Written Answers Nos. 802-818
802. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent publicly employed non-acute occupational therapists in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8084/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
803. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent publicly employed non-acute speech and language therapists in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8085/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
804. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent publicly employed non-acute podiatrists and chiropodists in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8086/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
806. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent publicly employed non-acute social workers in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8088/22]
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.
807. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of long-term residential care centres and long-term residential care beds in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8089/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
808. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the average number of publicly financed home care hours per person, by age, in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8090/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
809. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health his views on the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases in the context of school aged children; if he is considering reinstating contact tracing in schools or PCR tests for school aged children; if there are other measures he is considering to ensure that schools can safely remain open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8091/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware of the decision to reopen schools after the Christmas break from January 6th, as planned and the statement issued by the Minister for Education in this regard on 4 January 2022: (gov.ie/en/press-release/f16b6-statement-following-meeting-between-minister-foley-and-education-stakeholders-today-4-january-2022/).
In her statement, the Minister for Education referred to the briefing provided by public health colleagues in the HSE on how the COVID-19 mitigation measures in place in schools have been reviewed by public health and will continue in place in the coming term. The HSE has worked to ensure that the measures in place in schools are robust and prioritise the safety of staff, children and the wider community. Schools are controlled settings and the approach to testing and contact tracing is risk-based in relation to the setting, age-group and the existence of other preventive measures. In addition, these measures recognise the negative impact absences from school have on children’s educational, social and emotional well-being.
The role of testing and contact tracing, as part of the wider public health response, has been under ongoing review throughout the pandemic and will continue to be reviewed and amended in line with the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population and ECDC guidance. The HSE continues to supply antigen tests, free of charge, to all symptomatic persons aged from 4 to 39, to all close contacts of confirmed cases, and to support the Department of Education in supplying antigen tests to parents and carers of children in primary schools as part of a pod in which there was a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Consideration is also being given to the future role of testing and tracing particularly as the need evolves to move from extensive case finding and tracing of infection aimed at reducing transmission, to one primarily focused on mitigation of the severe impacts of COVID-19, particularly for those most vulnerable to the effects of the disease and for those with risk factors for severe disease who may benefit from specific interventions.
The Minister for Education is responsible for policy in relation to schools and other measures in schools are a matter for her Department.
810. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to review recommendation on screening mammograms for women under 35 years of age; if there are plans to allow routine screening mammograms for women under 35 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8092/22]
View answerI 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.
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 Committee is an independent expert group which 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.
In this regard, it may be of interest to that the NSAC recently held its first 'Annual Call' for submissions from the public on new screening programmes, or proposed changes to existing programmes. Importantly this 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 important to remember that 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.
811. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an explanation for the reason the diagnostic team within the Children’s Disability Network team 12 in Cork is not yet in operation; if a psychologist has been hired for team 12; when it is expected that this diagnostic team will be in operation and assessments can begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8095/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
812. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to ensure that older persons can age in their own home with dignity and independence as long as possible. [8096/22]
View answer816. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to analyse the need for home care in the State. [8100/22]
View answer817. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to equalise the inequity between different HSE regions with regard to provisions of home care and particularly with regard to the provision of travel expenses. [8101/22]
View answer818. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to tackle the level of unregulated care, including informal employment in a person's home in the home care sector. [8102/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 812 and 816 to 818, inclusive, together.
The Programme for Government agreed in 2020 commits the government to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’.
Consequently, work is on-going within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Taking place within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms, this work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.
The aim is to ensure that all service-users in the State are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, thus allowing them to age in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as is safely possible. The regulatory framework will comprise: (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home-support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (i.e., regulations); and (iii) HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services.
Last year, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements that will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined. The Department recently commenced a targeted stakeholder consultation on these draft minimum requirements. A public consultation will take place in 2022. In addition, HIQA lately ran a public scoping consultation to inform the development of their National Standards for Home Support Services. A regulatory impact analysis is currently being undertaken by the Department to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks.
Work is ongoing in relation to the development of a reformed model of service delivery for the new scheme. In 2021, funding was secured for the Health Service Executive to: (i) progress the roll-out of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs in the community; (ii) pilot a reformed model of service-delivery for home-support; and (iii) establish a National Office for Home Support Services.
