Written Answers Nos. 227-246
227. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason that a residential centre (details supplied) has been refused for a tender to accept young people into its care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/22]
View answerFollowing engagement with the Deputy's office it has been clarified that the tender in question was published by TUSLA. This matter is, therefore, more appropriate to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
228. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the criteria used in the early assessment of the special needs of a child under the new system of triaging children operated by the HSE; and if the form of assessment is sufficient to determine access to early intervention classes.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18574/22]
View answer235. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the criteria used in early assessment of the special needs of a child under the new system of triaging children operated by the HSE; and if the form of assessment is sufficient to determine access to early intervention classes. [18622/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 235 together.
As this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
229. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of maternity hospitals and maternity units which provide surgical termination of pregnancy; the number of surgical terminations of pregnancy carried out in each for each year since 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18580/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
230. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the high incidence of admissions that the hospitals are currently experiencing along with the calls from nurses and doctors working in emergency departments to reintroduce a requirement for mask wearing on public transport, in shops and other public locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18584/22]
View answerMy Department, through the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, together with colleagues in the HSE and the National Virus Reference Laboratory, continues to monitor the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 carefully.
With regard to mask wearing, the current public health advice states that, as a continuing critical component of our collective and layered response, mask wearing is advised on public transport and in healthcare settings. Mask wearing is also advised based on individual risk assessment, particularly while disease incidence is high. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask should not be discouraged from doing so.
The Office of the Chief Medication Officer continues to keep me apprised of the situation and provides advice as required. In the interests of transparency, my Department has published recent briefings provided to me by the Chief Medical Officer:
gov.ie (www.gov.ie)
231. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an ophthalmology appointment given that this person is waiting for four years or more for this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18589/22]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
232. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has met the clinical director or other lead personnel of the inpatient mental health facility in St. Stephen’s Hospital in Glanmire given recent inspection reports. [18591/22]
View answerI am aware of the report which was published by the Mental Health Commission. I have not met with the persons the Deputy has referred to.
233. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if a comprehensive remedial plan has been drawn up for the inpatient mental health facility in St. Stephen’s Hospital in Glanmire; and if so, if he will publish this. [18592/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
234. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a risk assessment and respite service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/22]
View answerAs this question relates to a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
236. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a road accident casualty in an area (details supplied) a week ago waited over three hours for the arrival of an ambulance before being transported to UHW accident and emergency by the Waterford fire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18694/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to the respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
237. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Covid-19 Digital Certificates for persons who have received a fourth vaccine dose; if they must seek a corrected or updated certificate or if this will issue automatically to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18699/22]
View answerDigital COVID Certificates for persons who received a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Ireland will begin to issue shortly. The format of these Digital COVID Certificates will reflect EU guidelines.Persons who are not automatically issued an updated certificate can request one via the online portal or contact the DCC helpline to provide additional contact details. The DCC Service Centre can be contacted on 1800 807 008 or +353 1 903 6437 from outside Ireland. The helpline opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6:30pm.
238. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the children with disabilities who received a preliminary team assessment instead of an assessment of needs will be called back for an assessment of need in compliance with the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18707/22]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
239. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 31 March 2022, if the Mater Hospital, Dublin is no longer accepting long-Covid patients to its clinic; if the three other operational clinics are accepting patients; the current waiting lists in each clinic; the locations of each; the timeline and location for each of the other planned clinics in each hospital group; the current number and profession of healthcare staff needed to fully operate each existing and planned clinic; the recruitment status of each post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18708/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
240. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the 50-bed construction project at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon; when the planning application will be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18712/22]
View answerAs 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.
241. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the 50-bed construction project at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe; when the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18713/22]
View answerAs 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.
242. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the construction project for a cancer centre of excellence at University Hospital Galway; the timeline for the pre-construction stages of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18714/22]
View answerAs 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.
243. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the rehabilitation unit construction project at Roscommon University Hospital; when the planning application will be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18715/22]
View answerAs 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.
244. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the capital project to fit out the central sterile services department at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18716/22]
View answerAs 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.
245. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the policy of his Department regarding men and women sharing multi-bed wards in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18720/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
246. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an up-to-date estimate of the annual cost of abolishing hospital charges and of extending free general practitioner care to the whole population. [18726/22]
View answerIn accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical or GP visit card is determined by the Health Service Executive (HSE). With regard to the estimated cost of extending free GP care to the whole population, this information is not readily available at this time. More generally, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, it should be noted that my Department keeps medical and GP visit card issues, such as existing income thresholds, under regular review.
As the operational detail regarding hospital charges is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
