Pa Daly
Question:873. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment. [10023/22]
View answerDental Services
Questions (873)
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 Services
Questions (874)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:874. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if there is a plan for improving podiatry services in south-western areas of County Cork for persons with diabetes; the plans that are in place to address the staff shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10027/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (875)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:875. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a palliative care package which would enable them to be discharged from hospital and to return home to their family. [10029/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes
Questions (876)
Michael Creed
Question:876. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when long term residential care will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10047/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I am referring the question for response to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (877)
Alan Kelly
Question:877. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time physiotherapists employed per CHO area in tabular form. [10053/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (878)
Alan Kelly
Question:878. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time occupational therapists employed per CHO area in tabular form. [10054/22]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (879)
Alan Kelly
Question:879. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time dentists employed per CHO area in tabular form. [10055/22]
View answerWritten 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 Services Staff
Questions (880)
Robert Troy
Question:880. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has plans to incentivise recently qualified medical and nursing graduates who received State resources during their education to stay in Ireland for a few years before they travel if they choose to. [10056/22]
View answerWritten answers
Recruitment and retention of recently qualified healthcare workers is a key priority. All recently qualified nursing graduates were offered permanent contracts of employment in 2020 and 2021. It is expected that the 2022 graduates will also be offered permanent contracts. These nurses and midwives, after one year and 16 weeks' suitable experience, will be eligible to apply for the enhanced nurse-midwife role and salary scale.
Retention efforts by the HSE both nationally and locally are in place with significant career development and progression and educational/development opportunities being offered. The Department is working with the National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) Office of the HSE in relation to medical workforce planning and initiatives aimed at increasing opportunities for training and career progression for trainee doctors. Opportunities for training and career progression for doctors in the Irish Health system continue to evolve. Examples of the initiatives include:
- The Introduction of the online National Employment Record (NER) has now eliminated the requirement for duplication of paperwork associated with NCHD rotations.
- Enhanced Financial Supports: The Training Support Scheme (TSS), introduced in July 2019, provides reimbursement for approved exams, courses or conferences and is open to all NCHDs. Since July 2019 the full costs of approved examination/courses are eligible for refund to NCHDs under the Clinical Course Exam Refund Scheme (CCERS), this was previously capped at €450.
- Greater predictability of the location of rotations are now provided to trainees at the outset of training. All newly appointed trainees receive a minimum of 2 years pre-defined rotations, a minimum of 13 weeks prior to commencing training/entry to their training scheme, while trainees entering year 3 of a training scheme receive a minimum of 2 years pre-defined rotations a minimum of 13 weeks prior to commencing year 3 of the scheme.
- Increased rationalised training opportunities: A number of training schemes are moving towards more a regionalised structure of training. This is specialty dependent, but examples include the intern rotations which take place within a particular intern network and geographic location.
- Introduction of the Lead NCHD programme: The programme was introduced to provide a formal link at hospital management level between NCHDs and management, and to develop leadership capacity within NCHDs. The programme now runs across 32 acute hospitals, Community Health Organisations (CHOs), Public Health and Primary Care settings.
- Expansion of supernumerary Flexible Training HSE scheme posts: Since July 2016 the scheme has expanded from 24 to 32 annual places. The scheme has also been extended to junior trainees from year 2 BST onwards;
- NDTP have recently launched a new E-Portfolio / Logbook accessible to NCHDs via their National Employment Record. The principal objective of the E-Portfolio is to allow NCHDs who are not on a formal training scheme access to a generic standard document to record their training and career development. It also provides the opportunity to have their experience validated by their supervising Consultant where applicable.
The HSE NDTP Office is in the initial stages of work regarding doctors who completed an internship in Ireland. Early and provisional data shows that a high percentage of medical interns who graduate leave Ireland for at least one year. However, the data shows that 82% of interns who commenced one year intern training in July 2015 subsequently commenced a Basic Specialist Training (BST) or General Practice (GP) training programme in subsequent years (2016-2021). A small number of the 2015 cohort also remain in the Irish health system either in service grade posts or employed within the private healthcare sector.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (881)
Sorca Clarke
Question:881. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the public hospitals that have the facility to take DEXA scans; the number of these DEXA scanners in each of those hospitals in question in tabular form. [10064/22]
View answerWritten 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 Services Staff
Questions (882)
Sorca Clarke
Question:882. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent respiratory physiotherapists working in the Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [10065/22]
View answerWritten 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 Appointments Status
Questions (883)
Niamh Smyth
Question:883. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if the appointment will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10097/22]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (884)
David Cullinane
Question:884. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 26 January 2022, if his Department has finalised arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the pandemic recognition payment; the position regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10100/22]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly I would again like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest that this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. This will be published as soon as possible.
