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Tuesday, 15 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 85-104

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (85)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

85. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with spina bifida who are on waiting lists for operations by hospital group area; the longest waiting time on each list; the steps he is taking to eliminate these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7954/22]

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Written answers

I acknowledge that waiting times for many hospital procedures and appointments are unacceptably long. It is of particular regret that children can experience long waiting times for treatment, especially for time sensitive procedures, and I remain acutely aware of the impact that this has on children and their families. I remain committed to working to reduce waiting times for patients.

In relation to the data requested by the Deputy, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) collect, collate and publish waiting lists in respect of outpatient specialties and inpatient/daycase procedures. The NTPF have advised my Department that waiting times can be examined in terms of the appointment or procedure that a patient is waiting for, however, it is not possible to identify the number of patients waiting by clinical diagnosis, for example how many patients with spina bifida are on the waiting list.

While waiting list data is classified in this very specific way, it is possible to provide a broader update in terms of services for children with Spina Bifida. Children's Health Ireland have advised my Department that Temple Street has doubled its capacity from 2 Multidisciplinary (MDT) clinics to 4 MDT outpatient clinics per month. This will improve access to specialists in the area of Neurodisability, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Urology, Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, and Neuropsychology. The clinics also provide access to a Medical Social worker and a Clinical Nurse Specialist. CHI has advised the Department that this capacity increase is expected to provide each child with an annual review and will reduce the waiting time for follow up appointments.

Children with Spina Bifida often require specialist orthopaedic procedures. The complex patient needs of these children remains at the forefront of service provision, particularly for Children's Health Ireland. On the 7th February 2022, I met with senior officials of Children’s Heath Ireland (CHI) and the HSE, as well as senior orthopaedic clinicians from Temple Street, Crumlin and Cappagh, to discuss increased orthopaedic activity at CHI and additional activity levels which will work to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures, including children with Spina Bifida, by year end.

In order to tackle waiting lists for orthopaedic paediatric surgery and support the needs of patients with Spina Bifida, an additional €5 million has recently been committed to improve access, including through additional theatre and diagnostic capacity to be brought on stream this year.

This funding will be used to build on the working on-going to improve access to orthopaedics. In 2018 Children’s Health Ireland was provided with an additional €9 million in funding to address paediatric orthopaedic waiting lists, including the provision of scoliosis services. This funding is recurring and has been provided in the base HSE allocation each year since 2018. The additional funding supported the recruitment of approximately 60 WTEs in 2018 and 2019 to enable the expansion of paediatric orthopaedic services. The posts relate to the multi-disciplinary team at diagnosis, pre-assessment, during surgery in theatre, and post operatively.

Children's Health Ireland have confirmed that they continue to examine new and innovative ways to improve access to orthopaedic services. “Cappagh Kids” at the National Orthopaedic Hospital at Cappagh provides additional theatre capacity for non-complex, age appropriate, orthopaedic procedures, freeing up much needed space at central CHI sites for children with complex, multi-disciplinary needs. Additional orthopaedic outpatient sessions are also now held at Cappagh, providing additional capacity to see and assess children on the outpatient waiting list.

In addition, a new fast-track orthopaedic pathway has been developed as part of outpatient reduction plans. Paediatric Active Clinical Triage has already been introduced for the longest waiters (over 12 months) on the paediatric outpatient list.

More broadly, improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. 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.

Today I brought to Government the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan which includes 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.

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 to ensure that our waiting lists are in line with Sláintecare targets. This process will be driven forward and overseen by the Waiting List Task Force, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes the CEO’s and other senior representatives from the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (86)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

86. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the status of the new Finglas primary health care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7928/22]

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Written answers

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to delivering a high quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system.

Finglas Primary Care centre has been identified as a high priority location for the development of a Primary Care Centre. In 2012, a HSE direct-build Primary Care Centre was approved, and the Dublin City Council owned property on Mellowes Road was identified as the preferred site.

