Written Answers Nos. 252-272
252. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the construction of a new laboratory at Connolly Hospital that is located on the top floor of a new building; and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the laboratory building is located in an unsuitable location.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10371/22]
View answerAs 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.
253. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if an analysis of the total cost of cancer treatment has been calculated; if so, the total annual costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10378/22]
View answerWhile the Department of Health has not conducted specific analysis on the cost of cancer treatment, this Government is acutely aware of the costs associated with a diagnosis of cancer, or indeed any long-term illness. It is for this reason that supports to ameliorate the costs of illness should be available to all rather than focused on those with particular conditions. This is the principle behind the transition to universal healthcare envisaged by Sláintecare, where people access the right services based on need and not ability to pay.
Under the Health Act 1970 (as amended), all persons, irrespective of illness or condition, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge, which is capped at a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months. There are however exemptions from these charges for identified groups of people, including but not limited to people with full eligibility, that is medical card holders.
Medical cards are awarded without a financial assessment to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer, for a period of five years. Individuals with a terminal illness who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less to live are also now eligible for a medical card without a means assessment.
As is the case for all patients, cancer patients can apply for a range of supports, including medical cards, and they are assessed under the criteria applying to all applicants. Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. Indeed, the Irish Cancer Society has found that over 80% of those diagnosed with cancer who apply for a medical card are successful. In certain circumstances, the HSE may grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold, where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness.
All patients require a responsive and compassionate health system to meet their medical needs. This is why this Government is continuing to work towards delivering an affordable, accessible and quality health service for all in line with the vision of Sláintecare.
254. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer resection surgeries which took place in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10408/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
255. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the proportion of patients who received their first cycle of chemotherapy in the day ward setting, during the reporting month, within 15 working days of the date of being deemed ready to treat in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10409/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
256. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the proportion of patients who completed radical treatment for a primary cancer and commenced treatment within 15 working days of being deemed ready to be treated by their clinician; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10410/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
257. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of private ambulance trips booked by University Hospital Limerick on each day of the week from the 14 to 18 February 2022. [10411/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
258. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1200 and 1201 of 2 November 2021, if his Department has communicated with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine its view given the European Union Court of Justice decision that Irish hemp farmers and food producers are permitted to use all parts of the hemp crop to make their food products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10414/22]
View answerThe Department of Health has not communicated such a view to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The matters raised in relation to the European Court of Justice are currently sub-judice and I am not in a position to comment further.
Question No. 259 answered with Question No. 226.
260. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of antivirals and monoclonal antibody treatments which have been ordered; the schedule for delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10419/22]
View answer261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for creating a fast pathway to accessing antivirals and monoclonal antibody treatments in view of the need to access these therapies within five days from testing positive for Covid-19; his engagement with general practitioners on this matter; if positive antigen tests will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10420/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
262. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if private patients will be treated in the new national children’s hospital; if so, the level of clinical space this would represent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10422/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to finalising the new Sláintecare consultant contract and to legislating for public-only work in public hospitals.
Currently, as part of the Common Contract for Consultants negotiated in 2008, many consultants holding specific contracts are entitled to engage in private outpatient practice outside of their public commitment. ?Pending the removal of private practice from public hospitals as provided for in Sláintecare, the new children's hospital is obliged to provide such facilities for consultants holding these contracts.
Accordingly, while the vast majority of services in the new children’s hospital will be public services, within the new hospital an area has been planned which carries the designation of "private clinic". The private outpatient clinic space at the new children’s hospital represents circa 0.25% of the clinical space within the new children’s hospital. All clinical outpatient spaces, whether designated as public or private, are to the same specification.
It is important to say that the capacity being planned for the new children’s hospital is national capacity based upon the assessment of healthcare needs and future demographic developments. Accordingly, these clinic rooms will be required to meet the estimated demand for paediatric outpatient and inpatient services, whether publicly or privately provided.
263. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the consultancies engaged by the HSE from March 2021 to end of December 2021 in excess of €2 million; the full values of these consultancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10423/22]
View answerI have referred this to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
264. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to address the very substantial backlog of birth and death registrations and the great difficulty which the public has in making appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10470/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
265. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Statutory Instrument No. 318 of 2020 was signed in August 2020 to allow the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority to impose penalty points by way of administrative sanction against the owners and licensees of sea fishing boats; and the reasons for it being signed at that time. [10003/22]
View answerEU Council Regulation 1224/2009, known as the Control Regulation, requires inter alia that Member States implement a points system for serious infringements of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy committed by both the licence holder of a fishing vessel and, separately, the master (skipper). The Points System is intended to promote compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and seeks to deliver on the CFP objective of ensuring proportionate, effective and dissuasive penalties for serious infringements.
Serious infringements include the following:-
- not fulfilling obligations to record and report catch or catch related data
- concealing, tampering or disposal of evidence relating to an investigation
- fishing without a valid licence, authorization or permit.
The points systems were due to be in place by 1 January 2012 and the delay in implementing them prompted the EU Commission to issue EU infringement proceedings against Ireland. A negative judgement from the European Court of Justice in any such proceedings could cost the State significantly in lump sum and ongoing fines.
Furthermore, serious financial implications arise from the non-implementation of the points system because, as a condition of the EU contribution to Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme, certain conditions must be fulfilled, including implementation of a points system for both licence holders and masters.
To meet the legal requirements on the State, the European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations 2020 - SI No 318/2020 were signed into force in August 2020. SI No 318 adopts the requirements of Article 92 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 and Title VII of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.
In accordance with the EU Regulations, this instrument establishes a point system, which will apply to the licence holder of a sea fishing boat when a serious infringement of the rules of the common fisheries policy is detected within the exclusive fishery limits of the State or for an Irish vessel wherever it may be.
