Written Answers Nos. 771-789
771. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of positions at Sligo University Hospital that are vacant, unfilled or filled, on a temporary agency or locum basis, at staff grade level, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16519/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
772. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of positions at South Tipperary General Hospital that are vacant, unfilled or filled, on a temporary agency or locum basis, at staff grade level, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16520/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
773. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of positions at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny that are vacant, unfilled or filled, on a temporary agency or locum basis, at staff grade level, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16521/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
774. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19-related antiviral medications purchased by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16522/22]
View answer775. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if Covid-19-related antiviral medications are being used in the healthcare system, the extent to which they are being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16523/22]
View answer776. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when paxlovid will be available for use in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16524/22]
View answer777. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if sotrovimab is available for use in Ireland, the extent to which it is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16525/22]
View answer778. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of treatments of Covid-19-related monoclonal antibodies administered in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16526/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 774 to 778, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
779. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of separate court cases taken against the HSE in relation to the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16527/22]
View answer780. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of legal actions taken against the HSE under the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16528/22]
View answer781. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of legal cases settled by the HSE in respect of the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16529/22]
View answer782. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total cost to the State of all legal costs incurred in relation to cases taken against the HSE, heard in court or settled under the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16530/22]
View answer796. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of times the HSE has been found to be in breach of the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16545/22]
View answer804. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of times the HSE has sought and received legal advice in relation to its compliance with the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16553/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 779 to 782, inclusive, 796 and 804 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
783. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in his Department and the HSE working in public relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16531/22]
View answerThere are no staff employed in my Department working in public relations. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of its staff.
784. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total cost of any outsourcing carried out by the HSE to engage in public relations and-or assist in the launch of publications, strategies or plans from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16532/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
785. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by the National Ambulance Service, broken down by staff category, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16533/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
786. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of operating systems, software programmes or databases used by the HSE where the company providing the service cannot provide technical changes, support or upgrades; the nature of the systems; the areas of healthcare they operate in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16535/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of ICT in the health service, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
787. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the range of hospital equipment that may need to be replaced or upgraded to protect the health system from a cyberattack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16536/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of ICT within the health service, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
788. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultants employed on Sláintecare contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16537/22]
View answerThe Sláintecare Consultant Contract has not yet been introduced, and is currently the subject of engagement between my officials, the HSE, and the representative bodies for hospital consultants. As this process has not concluded, it would not be appropriate to make public details about the talks at this time, save to say that I remain committed to introducing a new contract as soon as practicable.
789. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the different types of consultant contracts in place, a brief explanation of what each contract entails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16538/22]
View answerAt present four contract types, originally introduced in 2008, are in place for offering to hospital consultants in the public health service:
- Contract Type A - requires a full public patient commitment, and with significantly higher rates of public salary than the contract types that permit private practice. Consultants holding a Type A contract commit not to engage in privately remunerated professional practice.
- Contract Type B - Consultants holding a Type B contract may undertake private practice on-site, up to a limit of 20% of activity.
- Contract Type B* - Consultants holding a B* Contract previously held a 1997 contract before transferring to the 2008 contract. They may engage in on-site and off-site private practice, and their private practice activity in the public hospital is subject to a 20% maximum limit (serving consultants whose private practice in 2006 was greater than 20% are permitted to retain this higher ratio, subject to an overriding maximum ratio of 70:30%).
- Contract Type C - Consultants holding a Type C Contract may engage in on-site and off-site private practice. Their inpatient and outpatient private practice activity in the public hospital is subject to the 20% maximum limit.
All of the contract types entail provisions for other aspects of the employment relationship, including probation period, reporting relationship, hours, salary, superannuation, and other elements.