Following the decision not to grant planning permission in 2015, HSE Estates in conjunction with local Primary Care Services Teams identified an alternative Dublin City Council site for a new Primary Care Centre in Finglas.

The feasibility study for the Finglas Primary Care Centre (PCC) is complete and demonstrates that a Primary Care Centre will fit on the selected site. The Design Team is now engaged and Capital & Estates are proceeding with Stage 1 Design.

The HSE are in advanced discussions with Dublin City Council and City of Dublin Education and Training Board in relation to the proposed site acquisition.

The proposed services accommodation will comprise of a Primary Care, Community Mental Health Team and Mental Health Day Hospital, CAMHS, Social Inclusion, Ophthalmology, Progressing Disability Services (Early Intervention and School Age Disability Team), Dental, Orthodontics, Enhanced Community Care and GPs space.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (87, 114)

Paul Murphy

Question:

87. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the action he has taken to date to ensure that those who suffered narcolepsy after receiving the pandemrix vaccine have received adequate compensation. [6688/22]

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Paul Murphy

Question:

114. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that those who suffered narcolepsy after receiving the pandemrix vaccine will receive appropriate compensation without going to court. [6687/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 114 together.

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. The management of cases taken by persons who allege they developed Narcolepsy and/or Cataplexy as a result of receiving the H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix, is delegated to SCA and, as such, the Government has no role in determining how these cases are conducted.

I understand, however, that the SCA has established a Scheme of Settlement in relation to this litigation whereby plaintiffs have the facility of resolving their claims through a formal mediation process with an ultimate right of appeal to a retired superior court judge. I am informed that the Scheme is functioning well and approximately a quarter of the cases in the Scheme have been successfully resolved. Other cases are in the process of resolution by the Scheme.

National Maternity Hospital

Questions (88)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

88. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has received a business case for the proposed new National Maternity Hospital as required under the Public Spending Code; if not, the status of the matter; if his attention has been drawn to reports of the repeated refusal of the HSE audit and risk committee to approve the proposed relocation of the new National Maternity Hospital under the currently proposed corporate structure, under which the National Maternity Hospital DAC would become a wholly owned subsidiary of a company (details supplied); the way the substantial public investment can be protected in such a corporate structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2804/22]

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Written answers

The HSE has submitted the Business Case for the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to my Department for consideration and review, and this is ongoing.

As set out in the Programme for Government, we are committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus. The Government is also aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding ownership and governance of the new NMH, and recognises that these matters must be addressed.  

This is a vital project and I have been clear that I will not bring any proposal to Government unless it provides assurances around all legally permissible services being provided in the new NMH. The safeguarding of the State’s investment must also be affirmed beyond doubt. Work is ongoing on the legal arrangements that will be put in place to achieve these objectives.

There is a process ongoing to finalise the legal arrangements and in that regard there has been further engagement with stakeholders. I will bring a proposal to Government for approval to proceed once I am satisfied that the legal arrangements achieve the objectives that I set out above. However, I will not be making any further comment in relation to this matter until the process of engagement and deliberation regarding the legal arrangements has concluded.

Disease Management

Questions (89)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

89. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the status of development of disease-specific registries as part of Ireland’s health information strategy; if work has commenced on registries for any diseases; when the first registry will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7694/22]

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Written answers

The Department is currently preparing a Memo for Government for approval-in-principal of a Health Information Bill, to improve the care people receive, their outcomes and the well-being of the population by ensuring high quality information is available to the public, health and social care professional, researchers and policymakers.

Included in the design of this Bill is a provision to enable the operation of disease-specific “virtual registries”, where information on disease diagnoses and treatment from healthcare providers are efficiently collated, combined and quality-checked from administrative records to create a database akin to an active registry for each disease. This will greatly improve the potential to monitor rare-disease prevalence in Ireland.

