Written Answers Nos. 660-679
660. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of primary school dental services for each service area; the waiting times and availability of dentists visiting primary schools in the area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12923/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
661. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for dental checks for children at six, nine and 12 years of age for each service area in tabular form; if there are delays in children receiving these checks; the steps he is taking to ensure that these children receive checks in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12924/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
662. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if agency staff are excluded from eligibility for application to temporary HSE roles; if it is national policy that agency staff are not eligible for temporary HSE roles or at the discretion of local management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12925/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
663. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason that agency staff are not permitted flexitime and other practical workplace supports which are available to permanent HSE staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12926/22]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
664. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the steps that he has taken in the context of the 2022 HSE service plan to support medical card holders to access dental care; if his attention has been drawn to the virtual collapse of the service nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12929/22]
View answerMy immediate priority is to seek to address the current situation of medical card patients experiencing problems in accessing treatment. Approximately,1,150 private dentists continue to hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of dental services to medical card holders, but that number is down about 300 since the start of the pandemic.
In that respect, officials from my Department and from the HSE have held three rounds of discussions with the Irish Dental Association, the most recent on 2nd March when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million.
The Department / HSE has offered increased fees across a number of items and proposed the reintroduction of the Scale and Polish item. The Department is anxious to move the process on, in the interests of patients.
Under the recently published Department of Health waiting list plan initiative for 2022, €11 million in funding is to be made available for identified community initiatives, with a focus on orthodontics, primary care psychology and counselling in primary care. A further €9m is also included in the plan to support priority community areas with activity levels to be determined. Funding for these community areas will need to be specifically used to support additionality not currently funded through the HSE National Service Plan.
In 2021, the HSE commenced a new procurement that allows patients to have treatment with private Specialist Orthodontists. It replaces the previous procurement that ended in 2020. Under the new procurement the first patients were allocated to private Specialist Orthodontists in Q3 of 2021. By the end of 2021, 870 patients had commenced treatment under these arrangements.
The allocation of patients to private Specialist Orthodontists is continuing in 2022 and the HSE approved an orthodontic treatment waiting list initiative for Quarter 1 of 2022 that will see 750 Children and Young People assessed as Grade 4 who have been waiting over 4 years for treatment at a cost of €2.8m. In January, 261 children and young people have been taken off the orthodontics waiting list using private providers under this new procurement framework. The HSE are likely ready to commence the approval process in the coming weeks to continue the orthodontics waiting list initiative to the end of the year.
666. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the provision of free contraception for 17 to 25-year-olds; when it will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12939/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort; roll-out is scheduled to commence in August 2022.
The scheme will provide for:
1. The cost of prescription contraception;
2. The cost of a minimum of two consultations per annum with GPs and other doctors to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same;
3. The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
4. The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;
5. Provision of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders through this scheme, to include contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
For items such as the contraceptive pill, these are typically prescribed at 6 month intervals, so two consultations allows for full provision. For LARCs, (e.g. IUS, IUD, implants, injections, patches and rings), where the fittings/injections are carried out by healthcare professionals, fitting and removal appointments are also provided for separately, in addition to the two consultations.Work on the legislative framework for the scheme is ongoing. Formal negotiations with medical and other relevant representative bodies with regard to service provision are due to commence in March 2022. The design of information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll out of the scheme will be finalised in the coming months.As part of the Budget 2022 allocation, funds are being made available for additional training capacity with respect to certification of medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs. The HSE is currently working on preparing to roll out these additional training supports.
667. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for orthopaedic surgery in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly. [12940/22]
View answerUnder 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.
668. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the increased dosage of 40mg to 80mg of humira per week for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12946/22]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the Community Drug Schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process. In addition, Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 prohibits 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.
669. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the homecare needs of persons with dementia to allow them to remain in their home considering the impact transition to care facilities can have on such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12947/22]
View answerThis Government is committed to ensuring that those living with dementia have access to the right services and supports to help them to live well in their communities.
As Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, I was delighted to secure an additional allocation of €7.3 million in Budget 2022 for dementia services and supports. I am confident that this investment will continue to improve diagnosis and access to services for people with dementia across the country, enabling people with dementia to live well for as long as possible.