It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (885)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:885. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way that healthcare workers who worked in Ireland during the pandemic who qualify for the recognition payment of €1,000 but left the country after June 2021, will receive the bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10113/22]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly 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 of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. This will be published as soon as possible.
It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
Health Services Staff
Questions (886)
Holly Cairns
Question:886. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide subsidised English classes and the occupational English test and international English language testing system exams for non-native English speakers who are working in public healthcare settings. [10118/22]
View answerWritten answers
At present there are no plans to provide subsidised English classes and the occupational English test and international English language testing system exams for non-native English speakers who are working in public healthcare settings.
However, in the further education and training (FET) sector, all 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) offer free English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, as part of their Adult Literacy provision, to meet the day-to-day social, cultural and work-related language needs of new community members. Priority is given to unemployed migrants, international protection applicants and refugees with limited or no English language skills. People interested in taking part in an ESOL class are encouraged to contact their local ETB. Contact details for the 16 ETBs can be found at www.therightcourse.gov.ie.
The deputy may wish to note that Minister Butler, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People is 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 will focus 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. Without pre-empting the work of Strategic Workforce Advisory Group, provision of supports to workers, where English is not their first language, to access education and training may also form part of these considerations.
Eating Disorders
Questions (887)
Holly Cairns
Question:887. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of special public beds for eating disorders in each CHO; the number of consultants and multidisciplinary teams with expertise to treat eating disorders in each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10119/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (888)
Holly Cairns
Question:888. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the reason that pyridoxine and doxylamine which is only available on prescription is classified as a food supplement and not a medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10120/22]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I would like to provide a status update on the ongoing work that the HSE is carrying out in relation to Cariban. The Medicines Management Programme (MMP) has submitted a clinical review and the HSE are now considering if there are potential reimbursement options based on the MMPs recommendations. I am hopeful that the HSE can achieve a positive outcome and my Department and the HSE are continuing to work closely together on this issue.
In order to address the question raised by this PQ, I need to provide an updated position on the classification of Cariban. The position previously presented by me and my Department was based on inaccurate information we received.
My officials recently contacted Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which is the competent authority for medicinal products in Ireland, to seek advice in relation to the classification of Cariban. On 18 February 2022 the HPRA advised my Department that while Cariban does contain Pyridoxine hydrochloride which, as per Directive 2002/46/EC, is permitted for use in the manufacture of food supplements, it also contains doxylamine succinate which is an antihistamine. Therefore, the HPRA has said that Cariban is classified as a medicinal product, not a food supplement. Furthermore, Cariban is classified as a medicinal product as it meets the definition of a medicinal product under Article 1 of Directive 2001/83/EC as amended by Directive 2004/27/EC.
The HPRA have also advised that Cariban is currently not licensed for use in Ireland. There are three similar products, Xonvea (doxylamine 10 mg and pyridoxine 10 mg), Navalem (doxylamine 10 mg and pyridoxine 10 mg) and Doxylamine/Pyridoxine Exeltis 10 mg/10 mg gastro-resistant tablets (doxylamine 10 mg and pyridoxine 10 mg) that are licensed for use in Ireland. However, the companies holding the authorisations/licences have not marketed the products in Ireland to date, and the HPRA cannot compel a company to market a medicinal product. Similar to Cariban, all three of these products are classified as medicinal products, not food supplements.
I sincerely apologise to the House for presenting information in relation to the classification of Cariban that I now know to be inaccurate. Unfortunately, I only became aware that the information was inaccurate in recent days.
Medicinal Products
Questions (889)
Holly Cairns
Question:889. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all medicines and food supplements which are currently subject to patient specific arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10121/22]
View answerWritten 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 Services
Questions (890)
Holly Cairns
Question:890. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his definition of patient specific arrangement; the criteria used and the way that an individual patient's needs are assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10122/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Eating Disorders
Questions (891)
Holly Cairns
Question:891. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who reported to emergency departments in public hospitals with eating disorders in each CHO by month since 1 January 2020; the numbers of these who are admitted to hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10123/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Gorse Burning
Questions (892)
Holly Cairns
Question:892. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions that he is taking to address illegal gorse fires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10114/22]
View answerWritten answers
Wildfire is an easily preventable threat to our beautiful hills and bogs and the habitats and livelihoods they sustain. Everyone must play their part in protecting our landscapes and supporting our emergency services and ensuring they are not needlessly diverted by illegal fires.