Hospital Staff

Questions (90)

Mick Barry

Question:

90. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that Cork University Hospital is provided with funding to allow for the employment of the required number of neurology nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/22]

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Written answers

Neurological nurse specialists play an important role in triaging, assessing, and providing ongoing support to neurological patients. This in turn builds capacity within neurological services and allows for more timely access to efficient, equitable and quality care.

The HSE has advised that the National Clinical Programme for Neurology (NCPN) in conjunction with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) completed an all-Ireland survey of neurological services in 2020. This survey confirmed that all neurological centres have access to a designated clinical nurse specialist and/or advanced nurse practitioner, recognising the value that skilled and highly trained nursing staff add to neurological services

The HSE has advised that all funded Neurology Nurse Specialist posts in Cork University Hospital (CUH) are filled with the exception of the newly funded Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist post, which is progressing through the recruitment process. Interviews for this post took place in November 2021 however, unfortunately no candidate was successful. This post will be re-advertised in the coming weeks. There are currently four specialist nurses working within the Neurology Services at CUH.

The HSE has also advised that in 2021, the South SouthWest Hospital Group sought, and received approval for, two additional Consultant Neurologist posts and recruitment is progressing to fill these positions.

Since the end of 2019, the health sector has grown by a total of 12,506 WTEs, with the largest area of growth in Nursing and Midwifery, with an additional 3,372 WTE posts.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (91, 828, 829, 830)

David Cullinane

Question:

91. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will establish regional health areas; the form these will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7843/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

828. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans and the actions underway to restructure the HSE; the measures that will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8132/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

829. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when regional health areas will be introduced. [8133/22]

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David Cullinane

Question:

830. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will provide funding on a population basis via regional health areas. [8134/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 828, 829 and 830 together.

Mar is eol don Teachta, the introduction of the Regional Health Areas (RHAs) will ensure the alignment of hospital, community, and primary healthcare services at a regional level, based on defined populations and their local needs. This is key to delivering on the Sláintecare vision of an integrated health and social care service.

The 2020 Programme for Government committed to bring forward detailed proposals on the six Regional Health Areas to enable delivery of local services for patients that are safe, of high-quality, and fairly distributed. In partnership with the HSE and other key stakeholders, my Department is developing a work programme for their implementation . I intend to bring this proposal to Government for decision in the coming weeks.

Senior Department and HSE officials are leading this work. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is also involved, given the transfer of disability policy to Minister O’Gorman’s Department.

This team of officials is on track to finalise a detailed implementation plan by the end of this year. This will cover how RHAs will impact on workforce and HR planning, funding allocation, capital infrastructure, and governance lines. The team reports on their progress to the Sláintecare Programme Board which reports directly to me. The work programme will provide for substantial levels of staff engagement and of public engagement in Autumn of this year to ensure broad-ranging input to the design of our health and social care services.

Our high-level timeframe is to engage in detailed organisational design work in 2022, with implementation in 2023 and full operationalisation from 2024. We will work within the budgetary and calendar cycles.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (92)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

92. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the site selection for the adult acute mental health unit at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7695/22]

View answer

Written answers

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (93)

Colm Burke

Question:

93. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current status of all projects involving hospital extensions in the Cork area in view of the large increase in population and the lack of an adequate number of hospital beds in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7679/22]

View answer

Written answers

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Mortality Rates

Questions (94)

Gino Kenny

Question:

94. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland had the eighth highest incidence rate and fifth highest mortality rate for breast cancer in the European Union in 2020; if he will reduce the age for eligibility for breast screening from 50 to 40 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7945/22]

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Written answers

Whilst the OECD Report ‘Health at a Glance: Europe 2020’ estimates that Ireland had the 5th highest mortality rate and 8th highest incidence rate within the EU-27 countries, it is important to be aware while incidence rates have increased in Ireland in the period 1994-2019 (based on data from the National Cancer Registry), this is largely due to a growing and ageing population and the increase in cancers detected through the BreastCheck programme which was rolled out nationally in 2007. Furthermore, due to a combination of screening and treatment improvements, the mortality rate for breast cancer in Ireland has steadily and significantly declined in Ireland over the period 1994-2018. This is also evident in the survival rates for breast cancer, which have increased from 69% in 1994-1999 to 88% for those diagnosed between 2014-2018. Indeed, of the 200,000 estimated cancer survivors in Ireland in 2019, almost a quarter of these were patients with a previous breast cancer diagnosis.