The additional funding will allow for a range of measures to enhance services and supports for people with dementia. These services include:
- 5 new memory assessment and support services and one new regional specialist memory clinic in Galway
- Specialist diagnostic services for people with an intellectual disability through the National Intellectual Disability Memory Service in Tallaght University Hospital
- Enhancement of memory technology resource rooms to demonstrate assistive technology options for people living with dementia
- Implementation of a dementia minimum dataset across all care settings to standardise data collection and reporting
- 6 dementia assistant director of nursing posts (one in each hospital group) to improve quality and safety of care for people with dementia
- 4 additional dementia clinical nurse specialists to improve care pathways in acute care settings
- Undertake the third wave of the Irish National Audit of Dementia in acute hospitals
- Promote brain health and reduce the prevalence and delay the onset of dementia through collaboration with clinical programmes, the understand together campaign and dementia risk reduction group through the provision of a brain health project manager
In addition, the Government is committed to the development of improved community-based services, shifting care to the home, and offering greater choice for older people including people living with dementia. As Minister with responsibility for this area I have prioritised home support services so that additional funding secured in Budget 2021 to provide an extra 5 million hours has been maintained under Budget 2022. It is estimated that in 2021 some 20.4 million hours had been provided to over 55,000 people. This is about 2.9 million more hours compared to 2020, an increase of 17%.
In addition to the €7.3m for dementia services outlined above, the proportion of new home support hours ringfenced for people with dementia will more than double from 5% in 2021 to 11% in 2022.
Taken together, this will represent 15 million euro of investment dedicated to dementia specific supports and services in 2022, on top of the €12.9m of additional funding in 2021.
As the Deputy is aware I have long been an advocate for the development of services for people with dementia and their families and I am pleased to be able to continue the focused investment in these services and supports in 2022.
670. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 16 February 2022, the current position in relation to the tender process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12955/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
671. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the purposes of the nursing home support scheme; if the assessment for farms is based on the asset value of the farm, income from the farm or both; the way that this is calculated for the purpose of assessing means under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12957/22]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term residential care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
One of the key principles of the scheme is that nobody will pay more than the actual cost of their care, and a participant will only pay for the amount of time they actually spend in care.
All participants within the NHSS contribute up to 80% of their income (40% if part of a couple) and 7.5% per annum of the value of their assets (3.25% if part of a couple). The first €36,000 (€72,000 if part of a couple) is excluded from assessment. For the purposes of financial assessment, income includes:
- Earnings, including income from farming or business activities
- Pension income
- Social welfare benefits/allowances
- Rental income
- Income from holding an office or directorship
- Income from fees, commissions, dividends or interest
- Any income which you have deprived yourself of in the five years prior to application.
The financial assessment will also establish the value of non-cash assets such as the principal private residence, other property and land, including farmland.
The capital value of an individual’s principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three-year cap, which is intended to protect the value of a principal private residence, along with the other safeguards built into the Financial Assessment which ensure that
- Nobody will pay more than the actual cost of care;
- A participant will keep a personal allowance of 20% of their income or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Non-Contributory), whichever is the greater, and;
- If a participant has a spouse or partner remaining at home, they will be left with 50% of the couple’s income or the maximum rate of the State Pension (Non-Contributory), whichever is the greater.
Provisions exist in the legislation to allow certain deductions from the financial assessment when calculating an applicant’s contribution to care. The definition of ‘Allowable Deduction’ in relation to income as per the legislation includes the following:
(i) income tax required by law to be deducted or paid from income
(ii) social insurance contributions
(iii) levies required by law to be paid
(iv) payments in respect of interest on monies borrowed for the purchase, repair or improvement of the principal private residence of the person
(v) health expenses to which Section 469 of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 applies
(vi) payments in respect of the maintenance of a child, a spouse or a former spouse under a separate agreement less the amount of any relief from income tax which may be claimed in respect of such payments
(vii) certain qualifying redress schemes.
(The above should be read in conjunction with the Legislation and the National Guidelines. The full text of the legislation can be accessed by following this link: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/15/enacted/en/print.html )
Last year, the Department of Health introduced the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021, which became operational in October. This introduced a three-year cap on contributions from family farm and business assets, provided that certain conditions are met. The Act also extended the three-year cap to the proceeds of sale of a principal residence.
672. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of the report on the HSE internal review of home support services in Wexford that was completed in November 2021. [12965/22]
View answer673. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the details of the resources allocated for the review of home support services in Wexford that was decided at the South East Community Healthcare governance meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12966/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 673 together.
As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
674. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an ASD assessment in County Wexford; the average waiting in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12967/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
675. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of psychology posts or whole-time equivalent posts that are allocated in County Wexford; the number of these posts that are vacant; the length of time that they have been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12968/22]
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.
676. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for speech and language therapy by CHO, age category and time waiting in tabular form. [12972/22]
View answer680. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for occupational therapy by CHO, age category and time waiting in tabular form. [12976/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 676 and 680 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
677. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for physiotherapy by CHO, age category and time waiting in tabular form. [12973/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
678. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for homecare packages; the number of persons experiencing delayed discharge from hospital due to a delay accessing homecare; and the waiting lists for homecare packages by CHO and LHO in tabular form. [12974/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
679. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for assessment for homecare packages by CHO, age category and time waiting in tabular form. [12975/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
