Written Answers Nos. 706-727
706. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the introduction of a measure for making a similar payment to that of the Covid-19 recognition payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices who were affected by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6271/22]
View answerFirst, 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, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly, including envisaged timelines.
707. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the programme for Government commitment to introduce an assisted human reproduction Bill; if it will include provision for international surrogacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6281/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, drafting of a bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research is ongoing by officials in my Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. This legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction, including domestic altruistic surrogacy.
Publication of the Bill is a priority for the Government and officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General are continuing to engage intensively in order to finalise this complex and far-reaching legislation. I expect to be in a position to bring a Memorandum to Government seeking approval to publish the Bill in the coming weeks.
The draft Bill does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions. Issues which arise from the undertaking of surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions concern areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments and require detailed examination. As the Deputy will be aware, a joint Memorandum from Minister McEntee, Minister O’Gorman and I proposing the establishment of a time-limited Special Joint Oireachtas Committee to consider the issue of international surrogacy was submitted to Cabinet last month and approved. Once established, the Committee is to report with recommendations within three months and I shall have regard to its work as the AHR Bill progresses through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
708. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason he and his Department in all public utterances and statements refer to the position of chair, of the three-year review of the abortion law, as the independent chair given that no other Government appointed chairpersonships are continually referred to in the same way. [6285/22]
View answerThe 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 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 as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to tender for the role of independent Chair.
I look forward to receiving the Chair's final report, incorporating her conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.
709. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that families have been left extremely distressed by the fact that a Minister of State at his Department was in possession of a report (details supplied) for some months and that the families concerned first learned of the contents of the report from the media; and if he will fulfil the request by the families for an unredacted copy of the report to be made available to them immediately. [6288/22]
View answerFollowing a Prime Time programme in which the nursing homes referenced by the Deputy were featured, I convened a meeting with the Chief Inspector of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). In the context of that meeting, I requested a briefing report, to include the current position regarding those nursing homes. This was prepared by HIQA and was submitted to me in July 2021. The report was based on the findings of HIQA’s inspection reports on the three centres.
The Chief Inspector, HIQA, reports on their inspection findings and judgments in an inspection report. In the context of the three nursing homes in question, HIQA has confirmed that the inspection reports on which the briefing note was based have all been published on HIQA’s website in line with the normal regulatory process.
710. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the types of specialist nursing positions across the HSE acute and community services, for example, neurology nursing by discipline and the whole-time equivalent number of nurses currently employed, funded and recommended by model of care for each discipline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6293/22]
View answerIn 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.
711. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the remuneration grades applicable to specialist nursing in neurology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6294/22]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
712. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the action his Department plans to take to ensure an increase in the number of general practitioners practising in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6316/22]
View answerThe Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is 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 measures to increase the number of practising GPs have been undertaken in recent years. 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 increased rural practice supports. In addition, targeted on-going funding of €2 million will also be set aside to provide additional support to practices in deprived urban areas.
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.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country. The wider reforms in the health service will also help to provide an atmosphere in which the practice of medicine in Ireland will remain attractive.
713. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the current number of general practitioners practising in an area (details supplied). [6317/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
714. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, due to underfunding across north County Dublin, dentists are not able to treat medical card holders; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6320/22]
View answerI am aware that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) that provides care for medical card patients during the pandemic, which has led to difficulties for medical card patients in accessing dental care in some parts of the country. I have been assured that the HSE Public Dental Service is seeking to provide emergency cover for any medical card patients who are experiencing problems accessing care.
Officials from my Department and from the HSE have held two rounds of discussions with the Irish Dental Association, the most recent on 17 December last when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the DTSS, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million. 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.
715. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 307 to 309, inclusive, of 20 January, if he will provide the contact details for the sub-group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6321/22]
View answerThe sub-group is chaired by the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission. The Commission publishes details of the sub-group online, including the agenda and a flash report of the sub-group meeting that took place on 28 January, with my Department in attendance.
