Written Answers Nos. 615-633
615. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications made by persons wishing to reacquire their Irish citizenship after having renounced it from 2012 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8364/22]
View answerThe table below sets out the statistics sought by the Deputy for the requested years.
|
Year |
Number of people that reacquired Irish Citizenship |
|
2012 |
2 |
|
2013 |
5 |
|
2014 |
4 |
|
2015 |
6 |
|
2016 |
8 |
|
2017 |
16 |
|
2018 |
8 |
|
2019 |
19 |
|
2020 |
10 |
|
2021 |
4 |
The general rules in relation to the re-acquisition of Irish citizenship differ, depending on whether or not the person concerned has a constitutional entitlement to Irish citizenship. Where a person has a constitutional entitlement to citizenship, such entitlement subsists even where the person renounces their citizenship — in other words even though the person has renounced their citizenship they remain constitutionally entitled to it. In practice, such a person can exercise that subsisting entitlement by simply declaring his or her citizenship in the prescribed manner.
In all other cases, the position is set out under Section 21 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, which covered all Irish citizens at the time of its enactment. This Section provided that an Irish citizen of full age, who was a citizen of another country and for that reason desired to renounce their Irish citizenship, could do so by lodging a declaration of alienage. A condition was that the person concerned was ordinarily resident outside the State. To re-acquire citizenship, they would have to apply for naturalisation.
With one exception, this remains the position in relation to all former Irish citizens who do not have a constitutional entitlement to Irish citizenship. This includes people who acquired Irish citizenship by descent alone, by post-nuptial declaration and through the naturalisation process.
It also includes people born in the island of Ireland on or after 24 June 2004, who, at the time of their birth, do not have at least one parent who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen. The one exception arises in this type of case. If born between 24 June 2004 and 1 January 2005 (the date of implementation of the relevant provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004), they continue to be dealt with for the purposes of re-acquisition after renunciation as if they are constitutionally entitled to citizenship. This exception is simply a reflection of the passage of time between the enactment of the constitutional amendment and the implementation of the primary legislation and the prospective approach taken in matters of this nature.
616. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if he will clarify the position in respect of sports clubs offering houses as prizes in the course of their fundraising activities in the context of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 2019 [8379/22]
View answerThe Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 2019, which was commenced on 1 December 2020, modernises the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 to assist the better promotion of local gaming and lottery activity held primarily for charitable and philanthropic purposes. These activities are an important source of funding for sporting clubs and community organisations across the country.
Section 28 of the Act provides for a charitable or philanthropic cause to seek a District Court licence to promote a lottery on a continuing or once-off basis. With regard to the latter instance, a prize to a maximum value of €360,000 may be offered.
617. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 452 of 15 December 2020, the number of occasions that the evaluation committee has sought the advice and guidance from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; if her Department has received further correspondence on the matter from the CCPC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8396/22]
View answerThe Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) provides non-EEA nationals with a number of options to invest in Ireland, and successful applicants are granted a permission to reside in Ireland for a fixed period, which is renewable.
Project applications are assessed by an Evaluation Committee, comprised of senior civil and public servants from relevant Irish Government Departments and State Agencies involved in enterprise development in Ireland. The project assessment process involves an examination of the profile of the applicant and an assessment of: the commercial viability of the project; employment outcomes associated with the proposed investment; and the overall benefit to the Irish State.
Where necessary, the Evaluation Committee will request policy input from the relevant policy Department, if they are not already represented on the Committee. The current structure ensures that I, as Minister, can benefit from expertise beyond that available in my own Department.
The Committee makes a determination as to whether a project is suitable for IIP investment and if deemed suitable, the individual application will be submitted to me for final approval.
I can confirm that there has been no further engagement between my Department and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and no additional correspondence has been received from the CCPC in relation to the Immigrant Investor Programme.
618. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she has engaged with the Garda Commissioner and or the Garda traffic corps in respect of developing a proactive strategy to address the issue of the State's motorway network being used by criminal gangs and persons to commit acts of burglary and assault. [8397/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and detecting crime. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I can inform the Deputy that both I and my senior officials are in regular and frequent communication with the Garda Commissioner and his senior management team. These engagements take various forms and cover the full range of issues of relevance to our roles.
