Written Answers Nos. 771-790
771. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will undertake a review of home support services to establish the reason that home care hours cannot be provided to vulnerable elderly persons who have had hours allocated to them by their medical support team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6604/22]
View answerGovernment is committed to improving community-based services, shifting care to the home and offering greater choice for older people. €150 million of additional funding was secured for 2021 to provide 5 million more hours and I'm pleased to say that the funding for this has been maintained into 2022. Preliminary information available indicates that about 2.9 million more hours were delivered by end December compared to the same period in 2020.
Delays can arise between funding approval and the delivery of home supports hours. Certain regions are experiencing increased pressures due to staff availability.
I am engaged with stakeholders in home support and nursing homes on issues of recruitment and retention, with multiple meetings held with such groups in recent months.
Work is also ongoing within the Department to progress the establishment of a Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group, as a matter of priority in early 2022.
The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders and examine any strategic workforce challenges in front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes.
Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, training, and the career development of front-line carers in home support and nursing homes into the future.
Prior to establishing the group, the Department is completing a short-life scoping exercise which is currently underway. A ‘call for submissions’ issued to relevant national stakeholders in early December, with a closing date for receipt of submissions of 7th January 2022.
The request for submissions is a critical first step to set out current challenges and to gather initial data and evidence to support the scoping, nature, and extent of the challenges, in advance of the Department bringing relevant stakeholders together in a structured process.
Subject to the scoping exercise, it is expected that the pay and conditions for these workers, will also likely be considered.
The Department’s project team is currently analysing the submissions received which is informing the setting up of the Group and next steps, including Terms of Reference and membership of the Group.
772. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a urology appointment in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6608/22]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
774. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if NPHET assessed the risk to public health posed by vaccine inequity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6617/22]
View answerPandemics by their nature transcend national boundaries. Mounting an effective response, therefore, involves international cooperation and a need for global solidarity in addressing threats posed by a pandemic. Reducing virus circulation, preventing the spread of new viral variants, protecting the vulnerable and ultimately decreasing suffering and death will only be achieved through strong cooperative efforts at the international level. The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and the Department of Health, was endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and approved by Government on 8th December 2020. Equity is a central pillar of the Irish Vaccination Allocation Strategy and is a critical consideration in decisions regarding distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that existing health inequalities are not perpetuated or exacerbated. Moral equality is a key principle underpinning the Allocation Framework for Equitable Access to COVID-19 vaccines, approved by NPHET.
In line with the principles of equity and moral equality, Ireland has committed to the donation of up to five million COVID-19 vaccine doses through the COVAX vaccine initiative and bilateral arrangements with recipient countries. To date, arrangements are in place for the donation of 2.9 million doses. Over 1.5 million doses have already been delivered to recipient countries including Uganda, Nigeria, Indonesia and Ghana. Additional vaccine deliveries are expected to follow shortly.
775. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if section 38 healthcare workers in disability services will be included in the Covid recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6619/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
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.
776. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that are on the waiting lists for elective surgery in County Tipperary; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6623/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which included a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals. Services are beginning to return to normal but elective procedures continue to be affected by staff absences due to Covid and emergency department pressures that are running above 2019 levels.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding waiting lists for elective surgery in County Tipperary, is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF has advised my Department that, the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
Total IPDC Waiters with an Area of Residence in Co.Tipperary with Average/Median Wait Time as at 23/12/2021
|
Date |
Area of Residence |
Total Waiters |
Average Wait Time (Days) |
Median Wait Time (Days) |
|
23/12/2021 |
Tipperary |
3393 |
238 |
114 |
777. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Tipperary that are on a waiting list for hip replacements; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6624/22]
View answer778. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Tipperary that are on a waiting list for knee replacements; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6625/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 778 together.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which included a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals. Services are beginning to return to normal but elective procedures continue to be affected by staff absences due to Covid and emergency department pressures that are running above 2019 levels.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of persons waiting for hip and knee replacements in County Tipperary, is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF has advised my Department that, the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
Total IPDC Waiters for a Knee Replacement Procedure with an Area of Residence in Co.Tipperary with Average/Median Wait Times as at 23/12/2021
|
Date |
Area of Residence |
Total Waiters |
Average Wait Time (Days) |
Median Wait Time (Days) |
|
23/12/2021 |
Tipperary |
42 |
175 |
108.5 |
Total IPDC Waiters for a Hip Replacement Procedure with an Area of Residence in Co.Tipperary with Average/Median Wait Times as at 23/12/2021
|
Date |
Area of Residence |
Total Waiters |
Average Wait Time (Days) |
Median Wait Time (Days) |
|
23/12/2021 |
Tipperary |
54 |
165 |
84 |
779. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Tipperary that are on a waiting list for cataract treatment; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6626/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which included a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals. Services are beginning to return to normal but elective procedures continue to be affected by staff absences due to Covid and emergency department pressures that are running above 2019 levels.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2018. At the end of December 2021 there were 4,614 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 6,440 in December 2018.