There is a inherent natural risk of fire in our uplands and on bogs at this time of year, due to the condition of vegetation in these area. Upland grasses, heather and gorse are highly flammable in spring when the weather is dry. In the right conditions, any ignition, for any reason, can give rise to wildfires. Both landowners and the wider public, whether they are at work or enjoying the countryside, should be mindful of the significant risks of fire at this time of year and be aware of the damage to land and habitats caused by illegal burning and other accidental and unintentional ignitions. The Department conducts a number of activities annually to monitor and reduce wildfire incidence and outcomes.
The burning of vegetation is controlled by the Wildlife Acts. It is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Act, 2000) to burn, from 1st March to 31st August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated. Individuals who are found to burn vegetation within that prohibited period are liable to prosecution by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). This Department has no role in regard to prosecutions.
The Department has issued reminders to all landowners in relation to illegal burning of agricultural lands, and any land found to have been burned illegally can be deemed ineligible across a number of area-based schemes. The Department monitors fire activity and risk throughout the main risk period between March and September, using a variety of means at our disposal, including satellite detections and ground inspections.
The Department has also undertaken a number of awareness measures aimed at reducing the level of illegal ignitions, particularly on farmland, and in ensuring that affected sectors are fully prepared for fire outbreaks where these occur. This includes the provision of Fire Danger Rating Notices to relevant sectors and Departments to ensure that the correct level of preparedness is maintained throughout the fire season. The Department also encourages the safe use of fire by land managers during the open burning season, and provides guidance for doing so.
It is important to note that wildfire ignitions occur from a variety of sources, not just agriculture, and many fires have occurred on lands with no associated agricultural activity, including lands used for turf cutting, and public lands with open access used by the public for recreation. Fires associated with illegal dumping on bogland are a particular problem. In 2021, some of the largest and most problematic fires occurred on non-agricultural land as a result of recreational land user activities and other non-agricultural sources.
The farming community has a central role to play in the control of fire in our landscapes through the management of land, and the reduction and maintenance of fire prone vegetation (such purple moor grass, heather, and gorse/whin) as potential fuels in high fire risk areas. To this end, the Department supports a number of locally-led schemes under the EIP-AGRI measure that in turn support the implementation of fire management activities on the ground including vegetation management activities. Projects of this type are now in place in many of the main fire risk locations in Ireland, including the Blackstairs Mountains, Wicklow Mountains, McGillicuddy Reeks, Inishowen Peninsula, Connemara, and within the Hen Harrier Project.
The Hen Harrier project is a results-based project, supported by the Department, covering key habitats across a number of different counties. The project has recently developed and implemented a number of specific fire management measures including upland grazing management and support, the development of ponds in high risk areas that can provide water for aerial fire fighting operations, and the safe use of fire as a land management tool by landowners. The project also liaises directly with relevant local fire services in areas where it operates. All of the upland projects involve fire management education and awareness building activities directly with landowners through project agricultural advisors and direct inputs from local fire and rescue services and experts from my Department and Teagasc.
The Department will activate its Fire Danger Rating System in March again for the fire season ahead and this will provide advance warning ahead of high risk weather phases. I would advise Forest owners and managers to check and update their fire plans and other relevant contingencies such as insurance, firebreaks, access and water points, and private helicopter contracts etc., so as to be prepared well in advance of high fire risk phases. Rural dwellers should also assess wildfire risks to their homes and properties and prepare accordingly. Guidance for this is available from the Office of Emergency Planning “Be Summer Ready ” awareness campaign www.gov.ie/summerready .
There has been a very significant increase in the use of outdoor amenities and recreation sites by the public since the onset of Covid-19. This is a very welcome development, however forest visitors are reminded not to light fires or use barbeques, to behave responsibly, observe relevant local bye-laws, observe correct physical distancing practice and to park considerately so as not to impede access of emergency vehicles to incidents.
There is a very firm link in recent years between serious wildfire ignitions and illegal dumping and burning of domestic waste in many areas, and malicious burning at forest amenity sites and turf bogs open to the public. The Department asks all countryside users to be vigilant, to report any suspicious activity to An Garda Síochána, and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires immediately to the Fire and Emergency Services via 112/999 service. We all have our part to play in protecting our countryside from uncontrolled fires.
Fire warnings can be accessed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/ and www.teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/forest-fire-risk/