As the Deputy will be aware, Operation Thor was launched in November 2015 and is focused on burglary and burglary-related crime, particularly over the winter months, when instances of burglary increase. I am informed that Operation Thor proactively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through coordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest crime trends and patterns to protect communities.
This annual focus from Operation Thor has proved highly successful in tackling property related crime since its inception in November 2015, with incidents of residential burglary significantly reduced nationally since its introduction. In 2015, there were in excess of 18,800 residential burglaries reported. By contrast, to the end of 2021 there were just over 6,000 residential burglaries reported, a reduction of over 66% or approximately 13,000 less residential burglaries.
While the COVID-19 pandemic was clearly a factor in some of this reduction, with people more likely to be present in their homes throughout the day, there has been a marked and consistent downward trend in such offences since the introduction of this Garda focus through Operation Thor.
One of the five main focuses of Operation Thor is Crime Prevention and Protecting Communities, including visible focused patrols at specific times of day, targeting burglary ‘hot-spots’, intelligence gathering on known offenders, high-visibility check points to prevent ease of movement, strong crime prevention communications and reassurance with communities.
The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation in excess of €2 billion for 2022, including funding for the recruitment of up to 800 additional Garda trainees and up to 400 Garda staff. This significant investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to increasing the Garda workforce to enable the organisation to keep our communities safe.
Budget 2022 also allocated €12m for investment in the Garda fleet, which means more high visibility policing in our towns and cities and on our roads. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a key element of the work of the Roads Policing Unit is denying criminals the use of the roads network. In addition to focusing on the lifesaver offences of speeding, seatbelts, mobile phones and driving under the influence, there is a significant focus on crime prevention and crime detection. Roads Policing work closely with crime units to target known criminals and to disrupt their activities through strict enforcement of road traffic legislation.
619. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if consideration will be given to reducing the fees for registration for the scheme for the regularisation for long-term undocumented migrants given that many of the applicants particularly those in direct provision have very limited means; the way that the scale of fees was arrived at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8441/22]
View answerThe Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme opened for applications on 31 January 2022. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close. The scheme is only open to those who do not have a current permission to reside in the State and will enable eligible applicants to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their residency status.
I am aware, particularly in the current economic climate, of the financial pressures that people are under. However, the fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for the scheme which, given the benefits involved, is quite a detailed process.
A fee of €700 will generally apply to a family unit applications and children up to 23 years, living with their parent(s), can be included in a family unit application. A fee of €550 will apply to individual applications. There is no provision for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees.
Successful applicants to the scheme will be required to register the permission granted and everyone over the age of 18 years will be required to pay a registration fee of €300, which is the standard registration fee applicable to all applicants.
The international protection strand of the regularisation scheme opened for applications on 7 February 2022 and applications will be accepted for six months until 7 August 2022. This separate strand allows international protection applicants who have an outstanding application for international protection and have been in the asylum process for a minimum of two years to apply.
There is no fee for making an application under this dedicated strand of the scheme. Successful applicants to this strand of the scheme will be required to register their permission, however, no registration fee will apply.
Full details regarding the qualifying criteria, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and the required documentation for the scheme is available on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme/ and at www.ipo.gov.ie for the international protection strand.
620. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if there will be a new scheme in the future to regularise the situation for undocumented persons already in the country but who are here for less than four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8442/22]
View answerI was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July, when the scheme will close.
This once-in-a-generation scheme is designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.
Almost 2,000 applications have been received so far. This is a very positive start and I encourage anyone who may be eligible to apply.
The criteria for the scheme have been designed in line with the Programme for Government commitment, which is to bring forward a regularisation scheme to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents. The period of four years undocumented residence, or three years in the case of applicants with children, is consistent with this commitment and has been approved by Government. This is a once-off, time bound scheme that is expected to benefit thousands of undocumented people living in Ireland. There are no plans to introduce any other scheme or to extend the criteria.
The international protection strand of the scheme opened for applications on 7 February 2022 and applications will be accepted for six months until 7 August 2022. This separate strand allows international protection applicants who have an outstanding application for international protection and have been in the asylum process for a minimum of two years to apply. My Department has recently written to 4,000 potentially eligible applicants inviting them to apply.
If a person is resident in the State without permission and does not meet the terms of the published schemes, I encourage them to contact my Department or their local immigration office and to take all appropriate steps to regularise their status. Any application submitted should explain their current circumstances and future intentions in the State and provide any documentation they feel will support their application.