I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population. I am pleased to inform that, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, BreastCheck are now implementing the commitment on age-extension so that all women aged between 50 to 69 years are invited for routine breast screening.

Regarding any further changing or lowering the age eligibility for BreastCheck, the National Screening Service (NSS) has advised that BreastCheck delivers its services in line with international criteria for screening programmes, based on the best international evidence, which is kept under constant review. In this regard, it is important to be aware, that future decisions about changes to our national screening programmes, including reducing the age range in breast screening, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms. It may be of interest to that the NSAC recently held its first 'Annual Call', importantly it gave members of the public and health professionals an opportunity to suggest new screening programmes or modifications to existing ones. I am looking forward to receiving recommendations from the NSAC and will be guided by such to ensure Ireland’s population-based screening programmes continues to evolve in line with new evidence and developments.

It is an important message, screening is for healthy people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact their GP who will arrange appropriate follow-up care. It is important that every woman is breast aware. This means knowing what is normal for them so that if any unusual change occurs, they will recognise it. The National Screening Service and BreastCheck have useful information in relation to breast health on their website.

Disability Services

Questions (95)

Alan Dillon

Question:

95. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that day services for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients have yet to reopen in County Mayo (details supplied); if there are proposals to ensure such services reopen in line with the rest of society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7953/22]

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Written answers

I have made it a priority to ensure that these centres open as quickly and as safely as possible, recognising their fundamental importance to the health and wellbeing of older people, including individuals with dementia and their families.

As of January 2022, following closures last year due to Covid-19, 26 of the 34 dementia specific day care centres across Ireland had reopened, with plans for the reopening of the 8 remaining centres. Regarding the reopening of the dementia day care centres specifically in Castlebar and Ballindine, your query has been referred to the HSE for response as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Questions (96)

Brian Stanley

Question:

96. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to address the crisis in the school dental scheme in County Laois; and the progress to date to restart the adult dental treatment services scheme which has collapsed. [7764/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Health Strategies

Questions (97, 110, 163)

Duncan Smith

Question:

97. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the reinstatement of a national director for the Mental Health Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7726/22]

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Thomas Pringle

Question:

110. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations with the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE for the urgent reinstatement of a national director for mental health reporting directly to the CEO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5494/22]

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Mark Ward

Question:

163. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on calls by the Minister for State in his Department for the reappointment of the national director for mental health; the reason the reappointment has not occurred to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6701/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 110 and 163 together.

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

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (98, 909)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he will consider new initiatives to deal with backlogs and waiting lists in respect of various procedures; if he will consider setting up key medical and surgical groups to deal with such issues as scoliosis, endoscopy, cardiovascular and oncology with a view to achieving specific targets on a weekly and monthly basis, thereby relieving the stress on the system and patients already on unacceptably long waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7873/22]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

909. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department will avail of the help of various consultants throughout the country with particular specialties with a view to reduction in waiting lists for various procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8420/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 909 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.

Clinical leadership is central to the delivery of the changes required by our healthcare system and reducing waiting lists. National Clinical Programmes (NCPs) are the vehicle through which multi-disciplinary clinical design leadership and innovation are enabled. Since their inception in 2010, the National Clinical Programmes have been a key transforming force in delivering change and continue to play a strong role in supporting the transformation that is required in healthcare.

The National Clinical Programmes enable surgeons, doctors, nurses, health and social care professionals, and hospital managers with expertise in their clinical service area, to work in collaboration to develop standardised care pathways, clinical guidelines and models of care for the patient journey. These models of care emphasise evidenced-based pathways and new ways of working to support better patient access and quality of care.

