Written Answers Nos. 338-353
338. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to use the European recovery and resilience facility to invest in digital health infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12218/22]
View answerThe Recovery and Resilience Facility is funded by the European Union, NextGenerationEU and aims to address the economic and social impact of the pandemic, to make our European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient, and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is structured around six pillars including digital transformation. The Department of Health has an approved allocation of €75m to fund a suite of eHealth projects including greater investment in community ICT and eHealth solutions, ePharmacy (including community based electronic prescribing) as a key enabler for integrated care and funding for the national integrated financial management system as part of wider health system reform.
Details of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan are available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/d4939-national-recovery-and-resilience-plan-2021/.
339. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of the progress of the health information and patient safety Bill; the provisions it will contain; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12219/22]
View answerThe patient safety elements of the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill are now being taken forward in the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill.
The Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019 provides the legislative framework for a number of important patient safety issues, including the mandatory open disclosure of a list of notifiable patient safety incidents and the notification of same externally to the Health Information and Quality Authority, Chief Inspector of Social Services and the Mental Health Commission, as appropriate, to contribute to national learning and system-wide improvements. This mandatory requirement for open disclosure will ensure that patients and their families receive appropriate timely information in relation to an incident that may have occurred in relation to their care.
The Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019 will also bring private hospitals within the remit of the Health Act 2007. The relevant provisions extend the remit of the Health Information and Quality Authority, allowing it to set standards for the operation of private hospitals, to monitor compliance with them and to undertake inspections and investigations as required. The Bill also contains provisions to support clinical audit within the health service.
The Bill was introduced into Dáil Éireann on the 12 December 2019 and passed Second Stage in the Dáil at that time. The Bill is a Programme for Government commitment and is expected to go to Dáil Committee stage in the near future, after which it will be progressed to Dáil Report Stage and through all Stages in the Seanad.
The Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019 is part of the broader programme of legislative and policy initiatives to improve the ability of the health service to anticipate, identify, and respond to patient safety issues, and to improve the quality and safety of health services for patients. Creating a culture of open disclosure and learning from the things that go wrong is the bedrock of making services safer.
340. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the building occupied by the National Ambulance Service in County Carlow was condemned in 2016; if the recent fire safety report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12226/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
341. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 24 February 2022, if the paediatric orthopaedic funding allocated from the waiting list fund has been provided on a recurring or on a once-off basis. [12237/22]
View answerIn January I asked the HSE to develop a dedicated plan to tackle scoliosis waiting lists this year. In February 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 the finalisation of the proposals to increase orthopaedic activity at CHI. The plan proposes ambitious additional activity levels which will work to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end.
This latest initiative is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to address the issues facing these children. Both current and capital funding has been provided to a value of €19 million in 2022 to support this initiative.
In relation to the funding of this initiative, all capital funding, by its nature, is on a once-off basis. In terms of revenue costs, the €4.7 million in funding for 24 additional beds and 2 additional critical care beds has been provided to CHI since 2021 as part of its base allocation on a recurring basis. The balance of funding is sourced from the 2022 Access to Care fund, which as the Deputy will be aware is allocated annually, and therefore is once off for 2022. The commitment to fund the activities in this plan, and the associated requirement to ensure continued funding for the staffing needs of this initiative, will mean that securing recurring funding for these positions will be prioritised as part of the 2023 Estimates and Budget process.
342. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the ethical standards for healthcare of an organisation (details supplied) are currently or will be applied or adhered to in any current or future maternity hospital. [12238/22]
View answerUnder the Health Act, the HSE is responsible for the operation and delivery of health services in HSE hospitals, with services in the voluntary hospitals provided under section 38 of the Health Act and in accordance with the Service Level Agreements between the HSE and the section 38 hospitals, and in line with the National Service Plan, which sets out the type and volume of health and social care services the HSE will provide for the funding it receives from Government.
With regard to the provision of healthcare services, it should be noted that, medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice and to have regard to the Guidelines on Standards and Behaviour issued by the Medical Council.
343. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the board of an organisation (details supplied) will include a public interest member, a National Maternity Hospital member or a female member to represent women’s maternity care interests; and if not, if he sought the inclusion of these board members. [12239/22]
View answerI understand that St. Vincent’s Holdings CLG, which was incorporated in August 2020, is a not-for-profit company with charitable status and will be governed by Irish company law.
I am advised that a statement on the St Vincent's Healthcare Group (SVHG) website also indicates that the constitution of St. Vincent’s Holdings CLG has received the required approval from the Charities Regulator. The constitution has been published on the SVHG website. The main object of the constitution of the company, as published, is ‘to advance healthcare in Ireland, a purpose of benefit to the community, by promoting medical education, medical research and patient care in all areas of medicine through the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, and to reflect compliance with national and international best practice guidelines on medical ethics and the laws of Ireland’.
In addition, information published on the SVHG website indicates that the Board of St Vincent’s Holdings CLG will comprise independent directors who will be appointed based on their competencies and skills.
