Written Answers Nos. 912-934
912. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to that the two short-term respite beds in the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork are now closed; the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/22]
View answer916. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork is to be closed by the HSE that there will be a loss of 24 long stay residential beds and respite facilities for persons with severe and enduring mental health difficulties in east County Cork; the HSE plans to retain these services in Midleton, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/22]
View answer922. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the location the 22 long stay respite beds based in Midleton, County Cork at the Owenacurra Health Centre will be moved to in Midleton if the centre is to be closed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14326/22]
View answer923. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the location the two short stay respite beds based in the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork will be relocated to in Midleton if the centre is to be closed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14327/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 912, 916, 922 and 923 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
917. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason that the HSE will not commit to refurbishing the existing Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork and retaining all existing pre-Covid-19 services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/22]
View answer924. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is willing to leave all the residents, staff and all services in situ at the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork indefinitely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14328/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 917 and 924 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
925. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of making the flu vaccine available free of charge for all medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14331/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the HSE, I have referred the question to the HSE for a direct reply.
927. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full annual cost of providing free dental care to all children under 6 years of age under the Smile agus Sláinte policy proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14336/22]
View answer928. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full annual cost of providing free dental care to all children under 12 years of age under the Smile agus Sláinte policy proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14337/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 927 and 928 together.
The indicative estimate of the full year cost of providing free dental care, by way of oral healthcare packages delivered by contracted oral health professionals, as outlined in the National Oral Health Policy Smile agus Sláinte (2019), to children aged 0 to 16 years is approximately €33-€34 million. The estimated annual cost of care for children aged 0 to their 6th Birthday is approximately €11.8m.
929. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the human tissue Bill including the commitment to bring in soft opt-out organ donor consent will be fully enacted. [14341/22]
View answerThe Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill is a priority for the Government. Department officials are progressing the drafting of the Bill in collaboration with the Office of Parliamentary Council, with a view to ensuring that Government approval is secured to publish the Bill as soon as possible.
930. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when financial support for all those seeking IVFR treatment including those with cystic fibrosis will be provided. [14342/22]
View answer996. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the assisted reproduction bill is enacted and that the long promised financial support for all those seeking IVF treatment including persons with cystic fibrosis are provided with such supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14650/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 930 and 996 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, a commitment to "introduce a publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment" is included in the Programme for Government, "Our Shared Future".
The model of care for infertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme in order to ensure that infertility issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
This model of care comprises three stages, starting in primary care (i.e. GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e. Regional Fertility Hubs) and then, where necessary, tertiary care (i.e. IVF, and other advanced assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments), with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.
Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care has involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs within maternity networks and will result in operational Regional Fertility Hubs in each of the six Hospital Groups across the country.
Phase Two of the roll-out will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system, but will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country, required resources have been allocated and the AHR legislation commenced, which will allow for a robust regulatory framework to be put in place. Consideration of and options for the scope of a public funding model for advanced AHR treatment, including necessary considerations of eligibility criteria or the types of treatment to be provided, need to be developed further.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 has been introduced to the Dáil, is scheduled for Second Stage this week and my priority is to ensure the progress of this Bill as quickly as possible.
While advanced AHR treatment, such as IVF, is not currently funded by the Irish public health service, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. Given the costs associated with certain fertility medicines, I understand that these schemes can have a material impact on the total cost of AHR treatment for individuals who avail of them.
In addition, there is other support available in that patients who access IVF, or other advanced AHR treatment, privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme.
Nevertheless, my Department and the Government is fully committed, through the full implementation of the model of care for infertility, to ensuring that patients always receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the public health system. The underlying aim of the policy to provide a model of funding for AHR, within the broader AHR regulatory framework, is to improve accessibility to AHR treatments, while at the same time embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources.
931. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) will have to wait over two years for a hospital dental appointment for two extractions and other work in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14351/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
932. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the reason that University Hospital Waterford continues to remain the most significantly underfunded model four hospital in the country versus its peers; the reason for the significant disparity in whole-time equivalent positions compared to bed ratios at the hospital versus peer model four hospitals has not been addressed; the reason capital budgets to deliver additional clinical space to deal with these lists has not been approved at the hospital unlike other peer model four hospitals given that the outpatients elective lists of the hospital exceed 50,000 persons on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14369/22]
View answerAs the matters raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
933. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for the elective outpatients department and the 12-bed day ward at University Hospital Waterford (details supplied); the status of the final health planner report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14370/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
934. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the reason he failed to respond or accede to a request (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14371/22]
View answerIn response to the request for a meeting to discuss cardiac services at University Hospital Waterford I have informed the Deputy that I will be in a position to meet with him and the other South East Oireachtas members on Tuesday the 29th of March 2022.