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is determined as the competent authority for the establishment of the system and the assignment of points. The Licensing Authority is the competent authority for the recording of points assigned to the licence of an Irish registered fishing vessel and the transfer of those points.
SI No 318/2020 provides for the establishment of a Determination Panel comprised of 3 independent legal professionals nominated by the Attorney General to determine if on the balance of probabilities a serious infringement occurred. The instrument also establishes an independent appeals officer to review the decision of the Determination Panel at the request of the licence holder.
My firm view is that SI 318/2020 is necessary to protect law-abiding operators, who make up the vast majority of those in the industry, and to preserve this precious and valuable resource for all Irish fishermen and for future generations. This system in conjunction with the proposed points system for masters currently before the Oireachtas will play a vital role in delivering on the Common Fisheries Policy objective of ensuring proportionate, effective, and dissuasive sanctions for serious infringements and contributing to a level playing field in fisheries control across Member States.
266. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the necessary funding will be provided to Tipperary County Council to employ a full-time horse warden or wardens to ensure the prevention of maltreatment of horses and ponies in the county and to further ensure the microchipping and passporting of all horses and ponies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10213/22]
View answerThe employment of 'horse wardens' is a matter for the local authorities to consider. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of the Control of Horses Act 1996, and already have the authority to appoint authorised officers under the 1996 Act.
The Department provides financial assistance to the authorities for implementation of the Act and is available to support initiatives by local authorities that address problems associated with straying or urban horses.
I am also committed to providing additional funding in support of animal welfare organisations in the coming years. Last December, I awarded record funding of over €3.7 million to 98 animal welfare organisations countrywide, many of which are engaged in equine welfare activities.
267. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the independent consultant's report into compensation arising from legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10304/22]
View answer268. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the indicative compensation costs and the breakdown of the loss categories covered arising from legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10305/22]
View answer269. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be a specific reskilling programme for rural workers made redundant due to the legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10306/22]
View answer270. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the compensation envisaged under legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland will include the costs of environmental impact assessments, demolition and site remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10307/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267, 268, 269 and 270 together.
The Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 that is currently going through the legislative process, will provide for the statutory prohibition of fur farming.
The legislation provides that these businesses are paid compensation for income losses, non-income losses and costs incurred as a direct result of the ban. I have consulted with the farm business as to the loss categories that should be included in the Bill.
The follow on Regulations being prepared at the moment will specify and set out the framework for the income and non-income compensation and provide the basis of valuation. They will also provide detail on compensation for costs involved in disposing of breeding mink, demolition and clean-up costs, payments to redundant workers, and professional fees for professionals used in the process.
Regarding environmental surveys, it is envisaged that the costs for carrying out such will be covered in the compensation package. It is also foreseen that the costs around demolition and clean-up of the sites/remediation of the sites concerned are to be covered. These provisions are to be part of the Regulations being prepared. I have recently shared a copy of the current draft regulations with the fur farming businesses and their representatives.
I will release the Grant Thornton Report to the Fur Farming businesses and their representatives shortly. This report assisted in developing the approach to valuation and the various risk categories which were included in the draft Bill last autumn.
Regarding indicative compensation amounts, all the information the farm businesses need to calculate their potential compensation entitlement is within their possession i.e. their asset values and profit income as filed in their company accounts. They also possess details with regard to building areas and the design aspects of those buildings. In addition statutory financial caps have been provided in the draft regulations provided. It is important to recall that whilst the legislative process will outline the loss categories for which the farm businesses will be compensated and where relevant the caps that will apply to various categories, that the actual compensation amounts that will arise will be determined by an independent assessor, in response to individual applications with supporting documentation made by the businesses.
I am advised that the Department of Social Protection have committed to put together a plan or programme for the affected employees in advance of the prohibition.
271. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects to publish the wool feasibility study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10385/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a review of the potential demand for wool-based products such as for insulation and fertilisers in domestic and international markets is one of the initiatives included in the Programme for Government. Following the €100,000 commitment for this review in Budget 2021, in March 2021, I initiated a public consultation to identify the terms of reference for the review. I also invited stakeholders to make recommendations in relation to prospective market opportunities for wool products on domestic and international markets.
The agreed terms of reference are:
- identification of market opportunities domestically and internationally for wool based products;
- carrying out economic feasibility and cost benefit analysis on proposed market opportunities;
- determining mechanisms that could be used to support industry initiatives;
- identification of potential research projects applicable to supporting the identified market opportunities.
In July 2021, through a competitive public procurement process, a Request for Tenders seeking service providers to carry out this review was published. In November 2021 I appointed ‘The Agile Executive’ a consortium of experts from Munster Technological University and Donegal Yarns, to conduct the review.
The Agile Executive has been contracted to conduct the review in accordance with the Terms of Reference and has also been asked to review the submissions received during the public consultation process. I have been advised that this study is progressing well, and the report is due for publication in March 2022.
I am confident that the recommendations outlined in the report will assist in the formulation of a strong policy framework for the Irish wool industry, and will hopefully identify new opportunities to create value-add products from Irish wool that are environmentally and economically sustainable and further contribute to the Irish Circular Bioeconomy.
272. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1200 and 1201 of 2 November 2021, the status of the consultation regarding the growing of fibre crops such as hemp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10413/22]
View answerThe consultation to “fully explore the potential for growing fibre crops such as hemp, considering whether these crops have a viable market” in line with a commitment given in the current Programme for Government is ongoing.
The consultation is being conducted by my Department with input from relevant stakeholders. Submissions received as part of the consultative process are currently being evaluated and should be concluded shortly.
When the process has concluded and the findings evaluated I will be able to make a determination regarding the future viability of growing fibre crops such as hemp in Ireland.
