Tuesday, 5 Apr 2022

Written Answers Nos. 634-657

Departmental Contracts

Questions (634)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

634. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the cost of consultants to her Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will provide an outline of the role of each. [18892/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below:

Consultancy Service	Description	2020 Costs (€)	2021 Costs (€)	2022 Costs (€)
Accenture Limited	Business analysis services	131,532	72,936	-
Acrux Consulting LTD	HR Services	-	-	67
Arcline LTD	Records management services	-	13,395	-
Bid and Tender Management Services	Procurement review reports	-	70,258	-
Bob Semple	Risk management consulting services	-	6,089	-
Byrne Wallace	Protected Disclosures policy review	8,723	15,026	-
Connect The Dots Events Limited	NDIS Public Consultation (2020) Strategic plan preparation (2021)	16,544	9,978	-
CVG Procurement Services LTD	Procurement Consultant	20,831	8,185	-
Data Privacy Solutions	Gap analysis	4,428	-	-
Deirdre Fullerton	Report for Family Justice Group	-	-	4,305
Deloitte Ireland LLP	Consultancy Services (2021) Governance Review of Abhaile (2022)	-	845	30,689
Denise Charlton and Associates	Consultancy - General	3,152	-	-
Docusign INC	Consultancy Services - IT	-	-	552
Ellen O’Malley Dunlop	Domestic sexual gender based violence audit	-	19,200	-
EY Business Advisers	IT Consultancy on ICT Strategy	161,237	-	-
EY Business Advisory Services	Review of Immigrant Investor Programme	36,900	18,150	-
EY Chartered Accounts	IBM & HCL Licence Audit 2020 - Regularisation of licensing - ILMT project	48,400	-	-
Foroige	Consultation services, Family Justice Oversight Group	-	1,490	247
Garadin Limited	Data Protection Consultancy	-	9,219	-
Gartner Ireland LTD	Executive Program Leadership Team	182,367	-	-
Gauge NI CIC	Customer insights consultancy services	-	24,628	-
Immigrant Council of Ireland	Hate Speech Consultancy	547	-	-
Information Security Assurance Services Limited	IT consultancy services	54,244	40,355	76,678
John Bamber	Oversight & contributions to the development of the YPAR Case Study	3,630	-	-
KOSI Corporation LTD	General Consultancy Service	-	32,137	-
Mary Higgins	Domestic sexual gender based violence audit consultation, research and report preparation	-	19,200	-
Mazars	Project review (change element), GDPR/Data Protection and ICT specialised audits	13,220	32,411	14,664
Michael Breen	Research consultancy	-	4,500	-
Multi Health Systems INC	Risk assessments consultancy for Youth Diversion projects	-	20,210	-
Niamh A McCullagh	6 Days Forensic Archaeologist	-	-	4,121
Software Pipeline Ireland LTD	IT consultancy services	-	23,616	-

Disability Services

Questions (635)

Pat Buckley

Question:

635. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) who was assessed as autistic in January 2020 has still not been accepted into a HSE-funded foundation after two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18021/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this question concerns service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Public Procurement Contracts

Questions (636)

Seán Haughey

Question:

636. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that a fair and transparent public procurement process was put in place for the appointment of design teams to construct a new emergency department and 100-bed unit at Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18250/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (637)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

637. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if the Covid recognition payment will be paid to persons working in private nursing homes throughout the pandemic. [17415/22]

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 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 / Swabbers / 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. 

There are many, many other individuals and organisations in our country who did so much during the pandemic. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government has based its decision on the exceptional risks which these frontline healthcare workers faced.

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.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (638)

David Cullinane

Question:

638. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of times an assessment officer has requested an expert nominated by the National Council For Special Education to assist in the carrying out of an assessment of need under section 8(3) of the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17417/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (639)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

639. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic recognition payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17422/22]

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 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. This includes those eligible workers seconded or assigned to the HSE (for example: Defence Forces staff seconded/assigned to HSE testing centres). 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 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 in the coming days.

