Written Answers Nos. 360-370
360. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application is likely to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15719/22]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the citizenship application of the person referred to was approved and their Certificate of Naturalisation was issued by my Department on 8 November 2021.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
361. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the proposals she has to extend the present provision whereby a minister of religion can obtain a further extension beyond six years of temporary permission to remain in this State if that applicant does not wish to submit a citizenship application and is not proposing to remain in Ireland long-term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15725/22]
View answerThe Minister of Religion scheme allows qualifying religious personnel to remain in the State for up to three years, where there is a demonstrated need for their services and subject to compliance with all other immigration requirements that apply in individual cases. In the normal course, a Minister of Religion may be eligible for three further one year extensions of this permission and each application for extension is examined on its individual merits.
There is currently no provision for further extensions to the Minister of Religion scheme. However my officials are keeping this matter under review.
On 17 December 2021, I announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 31 May 2022. This extension applies to permissions that are due to expire between 15 January 2022 and 31 May 2022, and includes permissions that have already been extended by the previous temporary extensions since March 2020. Further detail can be found at : www.irishimmigration.ie/minister-mcentee-announces-further-temporary-extension-of-immigration-permissions/.
If required, Ministers of Religion permissions will be covered by this extension until 31 May 2022 and may rely on the published website notice as confirmation.
It is open to any person on any immigration permission to apply for a change of their immigration status if they meet the criteria for doing so. More information is available on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/.
362. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if cancer care facility employees (details supplied) will receive the €1,000 bonus agreed by Government to be paid to healthcare workers. [15551/22]
View answerFirstly 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 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.
This payment will be made to those eligible public sector frontline healthcare staff (inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE) who worked in clinical settings, noting this list is not exhaustive: those Doctors / Nurses / Health Care Assistants / Porters / Cleaners etc. that work in clinical settings. The measure encompasses Health Care Support Assistants (also known as Home Carers / Home Help) employed by or carrying out duties contracted to the HSE.
The measure also encompasses those eligible working on site in long term residential care facilities for people with disabilities (inclusive of those facilities whether HSE or section 39). The measure further extends to those equivalent 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.
The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. Additionally, the Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions on this matter. 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. Noting that the details will be finalised once this consultation has concluded, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
363. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which children with disabilities can expect to receive adequate care and attention and access to services now and in the future; the degree to which his Department has identified issues of interest in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15680/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
364. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the extent of work his Department and the HSE are undertaking in developing a cohesive plan dealing with long Covid patients; the level of investment that has been provided to support a nationwide network of multidisciplinary long Covid clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15774/22]
View answer368. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of long Covid clinics; the number established and planned to be established; the funding allocated to each; the staffing resources and vacancies of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15521/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 368 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
365. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a children’s disability network team waiting lists, by age, by team and by discipline, specialty and assessment type; the number on assessment and on intervention treatment waiting lists in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15516/22]
View answer366. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for a preliminary team assessment and for a subsequent multi-disciplinary assessment by age and by children’s disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15517/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
367. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of open cases by children’s disability network team; the number of open cases with an individual family service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15518/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
369. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the total annual cost to the State of delivering cancer treatment in the public system from 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15522/22]
View answerMany of the treatments and services that cancer patients avail of are not solely provided for cancer patients. It is therefore difficult to define the total cost of provision of cancer treatments in the public system, as it is spread across the entire acute hospitals funding allocation. While it does not comprise the total annual cost to the State of delivering cancer treatment in the public system, the funding allocation for the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) is used for cancer-specific programmes and the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.
The funding allocation for the NCCP from 2018-2021 is as follows:
|
Organization |
2018 €m |
2019 €m |
2020 €m |
2021 €m |
|
National Cancer Control Programme |
85.8 |
94.2 |
98.1 |
130.2 |
370. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available for a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15527/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
