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Tuesday, 8 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 684-705

Departmental Properties

Questions (684)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

684. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the full portfolio of property owned or rented by the HSE in Clonmel, County Tipperary; the use of each building; the year in which each came into use by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6169/22]

View answer

Written answers

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Departmental Data

Questions (685)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

685. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a full breakdown will be provided of the payments made to RTÉ by his Department or the HSE since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6171/22]

View answer

Written answers

The following payments were made by the Department of Health to RTÉ since March 2020 in respect of sponsorship of the Operation Transformation television programme.

Dec 2020: €278,300 (2021 series)

Dec 2021: €282,900 (2022 series)

Departmental Data

Questions (686, 766)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

686. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of which the Health Service Executive, State Claims Agency or any other relevant State body is aware, relating to adverse events in connection with the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, in which a claim has been made to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and-or court proceedings that have been issued and-or served, and notice in writing that has been given, that a claim is likely to be made to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and-or that court proceedings are likely to be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6177/22]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

766. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of adverse events reported to and dealt with by the State Claims Agency since 1 January 2019 that are related to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. [6579/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 686 and 766 together.

The State Claims Agency hosts the National Incident Management System (NIMS) which is the principal source of national data on incident activity for the Irish public health service. Under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000 State authorities are obliged to report adverse incidents promptly to the State Claims Agency (SCA). This allows the SCA, in conjunction with State authorities, to identify and analyse developing trends and patterns and to work with the State authorities concerned to develop and implement risk mitigation strategies. It is also important in the investigation of any subsequent claim.

The delivery of high quality, safe services is a priority within the Irish healthcare system. This is in line with the Sláintecare vision of Right Care. Right Place. Right Time.

An integral part of this is the appropriate and timely reporting of adverse events when they do occur. This information is important for healthcare services to learn so that care and experiences for patients and their families can continuously improve.

The HSE has systems and procedures in place to respond when an adverse incident occurs. This approach to incident management is cognisant of the needs of those affected and supports services to learn and improve.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (687)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

687. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the recently appointed chairperson of the three-year review of the abortion legislation was recommended to him by a third-party organisation or group; and if so, the name of the third-party. [6178/22]

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Written answers

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.

As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.

As I stated during my appearance before the Joint Committee on Health on 8 December, it was my intention to appoint an independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

As the costs involved in contracting an independent Chair to conduct the review were estimated as exceeding €25,000, the advice I received was that the Department was obliged under procurement rules to tender for the appointment.

Given the expertise required for the position, a small number of candidates, identified by my officials as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to tender for the role of independent Chair.

Following the tender process, I have now appointed Ms Marie O'Shea B.L. as the independent Chair for the second phase of the review. Ms O'Shea has legal expertise, as well as experience in project management and in healthcare sector research. I look forward to receiving the Chair's final report, incorporating her conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.

Health Service Executive

Questions (688)

Dara Calleary

Question:

688. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if there will be provision in the 2022 HSE Service Plan to appoint extra neurology nurses to University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6188/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Questions (689)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

689. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who have retired or who are due to retire in the main towns throughout the country and specifically in north County Kildare; the extent to which steps are being taken to appoint replacements at an early date; when all vacancies will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6189/22]

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Written answers

GPs 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. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. As of January, there are approximately 27 GMS vacancies in the State, approximately 1 percent of all GP GMS panels, and currently no GMS vacancies in County Kildare.

As the information requested relates to services matters, I have requested the HSE to provide the Deputy directly with the relevant information available in regard to GMS contract holders. Neither my Department or the HSE have information relating to GPs who are engaged exclusively in private practice.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (690)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

690. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he has engaged with representatives of organisations (details supplied) with a view to identifying the full extent of the difficulties faced in ensuring an adequate supply of general practitioners in all areas throughout the country, with particular reference to County Kildare, thereby providing much needed extra staffing levels to tackle the full extent of demand in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6190/22]

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Written answers

Officials from my Department and the HSE are in regular contact with the organisations concerned in relation to a wide range of issues, including the sustainability of general practice.

The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas. The Government has committed to providing significant additional resources to general practice to help to meet those challenges. We are working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.

Several efforts to increase the number of practising 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 funding of €2 million will also be set aside to provide additional support to practices in deprived urban areas.

The 2019 GP Agreement includes a commitment to undertake a strategic review of GP services within the lifetime of the Agreement, to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The Government is open to considering other options of support as part of the strategic review. The outcome of this review will inform future contractual changes, with preparatory work for the review having begun this year.

Departmental Data

Questions (691)

Michael McNamara

Question:

691. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of children who await appointments and assessments with early intervention services in County Clare; the average wait time for persons on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6191/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Budget 2022

Questions (692)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

692. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way that the €4 million additional funding, announced in budget 2021, was spent on drug and alcohol services. [6217/22]

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Written answers

Budget 2021 allocated €4.1 million to enhance drug and alcohol services and address substance misuse.

This funding was allocated as follows:

€1m to develop targeted drug and alcohol initiatives through the network of drug and alcohol task forces, and to increase core funding for existing services;

€2m to increase residential treatment services for people with severe drug and alcohol dependency across the country, including a step-up stabilisation facility in CHOs Cork/Kerry, Mid-West and South East and a low threshold programme in Dublin North East Inner City;

€700,000 to expand community and family support services, including initiatives in Donegal/Leitrim/Sligo, Louth/Meath, Cork/Kerry, and Dublin North Inner City; and

€400,000 for harm reduction initiatives, including pilot drug monitoring at festivals and the night-time economy, expanded access to the drugs and alcohol helpline and increased provision of naloxone.

