Tuesday, 8 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 701-720

Ambulance Service

Questions (703)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

703. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of ambulances that have encountered flat tyres being forced out of commission for significant blocks of time due to the significant distance that contracted repair crews are travelling to reach the emergency vehicles; is he aware of reports that an ambulance whilst on an emergency call out in Cooley, County Louth encountered a flat tyre and was decommissioned for a significant part of the day as the contracted repair crew had to travel from County Kildare to provide the assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13042/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As these are day-to-day operational matters for the National Ambulance Service in the first instance, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (704)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

704. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the date the bonus payment of €1,000 will be paid; and the way that it will be paid. [13043/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

The Government announced a 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 (eg: nursing homes and hospices that are private, public, section 39, voluntary etc.) that were affected by Covid-19.

The Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions. This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly. Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars shall be published by the HSE. It is intended that payments will be instructed this month, with the payment processed through local payroll thereafter.

For healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices, arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health. As the HSE is not the employer in these instances, the arrangements including payment dates will require further analysis before finalising but it is envisaged that payments will be instructed for these workers in Q2 2022.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (705)

Emer Higgins

Question:

705. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if the Covid-19 bonus payment for healthcare workers in a clinical environment throughout the pandemic will be extended to children's residential service staff of Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13044/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

I am also mindful of other workers, such as those raised by the Deputy, who played their own part during this difficult period but did not work in such exposed healthcare areas. In recognition of these and all workers for their role during the COVID-19 pandemic, that of volunteers and the general public and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.

Protected Disclosures

Questions (706)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

706. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if an external contractor has been engaged regarding a protected disclosure over that time period; if so, the cost of same; and the number of protected disclosures that were rejected, accepted and that remain under review for the time period in question. [13054/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

protecteddisclosures

*   Relates to Department of Health only

** This number includes correspondence received in 2022 regarding two potential Protected Disclosures. Information is currently being reviewed to determine whether they are Protected Disclosures .

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (707)

Pa Daly

Question:

707. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if shipping and postage costs for hearing aids and related items will be free for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13063/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (708)

Pa Daly

Question:

708. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the locations nationwide in which hearing aids and related items can be repaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13064/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (709)

Pa Daly

Question:

709. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the resumption of repairs for hearing aids and related items in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13065/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (710)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

710. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if there will be an inquiry into the provision of child and adolescent mental health services in south County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13066/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I do not propose at this stage to establish a public enquiry in relation to Kerry CAMHS and the Maskey report. This matter is of the upmost importance to me and the following are the steps I have taken in response to the Maskey report which was the independent report of the review of care provided by South Kerry CAMHS, to satisfy myself, service users, and their families, with the standard of CAMHS services in general across the country, in the most timely and independent manner.

A full nationwide audit of compliance with existing CAMHS operational guidelines by all CAMHS teams will be carried out. I have written to the HSE to direct them to commence this immediately.

As well as this audit, the HSE is finalising the details of the further independent-led audit of case files in North Kerry. 

I am in ongoing discussions on the independently-led prescribing audit for each of the CAMHS teams, which I sought as an additional action, beyond the recommendations set out in the Maskey report. It is important to me that this audit is comprehensive and robust. It will cover community and inpatient teams and it will be independently led.

I have also requested that the CAMHS Experience Study by the HSE commence immediately, so that no further time is lost.  

In addition to these audits, the Mental Health Commission has commenced a separate review. 

Finally, the Government has committed to a non-adversarial scheme for compensation for those children, young people and families affected by the report and the details of the operation of such a scheme are being finalised.

Mental Health Services

Questions (711)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

711. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the implementation of the recommendations contained within the report on the look-back review into child and adolescent mental health services in County Kerry published on 12 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13067/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The  recently published Maskey report has made findings regarding significant failings, across multiple levels of the system, in the care provided and there are 35 recommendations to improve service delivery. The HSE has considered the report locally and nationally. It has accepted the recommendations and work is underway to implement them. 6 have already been implemented with 13 having commenced implementation. I have sought fortnightly updates on progress, including timelines.

A full nationwide audit of compliance with existing CAMHS operational guidelines by all CAMHS teams will be carried out. I have written to the HSE to direct them to commence this immediately.

As well as this audit, the HSE is finalising the details of the further independent-led audit of case files in North Kerry. 

I am in ongoing discussions on the independently-led prescribing audit for each of the CAMHS teams, which I sought as an additional action, beyond the recommendations set out in the Maskey report. It is important to me that this audit is comprehensive and robust. It will cover community and inpatient teams and it will be independently led.

I have also requested that the CAMHS Experience Study by the HSE commence immediately, so that no further time is lost.  

In addition to these audits, the Mental Health Commission has commenced a separate review. 

Finally, the Government has committed to a non-adversarial scheme for compensation for those children, young people and families affected by the report and the details of the operation of such a scheme are being finalised. I will be better positioned to advise the Deputy in relation to specific timelines very shortly. 

Mental Health Services

Questions (712)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

712. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when there will be integration of services for children who require mental health assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13068/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Emergency Departments

Questions (713)

Verona Murphy

Question:

713. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients under the age of 18 with mental health and psychiatric illnesses assessed in general paediatric hospital emergency departments since 2018; the number of patients under the age of 18 with mental health and psychiatric illnesses admitted and treated in general paediatric hospitals or paediatric wards in general hospitals since 2018; the length of stay of those patients in the paediatric hospitals or paediatric wards in general hospitals by CHO and LHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13069/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (714)

Verona Murphy

Question:

714. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting to be seen by child and adolescent primary care psychology services nationally; the average length of time on the wait list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13070/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (715)

Verona Murphy

Question:

715. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children under the age of 18 currently waiting to be seen by child and adolescent primary care psychology services in County Wexford; the length of time each child is on the wait list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13071/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Questions (716, 717)

Verona Murphy

Question:

716. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children under the age of 18 currently waiting to be seen by child disability and autism services in County Wexford; the length of time each child is on the wait list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13072/22]

Verona Murphy

Question:

717. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children nationally under the age of 18 currently waiting to be seen by child disability and autism services; the length of time each child is on the wait list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13073/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 716 and 717 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 717 answered with Question No. 716.

Mental Health Services

Questions (718)

Verona Murphy

Question:

718. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current system that the HSE operates for data collection of mental health and psychiatric illness patients; if a dedicated information technology system is in place for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13074/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (719)

Paul Murphy

Question:

719. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 23 February 2022 and in view of the fact that the HSE has responded to say that, the question does not fall under the remit of the HSE but rather the Office of the Chief Medical Officer in his Department (details supplied), if he will now detail the actions his Department has taken to ascertain the number of persons that are dealing with pandemrix-related narcolepsy in Ireland. [13077/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has sought clarification from the Deputy in relation to this question.  As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (720)

Pa Daly

Question:

720. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the timeline by which the framework governing the review of medication practices across all CAMHS teams will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13078/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I am in ongoing discussions on the independently-led prescribing audit for each of the CAMHS teams, which I sought as an additional action, beyond the recommendations set out in the Maskey report. It is important to me that this audit is comprehensive and robust. It will cover community and inpatient teams and it will be independently led.  I will continue to liaise closely with the HSE to commence, and to complete, this audit as soon as possible.