I take it the Deputy’s question arises in the context of the proposed relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus. As the Deputy will be aware, work is ongoing to put appropriate legal arrangements in place that provides the necessary assurances around all legally permissible services being provided in the new NMH. In addition, the safeguarding of the State’s investment must also be affirmed beyond doubt. I will bring a proposal to Government for approval 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.
344. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if women will be able to access abortion, sterilisation, contraception or IVF healthcare or related treatment from the new national maternity hospital. [12240/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent’s University Hospital Campus at Elm Park, as set out in the Programme for Government. 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.
The relocation of the NMH 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. As I have stated previously, work is ongoing on the legal arrangements that will be put in place to achieve these objectives.
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.
345. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the directors of an organisation (details supplied) will be shareholders with the right to sell or seek a mortgage or financing against any or all of its properties within the holding’s portfolio including the National Maternity Hospital. [12241/22]
View answerIn relation to the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH), the Government's key objectives in terms of the ownership and governance arrangements for the new hospital are, firstly, to ensure that all legally permissible services will be provided in the new NMH, and secondly, and of particular relevance to the Deputy’s question, to ensure that the safeguarding of the State’s investment in the hospital is affirmed beyond doubt.
Work is ongoing to finalise the legal arrangements that will underpin the relocation of the new NMH. However, I wish to emphasise again that I will not bring any proposal to Government unless it provides assurances around these two core objectives. I do not intend to make further comment until work on the legal arrangements has concluded.
346. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason that a passenger locator form is required for persons travelling to Ireland from within the European Union or the Common Travel Area; if it is intended to make changes to this regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12242/22]
View answerAll passengers arriving into the state are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form (PLF) in accordance with SI 45/2021. There are limited exemptions from this requirement, as set out in the regulations, such as for international transport workers or for diplomats. The PLF is designed to be used to support a system of engagements with arriving passengers including the targeting of public health messaging and may be used for contact tracing. The Government gives ongoing consideration to the requirement for these regulations.
347. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12251/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
348. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason that an operation has been repeatedly cancelled in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12268/22]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
349. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) in particular the recommendations for Government; the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12269/22]
View answerThis question refers to research conducted on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society in relation to the experience of people affected by cancer when accessing financial products and services. While this does not fall under the remit of the Department of Health, I have been advised neither the Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can intervene in the provision or pricing of insurance products. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive).
My Department, in conjunction with the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme and voluntary groups such as the Irish Cancer Society, continues to work to improve outcomes for patients through the ongoing implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. Ireland is very supportive of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, which closely mirrors the goals of Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy to reduce the cancer burden, provide optimal care, maximise patient involvement and quality of life, and enable and assure change.
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan includes an initiative for 2021-2023 to “Address fair access for cancer survivors to financial services (including insurance), via a code of conduct and a reflection on long-term solutions”. This work is being undertaken through the EU Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (SGPP) Subgroup on Cancer, which includes representation from Ireland. The Department of Health will closely monitor any developments at the SGPP Subgroup on Cancer regarding this issue, and will liaise with other Government departments as required.
The Irish Cancer Society Report also calls for the Government to ensure additional capacity, resources and funding for the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI). The Department of Health continues to engage closely with the NCRI to ensure it has the resources to effectively address its core functions, while expanding the cancer patient data it collects and ensuring a focus on increasing and optimising the uses of available data to drive improvements in cancer care for patients, as recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.
Through the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy and by working together, with EU Member States, the European Commission and cancer organisations across the EU, we can achieve the aims of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, to the ultimate benefit of patients and their families.
350. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of imports of roundwood from the UK in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12260/22]
View answerInformation is available from late 2019 for logs moving from Britain to Ireland.
The Pest Free Area (PFA) of South West of Scotland is the only zone from which coniferous roundwood with bark is imported into Ireland. This is because UK Forest Commission have surveyed and continue to survey and found it to be free from Protected Zone (PZ) bark beetles. This roundwood must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate from the UK authorities with a declaration of pests freedom. No other area of GB outside the PFA or Europe can deliver this pest freedom status, hence such coniferous roundwood logs with bark are not imported from these locations.
Before 1st January 2021 these logs from the PFA in Scotland were not subject to mandatory notification and import control. This became a requirement as a result of Brexit which is why we have figures for 2021. In anticipation and for Brexit planning purposes detailed figures were gathered and retained for 2020 and part of 2019.
There has been a significant reduction in log imports over the last few months mainly as a result of increased log supply in Ireland. Felling licences issued for over 8.4 million cubic metres of timber in 2021 and to date in 2022 felling licences for over 1.7 million cubic metres have issued.