NCPs are involved in the development of key national policy strategies, including the National Cancer Strategy. Some of the NCPs include: The Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) programme, The National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure, The National Clinical Programme for Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, The National Clinical Programme for Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

In addition 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 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 be bringing 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.

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Questions (99)

Joe Carey

Question:

99. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated for the National Treatment Purchase Fund for 2022; and the way this compares with the allocations in each of the past five years. [7865/22]

View answer

Written answers

Under Budget 2022 the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been allocated a total of €150 million.

The allocation in the previous five years was €22.6 million in 2017; €55.02 million in 2018; €75 million in 2019; €100 million in 2020; €130 million in 2021.

Budget 2022

Questions (100)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

100. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of expenditure of the additional €31 million secured in Budget 2022 for women’s health initiatives; if the programmes that are benefitting are on schedule for implementation in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7696/22]

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Written answers

As Minister for Health, improving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government.

The Women’s Health Fund was established in 2020 with a €5 million allocation in Budget 2021. In Budget 2022, the fund received an additional €5 million which will allow us to continue to invest in women’s health nationwide.

To date, I have announced a number of investments made through the Women’s Health Fund such as funding for community-based Ambulatory Gynaecology Services and for enhanced endometriosis services for more complex cases. Both of which are on track for implementation in 2022, along with a number of other significant projects funded through the Women’s Health Fund in 2021.

Other than the Women’s Health Fund, there are a number of key initiatives that I am happy to see allocated funding through Budget 2022.

€8.66m has been allocated to the National Maternity Strategy for 2022, which builds on the significant investment of €7.3m allocated in 2021. This funding will permit the recruitment of an additional 99.5 WTEs into maternity services, the development of two Postnatal Hubs and the continued implementation of the National Maternity Strategy. The National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) has completed its engagement with all maternity units and prioritisation of posts to be recruited is currently being finalised. The Programme continues to engage with the Hospital Groups to ensure that planned developments in maternity services remain on schedule.

Aligning with the priorities set out in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future, we will see the roll out of a free contraception programme for women and girls aged 17-25, expected to commence in August 2022, at a cost of approximately €9 million. The scheme will include the full range of contraceptive options already available to GMS (medical) card holders, two GP visits per year, and any necessary fitting, removal and check-up appointments required for long-acting reversible contraception.

A significant portion of the overall investment has been allocated to the continued investment in significant service developments, such as ambulatory gynaecological services.

Budget 2022 provided €3.31m to facilitate the establishment of the final six ambulatory gynaecology clinics, which will bring the total number of such clinics around the country to 20. This will complete the implementation of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care. I am advised that NWIHP has completed its engagement with the relevant hospitals in relation to these clinics and has indicated that these developments are on schedule.

Similarly, with an investment of €0.58 million, further developments will be made in menopause care through the development of three new specialist menopause clinics based in Galway, Cork and Limerick respectively. This follows on from the establishment of the first such clinic in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street last year. The operationalisation of the new clinics will be dependent on resourcing the necessary staff, however, NWIHP has advised that the engagement with the relevant Hospital Groups in this regard is progressing as planned.

A further €0.25 million has been allocated to Sexual Assault Treatment Units, which will enhance the services provided in this area over the course of 2022.

A portion of this funding, €0.54 million, has been allocated to the establishment of a Obstetric Event Support Team within the National Women and Infants Health Programme, To date, Phase 1 has been rolled out in the Saolta, South/Southwest and UL Hospital Groups, with Phase 2 due to commence in March 2022 covering the remaining Hospital Groups.

Along with continued investment in ongoing development, Budget 2022 commits €0.7 million as a first-time investment in tackling period poverty. Following a call for expressions of interest, my Department is engaging with Local Authorities with regard to period poverty mitigation measures in their areas. Planning in partnership with HSE Social Inclusion and local community representatives has commenced with regard to initial roll-out to Travellers and Roma. Engagement with the voluntary sector will commence in the next few weeks.