This information and further information on the Commission's work in this area is available at this link
ec.europa.eu/health/non-communicable-diseases/overview_en#steering-group-on-promotion-and-prevention.
The sub-group agenda provides the following e-mail address as a contact for any further questions, sante-hpp@ec.europa.eu.
The Commission also held a Stakeholder Webinar on 3 February with the theme of Healthier Together - EU NCD Initiative. This event was open to all stakeholders to participate in.
716. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the length of time the tender for a primary care centre in Swords, County Dublin has been in process; the stage the tender has reached; the timeline for the tender process in terms of next stages and a conclusion; the estimated timeline and delivery date for a primary care centre in Swords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6322/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
717. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists employed on a permanent contract; the number employed on a temporary basis in each of the community healthcare organisation areas; the number of these speech and language therapists who were newly appointed to permanent contracts in each of these areas and each year from 2018 to 2021, inclusive; the number of children and adults on waiting lists for speech and language therapy in each of these areas, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6414/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6425/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
719. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, has carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis on the imposition of mask mandates in retail and other settings, particularly bearing in mind the recent lifting of restrictions. [6464/22]
View answer752. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if NPHET has carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis regarding the imposition of mask mandates in retail and other settings particularly bearing in mind the recent lifting of restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6550/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 752 together.
While the majority of public health measures have been lifted, the Government announced that the requirements for mask wearing in all settings where currently regulated for under Statutory Instrument and protective measures in schools and early learning and care facilities should be retained until February 28 based on public health advice. The NPHET will meet again on February 17 and will provide further advice to the Government on this issue.
720. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if NPHET carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis on the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings. [6465/22]
View answer721. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if NPHET has requested an up-to-date report from HIQA with regard to the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings. [6466/22]
View answer722. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if NPHET has not requested an up-to-date report from HIQA with regard to the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings; and the reason it has not done so. [6467/22]
View answer726. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the basis on which NPHET states that mask use should continue in schools and other settings in view of the removal of the requirement in the UK and many other countries. [6471/22]
View answer753. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if NPHET carried out an up to date evidence-based risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis on the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6553/22]
View answer754. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if NPHET requested an up to date report from HIQA on the continuing imposition of face mask wearing by children in schools and other settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6554/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 720 to 722, inclusive, 726, 753 and 754 together.
The Government, at its meeting on 30 November, agreed that face masks/coverings be recommended for those aged 9 and over on public transport, in retail and other indoor public settings as was required for those aged 13 and over, with exemptions as appropriate. Face masks/coverings are also recommended for children in third class and above in primary school and guidance has issued to schools from the Department of Education on this. This guidance can be found online: www.gov.ie/en/publication/d3c55-department-of-education-guidance-on-the-use-of-face-coverings-in-primary-schools/.
The Government decision is based on a recommendation from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) following its meeting on 25 November. As the Deputy will be aware, this issue has been subject to ongoing review by the NPHET and was considered again at this meeting in light of the sharp rise in the incidence in the 9 to 11 year old age-group in November.
As part of its deliberations, the NPHET considered previous advice from HIQA on the issue, the detailed epidemiological situation in children, international guidance, international practice, the evidence in relation to the use of face coverings in children, and the potential benefits and harms from any recommendations. The NPHET recognised the very significant impacts previous social and economic restrictions have had on families and children to date and also reiterated that a core priority of the NPHET throughout the pandemic has been to protect the continued operation of the education and childcare sector, recognising its importance to the health and development of children. Given the very high incidence in children at that time, the NPHET advised that measures should be taken to interrupt chains of transmission to protect those core priorities including the recommendation in relation to mask wearing, to support families and young children in staying safe over the coming period with a view to reducing risk of disease transmission.
Both the NPHET and Government were clear that this measure was being introduced as a temporary, interim measure and would be reviewed in mid-February 2022.