Following receipt of such an application a full consideration of all aspects of their case will be carried out before a decision is made to grant permission to remain in the State or to make a Deportation Order. This will include a consideration of their private and family life rights, in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally. A pragmatic approach is taken in relation to each case, which is considered on its individual merits.
621. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice the status of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8444/22]
View answerThe application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
During this time, it is important that the person maintains their immigration permission and takes all appropriate steps to renew their permission to be in the State.
In accordance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, an applicant must have had a period of one year’s continuous reckonable residence in the State immediately before the date of the application. As the person concerned has already submitted their application, the six weeks absence rule no longer applies. They should, however, contact my Department at: citizenshipinfo@justice.ie, if they intend to remain outside of the State for an extended period of time.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
Last year, my Department made 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest level since 2015. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
622. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if persons working as administrators on contract for the HSE at vaccination centres will be eligible for the €1,000 bonus for healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7939/22]
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.
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 our health service but did not work in such exposed areas. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
625. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the work that is being undertaken to develop an independent complaints mechanism for children and adolescents accessing mental health services and supports; the estimated cost of the implementation of such a mechanism; when such a mechanism will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8230/22]
View answer838. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of setting up an independent complaints' mechanism for mental health services; if costing reviews have been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8175/22]
View answer861. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the work that is being undertaken to develop an independent complaints mechanism for mental health services and supports; the estimated cost of the implementation of such a mechanism; when such a mechanism will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8222/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 625, 838 and 861 together.
The Department currently has no plans to introduce an independent complaints mechanism for mental health services nor has a review been carried out to ascertain cost of establishing such a mechanism. In line with the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centre) Regulations 2006, each inpatient mental health service, as in general health services, must have a complaints procedure in place, such as the HSE’s ‘Your Service, Your Say’ service. I further note that 'Your Service, Your Say' is available to anyone accessing HSE mental health services, be that on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Following the investigation of the complaint by the HSE, an individual may request an internal review to be carried out by the HSE if they are not happy with the outcome. Furthermore, in cases where the complainant is not satisfied with the response to their complaint, they can request an external review from the Office of the Ombudsman, or in the case of child and adolescent services, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. This option is available to anyone who accesses our public health services, be it mental health services or otherwise.
The General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act, published in July 2021, provides for every person accessing treatment in an inpatient mental health facility to be given information about their care and treatment, including an explicit requirement to provide information on the service’s complaints procedure. Furthermore, the powers of the Inspector of Mental Health Services are being expanded to include 24-hour community residential facilities and community mental health services. As under the existing Act, the Inspector will continue to meet with any person accessing mental health services who has requested such a meeting.
The General Scheme also includes a statutory right to engage an advocate under numerous heads, including a definition of advocate under Section 2, information on advocacy to be provided to people in approved inpatient facilities under Section 16, 79 and 91, access to an advocate during a review board under Section 16B, during inquiries carried out by the Inspector under Section 55, or when making decisions about treatment under Sections 56 and 104.
There are a number of advocacy supports for people accessing mental health services offered by the public and voluntary sectors. The HSE currently provides some advocacy supports such as a Peer Advocacy Service in mental health. This service is concentrated on inpatient services and is delivered by an external agency on behalf of the HSE. In addition to adult advocacy services, HSE National Mental Health Services has a pilot scheme in place in two inpatient units to provide an advocacy service through an external provider for young people and their families using Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides a free, confidential service to people with mental health difficulties, particularly people with complex needs. NAS is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board, which has a mandate under the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Comhairle Act 2000 to provide advocacy for persons with disabilities. Citizens Information Centres can be found nationwide and provide free, impartial advice and advocacy, or the Citizens Information Phone Service can be reached by phone.
Sage Advocacy also provides some advocacy support to people with mental health difficulties, particularly older people, in their role in supporting and enabling vulnerable adults and older people to make their voices heard in their healthcare decisions. The Irish Advocacy Network provides peer advocacy supports to people with mental health difficulties which can be accessed on a self-referral basis.
626. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be eligible for the €1,000 payment allocated to frontline workers for their efforts during the pandemic. [8318/22]
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.
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.
Finally I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter however you will understand that the Department of Health cannot comment on individual cases.
627. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if section 39 workers will be included in the Covid-19 recognition bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8448/22]
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. This covers private nursing homes (whether private, voluntary, Section 39 etc.).