Civil Registration Service

Questions (640)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

640. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the resources available to the HSE Civil Registration Service in order that the backlog of marriage registrations can be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17423/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (641)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

641. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic recognition payment be paid to section 39 workers in private nursing homes and private hospices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/22]

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 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. This includes those eligible workers seconded or assigned to the HSE (for example: Defence Forces staff seconded/assigned to HSE testing centres). 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.

Emergency Departments

Questions (642)

David Cullinane

Question:

642. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the way in which patients are categorised for emergency department admissions; the way these are prioritised; the effect of this prioritisation in practice; the number of patients admitted under each category in 2019, by hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17432/22]

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.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (643)

David Cullinane

Question:

643. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of tenders that were delayed or withdrawn and reissued due to a significant change in expected costs in the past two years, in tabular form; the length of delay in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17433/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (644)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

644. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the exact date in 2021 that CHO 4 mental health service management staff were offered first dose Covid-19 vaccinations as part of the HSE vaccination roll-out (details supplied) by role in tabular form; if he will provide the exact date in 2021 that CHO4 mental health service heads of discipline were offered first dose Covid-19 vaccinations; if he will provide dates for each head of discipline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17434/22]

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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (645)

David Cullinane

Question:

645. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current training supports for clinical psychologists that are or which he intends to make available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17443/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Health Service Executive

Questions (646)

David Cullinane

Question:

646. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the office or unit in the HSE and in his Department that is ultimately responsible for ensuring reports as required under section 13 of the Disability Act 2005 are completed, received by him and subsequently published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17445/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE has responsibility for ensuring that Section 13 reports are collated, completed and submitted to the Department of Health. The HSE will provide information on the details of their office responsible for same directly to the Deputy.

Within my Department, Disabilities Services Unit has oversight of the HSE for the provision of health and personal social services for people with a disability. The HSE has prepared and presented Section 13 Annual Reports for the years 2007 to 2014 to the Department of Health and is currently working on Reports for the years 2015-2020 to bring records up to date. It is intended that these reports will be completed by year end.

The HSE acknowledges that the current management information system is no longer fit for purpose. It is committed to the development of a new integrated Management Information System for children’s disability services, with work ongoing on the development and roll out of the new system. This will facilitate the HSE to provide a wide range of bespoke reports on activity in the children's disability services area.

Health Service Executive

Questions (647)

David Cullinane

Question:

647. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of requests made in written format or recorded in minutes or notes of meetings in relation to which he or any of his predecessors requested reports to be submitted to them under section 13 of the Disability Act 2005 from 2014 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17446/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The information as requested by the Deputy is not collated by the Department and, in that context, it is not possible to provide same.

Health Service Executive

Questions (648)

David Cullinane

Question:

648. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total legal, consultancy and professional fees paid by the HSE in each of the years 2015 to 2021, by fee or cost type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17447/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have referred this to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (649)

David Cullinane

Question:

649. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total capital funding provided to each level 4 hospital between 2015 to 2021, by hospital and year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17448/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (650, 651)

David Cullinane

Question:

650. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients over the age of 75 who have waited over 12 months on an outpatient waiting list from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17449/22]

David Cullinane

Question:

651. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients over the age of 75 who have waited over six months on an in-patient waiting list from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17450/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 651 together.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has provided the attached document which outlines the number of patients over 75 years of age who were on the IPDC waiting list 0-6 months and over 6 months and the number waiting 0-12 months and over 12 months on the OPD waiting list. The data is provided in respect of the end of December each year from 2014 to 2021. In relation to the particular query raised, it should be noted that 2014 is the earliest publication date of waiting list figures.

The NTPF has also provided the mean and median waiting times for patients over 75 who were on the waiting list at the end of December each year from 2014-2021. In relation to mean and median waiting times, the NTPF have advised my Department that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times as the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. As a result the mean and media waiting times are based on the information available for the patients on the waiting list at a particular point in time.