This majority of this funding has now been transferred to the HSE to expand drug and alcohol services. I recently announced a €2m fund to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services, with additional resources provided in Budget 2022. I am allocating between €200,000 and €240,000 per annum to the nine community healthcare organisations (CHOs), who will then commission community-based drug and alcohol services based on an assessment of population needs.

The national network of 24 drug and alcohol task forces will be centrally involved in the deciding how this funding will be spent and in commissioning the services. Task forces are based on an inter-agency partnership which is at the heart of the National Drugs Strategy. They are well placed to assess the needs of people who use drugs or alcohol and to support evidence-based interventions. I also want to involve people with lived experience of drug use in the design and delivery of the new services.

Departmental Data

Questions (693)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

693. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of funded paediatric intensive care unit beds in the public health system at the end of each of the years from 2018 to 2021; and the projected number for the end of 2022 and 2023. [6218/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (694)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

694. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the recruitment of two additional senior dieticians for the adult insulin pump service at Portlaoise Regional Hospital. [6219/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (695)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

695. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the necessary funding will be provided for the commissioning of a second cataract theatre at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin. [6220/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Questions (696)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

696. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent clinical nurse specialists in migraine as of 31 January 2022; and the number of these specialists in each hospital, in tabular form. [6221/22]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Official Travel

Questions (697)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

697. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will travel abroad for St. Patrick's week 2022 on official visits; and if so, the location or locations he is scheduled to visit. [6235/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Government is in the process of finalising the programme to mark St Patrick’s Day around the world. This will include a programme of visits by ministers that will be approved by the Government early this month, and which will be made public immediately afterwards.

Departmental Data

Questions (698)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

698. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation or CHO area and subdivided into primary care centres waiting for a podiatry appointment through primary care services at present for zero to 12, 12 to 24, 24 to 36 and over 36 months; the number of podiatrists employed in each CHO, by each individual primary care centre; the vacancies in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6253/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ambulance Service

Questions (699, 700)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

699. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will carry out a review into the operation of the National Ambulance Service; the locations of the call-outs that all County Tipperary-based ambulances have been tasked to call out to in the past three months; the number of ambulances based in the county on a daily basis; the average length of time for an ambulance to arrive at its call-out location; the current operational arrangements for county-based ambulances to respond within their county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6260/22]

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Mattie McGrath

Question:

700. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the efforts that have been taken by the National Ambulance Service to avoid call centres directing long distance callouts to teams which are nearing the end of their shift; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6261/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 700 together.

Regarding ambulance callouts, as the Deputy may be aware, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) triages all emergency calls received using an Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS). This ensures that immediately life-threatening injuries and illnesses are prioritised to receive the quickest response. The NAS uses dynamic deployment to place resources to areas where cover is required or to respond to incidents as they arise to ensure the nearest available resource responds to emergencies.

The Government is prioritising the improvement of NAS response times, including through funding of the NAS strategic plan, which includes planning for increased capacity across the country. As part of its budget allocation for 2022 totalling an unprecedented €200 million, the NAS will receive an additional €8.3 million funding for new service developments which will be invested in additional frontline staff and equipment.

In relation to a review of the operation of the NAS, I can confirm that a 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 will continue to focus on key priorities including progress towards meeting capacity requirements and performance targets, as well as alternative care pathways for patients. It will be informed in part by an independently conducted National Demand and Capacity Analysis which has been commissioned by the NAS with a view to informing future capacity requirements and workforce planning up to 2027.

In regard to the specific questions raised by the Deputy concerning ambulance services in Tipperary and staff work patterns, as these are day-to-day operational matters for the NAS I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to him, as soon as possible.

Question No. 700 answered with Question No. 699.

Ambulance Service

Questions (701)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

701. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Staff based in County Tipperary in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6262/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (702)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

702. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 661 of 1 February, the status of the planning stages in terms of the allocation of €3 million for palliative and end-of-life hospice services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6267/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (703)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

703. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 661 of 1 February 2022, the expected timeframe for the allocation of the €3 million funding for palliative and end-of-life hospice services in Drogheda, Cavan and the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6268/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this relates to a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for response as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (704)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

704. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions of the Covid-19 recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6269/22]

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Written answers

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.

The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars (including timeframe), eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly.

It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (705)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

705. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if sections 10 and 39 funded services are being considered for the Covid-19 recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6270/22]

View answer

Written answers

In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.

The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.

I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.

The cost of providing a recognition payment of €1,000 to all eligible public servants working in the health and ambulance services depends on the number of staff who are eligible for the payment. If there were 100,000 WTE deemed eligible, the estimated cost would be approximately €100 million. This figure of 100,000 WTE represents approximately 75% of the HSE/Section 38 workforce and would be the minimum expected to be eligible for this recognition payment.

Similarly, the cost of providing an equivalent recognition payment to relevant staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19 depends on the number of staff deemed eligible for the payment. The estimated cost set out above does not include the cost in respect of nursing homes and Defence Forces staff. This measure will exclude all private sector health workers except those working in nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19. This measure, including costings, will be progressed by the Department of Health.

The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.

I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining services other than healthcare. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.

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