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 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 our health service but did not work in such exposed areas. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
628. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who cannot return from hospital until a care package is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7424/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
629. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the recommendations of the Women's Health Taskforce for endometriosis patients; his plans for the implementation of those recommendations; the steps being taken to improve the diagnosis, management and treatment of endometriosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7427/22]
View answerImproving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government and are fully committed to the development and improvement of Women’s Health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health across the whole life cycle.
We have made a specific commitment to supporting "the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, including the development of a Women’s Health Action Plan, to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health outcomes in Ireland". A number of initial priority areas for action were determined by the Taskforce, with the issue of endometriosis recognised and included as part of a priority workstream on improving gynaecological health for women and girls.
The endometriosis workstream identified a number of potential actions in this area, including enhanced services and supports and increased information and awareness. There has been significant work underway to reflect these actions in implementation, including direct investment in services which I will mention in further detail shortly, and a public webinar on endometriosis which was held on November 24th 2021.
Information provided by the HSE indicates that endometriosis is a difficult condition to diagnose and treat because of the variation of presentations, impacting the physical and mental wellbeing of patients at varying levels. Treatment may include pain medications, hormone treatment and surgical interventions. The time to diagnose endometriosis varies by patient due to its varying and ambiguous symptom presentation. The HSE's National Women & Infants Health Programme has advised that the best way to help the majority of patients with endometriosis is to improve access to gynaecology services.
In relation to the treatment of endometriosis, I am advised that a GP referral to a gynaecologist is the standard pathway of care for the management of endometriosis in Ireland. This is similar to the pathway in place for the management of other gynaecological conditions.
The HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme has developed a plan to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for women awaiting general gynaecology, which includes patients with endometriosis. The plan aims to re-orient general gynaecology services to an ambulatory, or see and treat, model, rather than the traditional outpatient referral model. An ambulatory care model is a more efficient and effective use of resources. It is also better for the patient as it reduces the requirement for multiple outpatient appointments.
As such, the Programme has developed an Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care which centres on the establishment of one-stop “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics. An ambulatory care model is a more efficient and effective use of resources than the traditional outpatient model and it is also better for the patient as it reduces the requirement for multiple outpatient appointments.
Building on progress made in rolling out these ambulatory gynaecology clinics in 2020 and 2021, funding has been provided under Budget 2022 which will facilitate the establishment of additional ambulatory gynaecology clinics, thereby completing the implementation of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care. This will bring the total number of these clinics to 20 nationally.
As part of the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, in April 2021, I announced the expansion of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) to deliver a specialist endometriosis centre for the management and treatment of all forms of endometriosis, with particular focus on advanced and complex cases for which there is no ready access in Ireland.
Further to the above, funding provided under Budget 2022 will enable the expansion of the endometriosis service at TUH as well as the establishment of a new service for more complex endometriosis cases at Cork University Maternity Hospital
The issue of endometriosis has also been highlighted through the nationwide “Radical Listening” exercise carried out by the Women’s Health Taskforce. This exercise enabled women across the country to share their views and experiences of the health sector and health services. This was a large-scale consultation process intended to maximise the participation of women across all life stages from 18 years upwards, including minority and disadvantaged women. 278 women participated in open interviews and workshops. A report on the findings of the ‘Radical listening’ exercise on September 14th can be found here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ebe3e-significant-milestone-as-minister-donnelly-publishes-a-report-of-womens-voices-on-womens-health-following-a-radical-listening-exercise-this-year/
630. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the outpatient waiting lists at Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7433/22]
View answer631. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists at Galway University Hospital that will be targeted for the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if this will include the use of private hospitals and or funding of evening and weekend work in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7434/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 631 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.
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.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) 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 2022 waiting list action plan, which I will bring to Government shortly, builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by my Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly. This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting List Task Force. It has produced a comprehensive 2022 waiting list action plan which will set out high-level targets for waiting list improvement including dedicated funding for service reform, patient pathway improvement, and important significant additionality to substantially reduce the backlog of patients waiting. The taskforce will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious Multi-Annual Waiting List Plan, which is currently under development in my Department. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
632. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital appointments which were cancelled, postponed and rescheduled in University Hospital Galway in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [7435/22]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
633. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital appointments which were cancelled, postponed and rescheduled in Mayo University Hospital in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [7436/22]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