More recently, the NPHET met on 20 January and provided advice to the government stating that while it was safe for the majority of public health measures to be lifted, the requirements for mask wearing in all settings where currently regulated for under Statutory Instrument and protective measures in schools, early learning and care facilities should be retained until 28 February. This advice was accepted by the Government. The NPHET will meet again on 17 February and will provide further advice to the Government on this issue. This will include advice in relation to mask wearing for children aged 9 to 12.
723. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the expertise and qualifications of the members of NPHET that qualifies them to make decisions and recommendations regarding the health and well-being of children. [6468/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for COVID-19 is the mechanism for overseeing the health sector response to significant health-based emergencies. It facilitates the sharing of information between the Department of Health and its agencies and provides a forum for agreement as to strategic approaches to such emergencies. It is currently under the Chairmanship of Chief Medical Officer.
The NPHET's membership is multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral in line with best international practice. Membership comprises representatives from across the health and social care service including the Department of Health (DOH), Health Service Executive (HSE), Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and others with relevant expertise in health and/or other related matters. Membership includes a Consultant Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist, who is also a Clinical Professor of Paediatrics.
Details of the NPHET's Membership is provided in the NPHET’s meeting minutes, available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/.
The NPHET also seeks advice from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) as required. HIQA's advice to NPHET is informed by research evidence developed by HIQA's COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team, with expert input from HIQA's COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group.
HIQA's COVID-19 Evidence Synthesis Team supports NPHET by producing a variety of outputs including rapid health technology assessments, scoping reports, rapid reviews of public health guidance and evidence summaries, supplemented by an evidence-to-advice framework to guide the development of advice, where appropriate. These outputs cover a range of issues, including matters relating to children.
HIQA's COVID-19 Expert Advisory Group is a multidisciplinary group, comprising nominated representatives from the relevant clinical specialities and areas of expertise, methodology experts and public representation. Membership includes a number of Consultant Paediatricians, available to view here:
www.hiqa.ie/hiqa-news-updates/hiqa-establishes-covid-19-expert-advisory-group-support-evidence-based-response.
724. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the studies and data that have been relied upon by NPHET to form the basis for the statement that Covid-19 still poses a risk to public health and that the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 can be expected to continue (details supplied). [6469/22]
View answer725. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the published studies and precise recorded data that NPHET relies on to ground the statement that the Omicron variant is a variant of concern. [6470/22]
View answer727. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if NPHET and his Department are prepared to be transparent with the public and publish all data, studies, assessments, reports and other documentation or global public health advice relied upon to continue to impose restrictions on the Irish populace in this manner. [6472/22]
View answer755. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the studies and data that have been relied upon by NPHET to form the basis for the statement that Covid-19 still poses a risk to public health, that the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 can be expected to continue, that Omicron is unlikely to be the last variant of concern Ireland will have to face and that the global public health risk remains very high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6555/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 724, 725, 727 and 755 together.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) for COVID-19 provides guidance, support, and expert advice on the development and implementation of a strategy to manage COVID-19 in Ireland. It advises Government on the public health aspects of what is a cross-Government response to COVID-19. In conducting its work, the NPHET has regard to national and international guidance and epidemiological assessment, including from the ECDC, CDC, and WHO.
The NPHET is committed to transparency in how it conducts its business. Directly following each meeting, the recommendations of the NPHET are communicated by letter to the Minister for Health for consideration, and these recommendations are used to assist Government in informing its decisions in responding to the public health emergency.
Actions and recommendations arising from the NPHET meetings are communicated publicly and are announced through press releases. NPHET letters are available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ba4aa0-letters-from-the-cmo-to-the-minister-for-health/.
In addition, the Department of Health and NPHET Members provide regular media briefings to this end. There is also a dedicated webpage on the Department of Health website, where agendas, minutes of previous meetings and papers are published as soon as practicable, once approved by the NPHET: www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/.
The NPHET provided its most recent advice to Government on the 20 January. The letter to the Minister which is available online sets out the NPHET's assessment of the epidemiological situation in Ireland at that time and includes detailed data. It also refers specifically to the WHO's most recent global rapid risk assessment at that time, conducted on 7th January 2022.