The remainder of the fund will see us build on initiatives started in 2021, by further extending the complex endometriosis services (€1.39 million) that I mentioned previously along with the commencement of a structured and resourced service in the Dublin and Cork regions for perinatal genetics services (€1.34 million). I understand that NWIHP is engaging with the proposed service providers and this project remains on schedule.

Details on the Women’s Health Taskforce are found at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/-womens-health/.

Primary Care Services

Questions (101)

Alan Farrell

Question:

101. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of the efforts to improve community health services in Fingal, County Dublin in line with growing population centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7908/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Hospital Staff

Questions (102)

Emer Higgins

Question:

102. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the work underway to increase the number of frontline nursing and midwifery staff in hospitals to help increase capacity and improve experiences for both staff and patients. [7974/22]

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Written answers

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the health service has been committed to ensuring sufficient staffing levels to meet both COVID-related and long-term healthcare demand. Budget 2021 provided funding to greatly increase the health workforce. Across 2020 and 2021, Nursing and Midwifery staffing has had a net increase of 3,372 WTE. The commitment to building capacity in the health sector was emphasised again in Budget 2022, which provides funding for a further growth in the workforce of up to 141,491 WTE. We are working with the HSE to finalise the numbers to be recruited by staff category for 2022.

In addition to the above, the Strategic Plan for Critical Care aims to increase critical care capacity in Ireland to 446 in the longer term. Available staffing is a critical aspect of critical care provision and is often reported as being the foremost limiting factor in attempts to increase capacity.

A total of €77m has been provided for implementation of the Strategic Plan over 2021 and 2022. This will allow national critical care capacity to increase to 340 by 2023. This funding includes provision for the additional staff required to open these beds, as well as funding to increase the number of places available on critical care nurse training programmes and to recruit additional onsite nurse educators to support training in a hospital setting.

Building on the evidence from the last two years, funding for 2022 has been allocated to support strategic and permanent increase in advanced practice across the system in line with Sláintecare. The Minister has committed to increasing the target of 2% of the nursing and midwifery workforce at advanced practice level to 3% over the next two years. This significant investment in the nursing and midwifery workforce, will enhance patient experiences, as well as offering more career opportunities for nurses and midwives to address population health needs across the system.

Disability Services

Questions (103)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

103. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will implement the recommendation of the report by the Ombudsman, Grounded: Unequal access for people with disabilities to personal transport schemes, for access to transport for disabled persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62412/21]

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Written answers

The Ombudsman issued commentary on three transport support schemes for people living with a disability. Those are the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance Schemes, which are now closed and the Revenue Commissioners Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme, which comes under the remit of the Department of Finance.

The Government decided to close the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance administrative Schemes in 2013, on foot of the Ombudsman reports in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts.

Other transport supports available to people with disabilities, include;

- The Free Travel Scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection;

- The Revenue Commissioners’ Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme; and

- Measures funded under the Department of Rural and Community Development CLÁR Programme, to provide grants to voluntary organisations providing transport for people with significant mobility issues.

Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 - 2021, the Department of Transport has responsibility for the continued development of the availability of accessible public transport and is committed to this in recognition of the importance of such services to the lives of people with disabilities.

Work is continuing on the policy proposals for the provision of transport supports for people with disabilities. Recent developments which will impact on the policy options include the following:

- The ongoing progress by the Department of Transport in providing accessible public transport nationally and that Department's review of active travel and public transport policy, including accessible public transport;

- The Cost of Disability Study, commissioned by the Department of Social Protection, which will inform policy direction in relation to the provision of adequate supports to meet the needs of people with disabilities, including transport costs;

- The Working Group established under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy to lead a review of all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities; and

- The Department of Finance's commitment to review the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme.

Home Help Service

Questions (104)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

104. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if persons will be allowed to source their home help from reputable private providers in situations in which the HSE is unable to follow through on its commitments given the large number of persons that have been approved for home help from the HSE but are unable avail of the service due to the shortages of staff in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7765/22]

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Written answers

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

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