In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding cataract treatment in County Tipperary, is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF has advised my Department that, the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
Total IPDC Waiters for a Cataract Procedure with an Area of Residence in Co.Tipperary with Average/Median Wait Times as at 23/12/2021
|
Date |
Area of Residence |
Total Waiters |
Average Wait Time (Days) |
Median Wait Time (Days) |
|
23/12/2021 |
Tipperary |
200 |
235 |
98 |
780. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Tipperary that are on a waiting list for orthopaedic paediatric surgery; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6627/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which included a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals. Services are beginning to return to normal but elective procedures continue to be affected by staff absences due to Covid and emergency department pressures that are running above 2019 levels.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding waiting lists for paediatric orthopaedic surgery in County Tipperary, is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF has advised my Department that, the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
Total IPDC Waiters for a Paediatric Orthopaedic Procedure with an Area of Residence in Co.Tipperary with Average/Median Wait Times as at 23/12/2021
|
Date |
Area of Residence |
Total Waiters |
Average Wait Time (Days) |
Median Wait Time (Days) |
|
23/12/2021 |
Tipperary |
36 |
326 |
170 |
781. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Tipperary that are on mental health waiting lists for counselling services; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6628/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
783. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider his decision for to exclude section 39 disability service providers (details supplied) from the once-off bonus payment for front-line healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6635/22]
View answerIn 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.
784. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the decision to exclude practice nurses (details supplied) from the once-off bonus payment for frontline healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6638/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
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.
785. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the details of the 92 Covid-19 deaths announced by his Department and National Public Health Emergency Team as having occurred in the week up to 2 February 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6647/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
786. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health when the commitment to publicly fund IVF treatment in Ireland will be honoured by becoming law, given that Ireland is the only European Union country not to offer State funding for assisted reproduction even though the World Health Organisation recognises infertility as a medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6648/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, a commitment to “introduce a publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment” is included in the Programme for Government. The model of care for infertility was developed by my officials in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme in order to ensure that infertility issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
This model of care comprises three stages, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs), extending into secondary care (i.e., Regional Fertility Hubs) and then, where necessary, tertiary care (i.e., IVF and other advanced assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments), with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.
Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care has involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs within maternity networks, in order to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with infertility issues at this level of intervention. The completion of Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care, envisaged before the end of this year, will result in operational Regional Fertility Hubs in each of the six Hospital Groups across the country.
Phase Two of the roll-out will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system, but will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country, required resources have been allocated and the AHR legislation commenced.
Publication of the Bill to regulate the area of AHR 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 legislation, which encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction. I expect to be in a position to bring a Memorandum to Government seeking approval to publish the Bill in the coming weeks.
While advanced AHR treatment, such as IVF, is not currently funded by the Irish public health service, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. Given the costs associated with certain fertility medicines, I understand that these schemes can have a material impact on the total cost of AHR treatment for individuals who avail of them.
In addition, there is other support available in that patients who access IVF, or other advanced AHR treatment, privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme.
Nevertheless, my Department and the Government is fully committed, through the full implementation of the model of care for infertility, to ensuring that patients always receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the public health system. The underlying aim of the policy to provide a model of funding for AHR, within the broader AHR regulatory framework, is to improve accessibility to AHR treatments, while at the same time embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources.
787. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure that the text service (details supplied) funded by the HSE has not engaged in misuse of data collected by its service as has reportedly happened at its linked company in the United States of America (details supplied) which has reportedly shared data collected from those texting the line with a for-profit spinoff company. [6649/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
788. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will have their appointment confirmed. [6650/22]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
789. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE received an instruction from his Department on 24 June 2021 to suspend the funding allocation for operational and administrative funding to the North Inner-City Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this instruction was not communicated to the taskforce; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the suspension of funding remains in place; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the Assistant Secretary (Corporate Legislation, Mental Health, Drugs Policy and Food Safety Division) of his Department wrote to the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force on 27 July 2021 to advise that it continue its essential business activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6651/22]
View answerThe North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force oversees in the region of €2.249m in funding annually form the Department of Health.
The Department of Health uses channels of funding for the administration of funding to drug and alcohol projects that fall under the ambit of Task Forces. CDYSB administer in the region of €197,428 to four front line drug and alcohol projects in NIC on behalf of the Department of Health. The HSE acts as a channel of funding for the distribution and oversight of €2.025m in funding to services in the NIC.
North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force has informed local services that it is no longer in a position to function. This follows the resignation of the outgoing chairperson and the impasse that has arisen regarding the appointment of a new independent chairperson.
The Department has asked the channels of funding, the HSE and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board, to provide reassurance to frontline services that funding will continue in 2022.
In 2021, the HSE allocated €244,473 for the NICDATF company for office programmes and resources. The HSE holds a Service Level Arrangement (SLA) with the NICDATF company for the delivery of these activities. I understand that on a number of occasions in Q1 and Q2 2021 the HSE sought detail from the then chairperson and coordinator on how funding to the company was to be used in 2021. Despite the HSE outlining the critical importance of having this break down of service, the company has not engaged with the HSE and not delivered the activity as agreed in the 2021 SLA that it holds with the HSE.
I understand that the HSE met with the NICDATF company on 13th January to understand the current position in relation to service delivery and discuss the parameters of funding in 2022 that could be provided to the company. As the management of the SLA is a service delivery matter for the HSE, the NICDATF company is advised to engage directly with the HSE to address any concerns.
790. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of a report in relation to a person (details supplied). [6652/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
