Written Answers Nos. 423-435
423. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in negotiations with an association (details supplied) with regard to a new dental scheme for medical card patients; the concessions he could make ahead of formal negotiations as a gesture of goodwill given the fact that fees under the scheme were set in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/22]
View answerI fully acknowledge the need to align the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which dates from the 1990s, with best international evidence and practice, as outlined in Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy, and I have given a commitment to the Irish Dental Association to begin substantive discussions by the second quarter of this year.
My immediate priority is to seek to address the current situation of medical card patients experiencing problems in accessing treatment. In that respect, officials from my Department and from the HSE have held two rounds of discussions with the IDA, the most recent on 17 December last when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million.
The Department / HSE has offered increased fees across a number of items and proposed the reintroduction of the Scale and Polish item. They also made it clear that these interim measures are designed to shore up the existing Scheme, pending the full root-and-branch review of the Scheme.
These proposals were expedited to address not only the problem of access for patients, but also concerns expressed by dentists about the viability of the DTSS, and to some extent, to bring about alignment with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by dentists for PRSI patients.
The Department is anxious to move the process on, in the interests of patients, and is hoping to meet the IDA again in the next couple of weeks to progress matters.
424. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who applied for primary medical certificates and the number of persons approved for primary medical certificates since 19 June 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5573/22]
View answer425. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who applied for primary medical certificates and the number of persons approved for primary medical certificates since 1 January 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5574/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
426. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health his plans to allow families on the homecare waiting list to use their homecare package to organise their own care in situations in which the HSE and homecare agencies used by the HSE are not in a position to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5578/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the child speech and language services therapy of a person (details supplied) will be expedited given that they have been told it will be four years from completion of application to commencement of therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5579/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
428. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of adults that have been placed in specialist eating disorder units outside the State in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the number of these cases which involved the use of a High Court wardship jurisdiction in order to arrange placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5583/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
429. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the legal mechanism or statutory power that will be used for future placements of persons in specialist eating disorder units outside the State when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is fully commenced and the adult wardship jurisdiction has been abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5584/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
430. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of adults placed in low, medium and or high secure residential placements for men outside the State in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the number of these cases which involved the use of a High Court wardship jurisdiction in order to arrange placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5585/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I am referring the question for response to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
431. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of adults placed in low, medium and or high secure residential placements for women outside the State in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the number of these cases which involved the use of a High Court wardship jurisdiction in order to arrange placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5586/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I am referring the question for response to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
432. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the legal mechanism or statutory power that will be used for future placements of persons in low, medium and or high secure residential placements outside the State when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is fully commenced and the adult wardship jurisdiction has been abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5587/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
433. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies for medical personnel in the Springfield Centre, Mullingar, County Westmeath. [5589/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
434. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason a couple who are getting married cannot secure an appointment with the Civil Registration Service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5598/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
435. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders by adults and children in County Kerry as of December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5602/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