Recruitment of 128 interRAI Care Needs Facilitator posts has been approved. This will progress the national roll-out of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care for older persons services. A comprehensive and robust operational model for the roll-out of interRAI has been developed which will facilitate effective, efficient, fair and transparent care needs assessment and planning and appropriate service delivery.
The testing of the reformed model of service delivery for home-support commenced in November 2021 in the first of the four pilot sites: East Westmeath in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 8. The three other sites – Tuam, Athenry and Loughrea in CHO 2; Bandon, Kinsale and Carrigaline in CHO 4; and Ballyfermot and Palmerstown in CHO 7 – came into operation in January 2022. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluations will be critical to the development of the new home-support scheme. A National Home Support Office is in the process of being established.
In parallel, the Department is developing the evidence base to determine the optimal approach to a funding model for the scheme. As part of this work, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is undertaking research on behalf of the Department on the potential demand for and cost of home-support. The first report from this research, published in March 2021, focused on the potential demand for such a scheme in a number of policy scenarios. The findings contained in the report indicate that there will be a significant increase in the demand for home-support in the coming years and that, relative to a baseline of the provision of 24.7 million hours in 2019, between 3.5 and 8 million additional hours will be required across a range of policy scenarios modelled. Building on this work, the ESRI is currently undertaking research on the potential cost of introducing such a scheme across a range of funding scenarios. This report is scheduled for publication in Q1 2022. This work will complement the research already undertaken, including by the Health Research Board, in relation to the provision of home-support in other countries. The Department will seek Government approval in due course on any proposed legislation to provide for a funding model for the new home-support scheme, taking into consideration the cost associated with the various options.
In addition to the statutory scheme, the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, has committed to establishing a cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group to examine strategic workforce challenges in front-line carer roles in home-support and nursing homes. The work of this Group, the first meeting of which is expected to take place the week commencing 28th February, will centre on engagement with relevant stakeholders in the sector and will involve a structured programme of ongoing consultative engagements with key sectoral stakeholders to further explore and define the issues, listen to stakeholder views, and identify approaches to respond to strategic workforce challenges. Potential areas to be considered by the Group include recruitment, retention, training, and the career development of front-line carers in home-support and nursing homes into the future. Provision of travel expenses to staff may also form part of these considerations.
813. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the home care sector. [8097/22]
View answerThe HSE has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering home support services at national, regional and local levels. Services are delivered either directly by HSE-employed staff, or on its behalf by a combination of private and Section 39 organisations (i.e. voluntary/not-for-profit) providers who operate under service agreements with the HSE.
In 2018 the HSE began streamlining services by bringing together the funding for home help and standard home care packages, which now operate as a single home support service. This approach provided significant benefits, including: making the services easier to understand; streamlining the application and decision-making processes; and, facilitating service users in moving to changed levels of service as their assessed needs changed, without the need for an additional application process. Overall, the 2018 HSE National Service Plan (NSP) provided for 17.4 million home support hours to be delivered to 50,500 people at any time. This includes home support hours provided through intensive home care packages.
The Programme for Government commits to increasing home care hours. During the lifetime of this Government I have secured additional funding of €150 million for home support, to progress the development of a reformed model of service delivery to underpin the statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services, and to provide for up to 5 million additional hours of home support last year. Last year’s target was to deliver 24.26 million home support hours, which included hours to be delivered through Intensive Home Care Packages and I'm pleased to say that the funding to provide these additional hours has been maintained into 2022. Since 2018 the overall target for home support has increased from 17.4 million hours to 24.26 million hours. This represents an increase of approximately 40%.
Preliminary data show that about 2.9 million more home support hours were delivered by the end of December 2021, compared to the same period in 2020. I am aware that delays can arise between funding approval and the delivery of home support hours. Certain regions are experiencing increased pressures due to staff availability. I am committed to establishing a cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group to examine strategic workforce challenges in front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes. Invitations to join the Group, along with its draft Terms of Reference issued to all relevant Government Departments and agencies on 11th February. It is expected that the inaugural meeting of the Group will be held in the week beginning 28th February 2022.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Pilot for testing of a reformed model of service for the delivery for home support is fully operational. It commenced in November 2021 in east Westmeath, which is the first of the four pilot sites. The three other sites became operational in January 2022. Recruitment of 128 InterRAI Care Needs Facilitator posts to progress the national rollout of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care needs, has been approved. In addition, a National Home Support Office is in the process of being established.
815. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to harvest data around the provision of home care and the need for such care in Ireland. [8099/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