Patient Waiting Lists

Question No. 651 answered with Question No. 650.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (652)

David Cullinane

Question:

652. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients over the age of 75 who have waited over six months on a diagnostic waiting list from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17451/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE advises that a pilot project commenced in 2016 by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division to progress the collection of national radiology waiting list data. The project has been supported by the Radiology Clinical Care Programme and has involved key stakeholders across the system including the National Integrated Medical Imaging System (NIMIS) Team, Hospital Groups, and the support of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) for data collection and data management expertise

The NTPF has advised my Department that they do not currently record the personal data of any of the patients on the Diagnostics waiting list as the purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MR and US. This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting lists- local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level. 

For this reason, the NTPF is not able to identify whether patients on the Diagnostics waiting list are over or under 75 years of age.

Primary Care Services

Questions (653)

David Cullinane

Question:

653. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients over the age of 75 who have waited over six months on a community waiting list from 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17452/22]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (654)

David Cullinane

Question:

654. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of beds funded by the HSE across acute and community care by category (details supplied) and bed type in tabular form; if they are public or private; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17453/22]

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.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (655, 656)

David Cullinane

Question:

655. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the full establishment and operation of regional health areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17454/22]

David Cullinane

Question:

656. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the six geographical areas identified and agreed regarding the establishment of regional health areas; if he expects those geographical boundaries to change; the hospitals which will fall into each geographically aligned area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17455/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together.

I refer the Deputy to documentation published on my Department’s website in July 2019 (www.gov.ie/en/publication/4eda4-slaintecare-regional-health-areas-rhas/#geographies-of-the-regional-health-areas). This was published on foot of the Government decision approving the geographies for the six regional health areas (RHAs). It details the geographies of the six regional health areas, including the hospitals, Community Healthcare Organisations and Local Health Offices contained within each.

The RHA boundaries were decided following detailed population and health infrastructure analyses of patient service usage patterns across the country. This analysis examined patient flows to establish the extent to which hospitals in a given region are serving patients who live in that region. The regions are designed to be as self-contained as possible across the country. Available infrastructure and population demographics were considered extensively when they were being developed. There is no plan at this time to re-examine the boundaries as we have no indication that infrastructure or demographics have changed significantly in a way since then that would require a re-assessment.

The scale of change required to regionalise our health service is significant. It will require careful and comprehensive design, planning, and implementation to achieve the objectives and benefits of Regional Health Areas while maintaining and improving the delivery of health services through the transition process. A detailed implementation plan will be finalised in 2022. The transition to RHAs will take place throughout 2023. It is expected that RHAs will be fully operational by Q1 2024.

Question No. 656 answered with Question No. 655.

Dental Services

Questions (657)

David Cullinane

Question:

657. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in addressing difficulties with the dental treatment services scheme; the changes to the scheme that will be put in place; if this will involve more of a focus on preventative treatment for medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17456/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) is available to medical card holders aged 16 and over. I recognise that the DTSS, which dates from the 1990s, needs to be reviewed and aligned with best international evidence and practice, and legislation, as outlined in Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy. Regretfully, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the roll-out of the Policy to be delayed and the proposed review of the DTSS contract to be deferred. Work on a substantive review of the DTSS Contract will commence by the end of Q2, 2022. 

I have also acknowledged immediate issues of concern with the Scheme, which I am addressing as a matter of priority. 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.

I have now given approval for significant fee increases to be paid to contracted dentists across a number of items, including the Dental Examination and Fillings. I have also approved the reintroduction of Scale and Polish for medical card patients on the DTSS. These new measures are designed to address access problems for patients, and address dentist’s concerns about the viability of the DTSS, while aligning the DTSS more closely with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by private dentists for PRSI patients.

These measures should amount to an additional investment this year of about €26 million over what was spent on the Scheme in 2021. My Department and the HSE will work together to quickly implement the changes to the Scheme for the benefit of patients.