; the number of intermediate care ambulances currently in service by the year they entered service; the number of rapid response vehicles currently in service by the year in which they entered service and the HSE region in which they are based in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2815/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 301, 302, 303 and 305 together.
The Deputy will be aware of the second NAS strategic plan "Vision 2020" which was published in 2016, and the separate reviews into pre-hospital emergency care services that informed it - the HIQA Review of Ambulance Services in 2014 and the NAS Baseline and Capacity Review of 2016, both of which made a number of recommendations on efficiency reforms to improve performance. In line with Sláintecare and Vision 2020, a significant programme of work is underway to transform the NAS from an emergency medical service into a mobile medical service. This is a model which aims to treat patients at the lowest appropriate level of acuity, resulting in a better experience for the patient and more efficient use of resources.
I can advise that a new five-year NAS strategic plan is currently being finalised by the HSE. This plan, elements of which have been funded in Budget 2022, will facilitate a strategic organisational redesign and continued focus on key priorities including alternative care pathways and progress towards meeting capacity requirements and performance targets. It will be supported by an independently conducted National Demand and Capacity Analysis which has been commissioned by NAS with a view to informing future capacity requirements and workforce planning up to 2027.
As the additional queries raised are service matters for the National Ambulance Service I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
304. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when the 2022 HSE service plan will be published. [2814/22]
View answerThe HSE formally has submitted the National Service Plan 2022 for my approval.
The impact of the current wave of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has caused a delay in the deliberations and finalisation of the NSP 2022. I am currently giving consideration to the Plan and intend to revert to the HSE promptly.
If the Plan is approved, it must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of its approval. Once the Service Plan is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
306. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no baseline operational budget has been allocated by his Department for the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force for 2022 and that his Department has only provided a budget for the projects funded through the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2816/22]
View answerThe Department of Health provides €2.2m for the provision of community-based drug and alcohol services in the north inner city, in association with the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force.
This funding will continue to be provided for frontline services in 2022 though the HSE and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board.
I understand that the HSE has met with the directors of the limited company associated with the task force, to determine if they wish to continue to receive funding to support the provision of drug and alcohol services in 2022. I am informed that any funding will be subject to the standard governance procedures for section 39 organisations.
I look forward to a positive outcome emerging from these discussions.
307. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the way his Department is working with the new Healthier Together – EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative aiming to help member states reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases particularly in relation in cardiovascular disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2819/22]
View answer308. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his Department is engaging with the co-creation process to prioritise topics as part of the new Healthier Together – EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative aiming to help member states reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases; the Irish representatives that engage with this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2820/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together.
The Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases is establishing a sub-group to advise the Commission on the implementation of the ‘Healthier together: EU Non-communicable Diseases Initiative’.
The sub-group is only due to have its first meeting on 28 January 2022; the topic of non-communicable diseases includes a broad range of different diseases including cardiovascular disease and the Department has nominated officials from its Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health and International Units to join the sub-group. The Department will engage with EU partners on this initiative as it develops.
309. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if there are Irish representatives on the Steering Group on Health Promotion sub-group to support the governance of the Healthier Together- EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2821/22]
View answerThe Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases is establishing a sub-group to advise the Commission on the implementation of the ‘Healthier together: EU Non-communicable Diseases Initiative’. The topic of non-communicable diseases includes a broad range of different diseases and the Department has nominated officials from its Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health and International Units to join the sub-group, which is due to have its first meeting on 28 January 2022.
310. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that Covid-19 booster vaccines are administered before they expire following media reports that 400,000 to 500,000 doses are due to go out of date over the next two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2831/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
311. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on Covid-19 booster shots for those in the 12 to 15 years of age cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/22]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
The NIAC has recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) be offered to those aged 16 years and older with the rollout now underway. The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines and will make further recommendations if required.
312. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department and the HSE are providing to address the backlog in ophthalmology waiting lists for children: if his Department is considering empowering community optometrists to treat children over eight years of age in the public system for a specific period; and if not, if he plans to build capacity to address the waiting lists. [2843/22]
View answerThe HSE Primary Care Eye Services Review Group (PCESRG) Report was launched in June 2017. The Report sets out current levels of service, models of service provision and the consultation process undertaken with patients, advocates, ophthalmic staff and representative bodies.
It also highlights the limitations of the current model of service delivery, including the impact on waiting lists, and sets out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be delivered in a primary care setting.
