Written Answers Nos. 751-768
751. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions that occurred through University of Limerick Hospitals Group accident and emergency or the acute medical assessment unit due to severe hypoglycaemia in each of the years 2017 to 2020 in the age ranges 18 to 24, 25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64 and over 65 years of age in tabular form. [7938/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
752. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the publication of the stroke strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7981/22]
View answer753. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the way that the stroke strategy is progressing for implementation; the consideration that has been given through the HSE 2022 National Service Planning process for funding opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7982/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 752 and 753 together.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
754. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when it is expected that supports such as the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance will be restored for disabled drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7987/22]
View answerThe 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.
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 Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, which is now under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disabilities, Integration and Youth, to lead a review of all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities. The Working Group was reconvened on 26 January, 2022; and
- The Department of Finance's commitment to review the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme.
755. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if there is an allocation of funding for a permanent public MRI machine for Wexford General Hospital;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7991/22]
View answer756. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the installation of a permanent public MRI machine in Wexford General Hospital as committed to by the HSE in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7992/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 755 and 756 together.
The installation of a permanent MRI at Wexford General Hospital is a priority capital investment for the Ireland East Health Group.
The HSE has advised that there is currently an MRI service available at Wexford General Hospital, which is being provided in a mobile unit on site.
Engagement is taking place between the Hospital Group and the Health Service Executive (HSE) regarding the funding of this initiative. The HSE has been advised that the Friends of Wexford General Hospital have raised €250,000 seed funding for the MRI and are continuing to hold these funds in good faith.
The Wexford MRI Scanner Project has been prioritised for initiation on the Capital Plan 2022.
757. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 25 January 2022, if he has approved the HSE submission to his Department for the formal recognition of the grade of orthodontic therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7993/22]
View answerThere is an ongoing dialogue between the Department of Health and the HSE in relation to orthodontic therapists.
Orthodontic therapists are recognised by the Dental Council to work in this country as part of an orthodontic specialist service team.
The role of an orthodontic therapist was created on a pilot initiative in HSE Dublin North-East where WTE from nursing or hygienists’ grade were released from the HSE to pursue the Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy. There are currently 4 staff in the system, three dental nurses and one dental hygienist grade carrying out the roles and responsibilities of an Orthodontic Therapist subject to the conditions agreed at the setup of the pilot scheme.
The Department of Health is giving active consideration to the recent proposals to create a HSE grade of orthodontic therapist as part of the wider agenda for the dental workforce envisaged under the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte.
758. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the level of funding provided in 2022 for the provision of mental health services; if specific funding is allocated for suicide prevention services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7996/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
759. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will conduct a review of staffing levels across the health service and ensure that extra permanent posts are sanctioned to ensure that the health service can increase its capacity on a permanent basis to deal with non-Covid-19 care and the almost 1 million persons on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/22]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
760. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the lack of staff and resourcing for the national child and adolescent mental health service and the damage caused to children and adolescents by the consequent over and inappropriate medication of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5418/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
761. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the lack of statistics from the HSE regarding the number of children who have been hospitalised with Covid-19 since December 2021 in the context of the high number of Covid-19 infections being reported in children during January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5419/22]
View answerAs of 14th February, there are 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases in hospital in the three CHI hospitals. There were 25 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the CHI hospitals as of 7th February. The peak number of COVID-19 cases in CHI was on 10th January 2022 (26). As of 14th February, there were 3 confirmed COVID-19 cases in ICU in the three CHI hospitals.
Given the surge in cases due to Omicron, data based on notifications to CIDR for late December 2021, and January 2022, do not accurately reflect time-series trends. Due to a surge in case numbers, the turnaround time for processing notifications on CIDR increased. Notifications between 19/12/2021 and 15/01/2022 (week 51, 2021 to week 2, 2022) are reduced, while notifications between 16/01/2022 and 29/01/2022 (weeks 3 and 4, 2022) are inflated compared to cases diagnosed during these weeks.
The latest ‘Weekly Report on the Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ireland’ from the HPSC for Week 5 2022, www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/surveillance/epidemiologyofcovid-19inirelandweeklyreports/COVID-19%20Weekly%20Report_Slidset_HPSC_week_5_v1.2_website.pdf, includes details of the distribution of hospitalised cases by age group for Wave 4 and Wave 5. Given the issues in relation to week of notification of cases, for Wave 5 this data is presented by the week of the ‘Epi date’ which is a more accurate reflection of time-series trends.
762. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the section 38 agencies that operate in County Clare; the type of service provided by each; the total grant received by each agency in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8017/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
763. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the section 39 agencies that operate in County Clare; the type of service provided by each; the total grant received by each agency in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8018/22]
View answerThe Department of Health does not directly fund any charitable voluntary groups. Under Section 39 of the 1970 Health Act funding is provided by the Health Service Executive. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
764. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of the population of County Clare with a medical card or general practitioner visit card in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8019/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
765. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the percentage and total population with a medical card that are receiving a prescription for a chronic health condition in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8016/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
766. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of practising general practitioners in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/22]
View answer767. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of practising general practitioners in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8000/22]
View answer768. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of general practices in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8001/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 766 to 768, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