log imports into Ireland (All from PFA in Scotland)
|
- |
2019 |
|
2020 |
|
|
|
No. of imports |
Total tonnage |
No. of imports |
Total tonnage |
|
January |
|
|
1 |
2,300 |
|
February |
|
|
2 |
4,990 |
|
March |
|
|
3 |
6,800 |
|
April |
|
|
4 |
5,167 |
|
May |
|
|
4 |
7,238 |
|
June |
|
|
3 |
8,350 |
|
July |
|
|
6 |
8,260 |
|
August |
|
|
5 |
7,680 |
|
September |
5 |
7,850 |
8 |
13,925 |
|
October |
4 |
7,150 |
13 |
19,850 |
|
November |
2 |
4,500 |
14 |
25,392 |
|
December |
2 |
1,480 |
10 |
15,898 |
log imports into Ireland (All from PFA in Scotland)
|
- |
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
No. of imports |
Total tonnage |
No. of imports |
Total tonnage |
|
January |
13 |
21,487 |
3 |
3,400 |
|
February |
7 |
10,200 |
6 |
10,700 |
|
March |
18 |
28,000 |
|
|
|
April |
13 |
22,050 |
|
|
|
May |
11 |
22,200 |
|
|
|
June |
13 |
20,850 |
|
|
|
July |
14 |
20,900 |
|
|
|
August |
12 |
20,050 |
|
|
|
September |
13 |
19,700 |
|
|
|
October |
8 |
15,200 |
|
|
|
November |
8 |
14,050 |
|
|
|
December |
5 |
7,700 |
|
|
351. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the scheme of support announced for the pigmeat sector will issue to farmers; if he will ensure that payments issue without delay in view of the serious financial pressures facing this sector at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12310/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the challenges that Irish pig farmers are currently facing, due to a combination of extremely low prices and extraordinarily high input costs.
I, along with other Agriculture Ministers, have called for an integrated EU-wide approach and for the Commission to deploy appropriate solutions to the current crisis. However, the Commission has consistently directed Member States instead to deminimis and other state aids.
A number of measures have been brought forward to support the Irish pig sector including intensification of promotion activity by Bord Bia and advisory supports from Teagasc.
There is also support for access to finance through the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which are financed by my Department in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and can be used for working capital.
I announced on 22nd February, the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS) which is a €7 million support scheme for commercial pig farmers who produced 200 or more pigs in 2021. This is an urgent, short-term response assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme current circumstances and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals.
Details on the application process will be made available shortly.
352. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the pilot scheme to turn rural pubs into remote working hubs; the funding provided to the scheme to date; the number of rural pubs converted into remote working hubs to date under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12175/22]
View answerOur Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
The first work programme for Our Rural Future included a commitment to introduce a pilot programme for the use of rural pubs as hubs to serve as community spaces. I am pleased to confirm that my Department is working well with the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) to commence this pilot programme. This pilot project will examine and pilot the possibilities to use pubs for community purposes outside of their normal trading hours. The VFI will pursue an initiative supporting rural pubs to re-imagine their existing business and introduce new service offerings with a view to developing a more sustainable and viable operating model. I expect to announce further details of this pilot shortly.
353. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the designation of pathfinder towns pursuant to the town centre first policy; the details of the towns designated to date; when all pathfinder towns will be designated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12205/22]
View answerTown Centre First (TCF) represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business. Included in the actions is the establishment of a Town Centre First National Office and the appointment of Town Regeneration Officers.
To further ensure that effective best-practice drives the implementation of TCF, a number of ‘Pathfinder’ and ‘Early Stage’ towns will be identified nationally to act as early priority demonstrators of the TCF approach. This will include towns that are at different stages of the TCF process who will be supported through the different funding streams underpinning the policy.
A central objective of TCF is to assist those towns that in the past have not had sufficient capacity to shape their own development. The Pathfinder Towns will help to inform the approach to supporting towns that are at an earlier stage in the TCF process and particularly those towns which have not historically been in a position to leverage investment opportunities.
On 9 December 2021 I announced €2.6 million in funding to deliver Town Centre First Plans in 26 pathfinder towns across the country. The list of the 26 towns are shown in Table 1 below. The €2.6 million funding will support each local authority, working with a collaborative Town Team, to develop a bespoke Town Centre First plan to guide the development of each town. As part of the initiative, each local authority will be provided with €100,000 to support the development of a unique vision for the town which will also outline specific interventions required to deliver on this vision.
Other pathfinder towns will be selected as the TCF policy is rolled out and will be identified in collaboration with the new Town Centre First National Office.
Table 1: Towns selected for funding under the Masterplan Initiative 2021
|
County |
Town |
|
Carlow |
Tullow |
|
Cavan |
Bailieborough |
|
Clare |
Sixmilebridge |
|
Cork |
Skibbereen |
|
Donegal |
Milford |
|
Fingal |
Lusk |
|
Galway |
Gort |
|
Kerry |
Milltown |
|
Kildare |
Clane |
|
Kilkenny |
Urlingford |
|
Laois |
Rathdowney |
|
Leitrim |
Carrick On Shannon |
|
Limerick |
Abbeyfeale |
|
Longford |
Longford Town |
|
Louth |
Dunleer |
|
Mayo |
Killala |
|
Meath |
Enfield |
|
Monaghan |
Carrickmacross |
|
Offaly |
Clara |
|
Roscommon |
Strokestown |
|
Sligo |
Tubbercurry |
|
Tipperary |
Roscrea |
|
Waterford |
Portlaw |
|
Westmeath |
Moate |
|
Wexford |
New Ross |
|
Wicklow |
Blessington |