The Report estimates that 60% of existing outpatient activity could be moved to primary care thus enabling hospital services to focus on patients who require more specialist diagnostics or treatments. This Report remains current and the HSE has prioritised the following services in 2022:
- Establishing and expanding adult and paediatric primary care eye teams in CHOs 6, 7 and 9.
- Equipping CHOs 6, 7 an 9 with enhanced management of patients with cataract and other eye conditions to reduce hospital waiting lists. Over time, some of this work may transition to the local community optometrists, similar to the Sligo model of post-cataract care.
- Advance efforts to transfer the care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists; a project team was established in late 2019 / early 2020 to progress this initiative but it was necessary to pause the project as the HSE concentrated its resources on response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The HSE are committed to bringing the project to conclusion over a 6-to-9-month time frame in 2022.
- Creating a new role of Consultant Medical Ophthalmologist, subject to the availability of resources.
- Successful recruitment of 1.0 WTE Consultant Medical Ophthalmologist per CHO 6, 7 and 9 to oversee clinical governance in the areas. There is a panel in place to recruit additional Consultant Medical Ophthalmologists to other CHOs and this will be rolled out in line with funding approval.
The Department fully supports the development of community services to expand and integrate the provision of eye care in local communities.
313. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the national youth mental health task force, in particular the youth mental health pathfinder project; if a pathfinder team is now in place; if so, the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2844/22]
View answerThe proposal to establish a cross-governmental youth mental health Pathfinder unit, with participation from the Department of Health, the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, received Ministerial approval during the previous Government. Its establishment is a priority in the current Programme for Government.
The proposal is to formalise a new model for collaborative working within Government and place a Pathfinder unit on a statutory footing, through section 12 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. This section has not been used before.
Various administrative, budgetary, governance and legal arrangements need to be developed and agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure a robust and workable model for the Pathfinder unit. The demands on both Departments during the pandemic have presented challenges to progressing the proposals. Nonetheless, the Department of Health has continued to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to develop an implementation option that fully addresses these issues.
Officials from the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform discussed improved proposals for governance and legal arrangements at their last meeting. Since then, the Department of Health has worked with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on the proposals for governance and legal arrangements. These draft proposals are being considered with participating departments at present. Once agreed, these will be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Recommendations from the National Youth Mental Health Task Force Report 2017 to build an evidence base to inform the development of youth mental health policy and service delivery, and to develop policy to give effect to youth mental health priorities and objectives, will be taken on by the new unit subject to agreement on the proposals. The report’s other recommendations were incorporated into the service plans of lead agencies over the three year lifespan of the report, which concluded in December 2020.
The implementation of the Pathfinder project is a priority for me and I will continue to keep this matter under close review in the context of progressing Sharing the Vision.
314. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the terms and conditions included in a felling licence issued by his Department to Coillte for the Curragh Wood, Midleton, County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2699/22]
View answerMy Department issued a tree felling licence under the reference number given in July, 2019.
All felling licences are accompanied by a set of conditions. Conditions are generally for the purpose of the protection of the environment. There will normally be some standard conditions that apply in all cases and in this case, some additional conditions specific to the site on the protection of water quality required as the site was upstream of a water extraction point,
The tree felling licence is valid until 31st December, 2022 and the site is expected to be replanted within two years of the expiry date of the licence.
315. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with Coillte and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to increasing the pension payments for retired workers considering their pensions have not been increased since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2700/22]
View answer316. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with Coillte with a view to increasing the pension payments for retired workers, considering their pensions have not been increased since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2701/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together.
As the Deputy may be aware Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and as such is operationally independent from my Department.
Any pension increases granted are at the discretion of Coillte and are subject to the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I referred this matter to Coillte for direct reply following the same question from the Deputy under Dail Question No. 181 of 8th December, 2021. Coillte issued a reply on the matter to the Deputy on 9th December 2021.
I will refer this matter again to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
317. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on a 2021 basic payment scheme dual claim will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for claimed lands at a location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2742/22]
View answerAn application under the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was received from the person named on 13th April 2021. My Department is required to carry out administrative checks on each application.
The applicant was contacted by my Department in June 2021 requesting further information in relation to dual claims on his application. Dual claims arise where two or more applicants declare the same land parcels on their applications. A reminder issued to the applicant in July 2021. He replied in October 2021. The applicant was contacted again November and a lease agreement was submitted in December 2021.
My Department is now reviewing this lease agreement and officials have been in touch with this applicant's agent regarding further documentation. Once a response to this request is received, a decision will be made on this application.
