Written Answers Nos. 1422-1445
1427. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the reason that a home support and respite package for a person (details supplied) which was approved in September 2021 was not activated in part until March 2022 and remains essentially undelivered to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19502/22]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1428. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when ShannonDoc will revert to pre-Covid-19 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19509/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1429. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) was refused on the primary care reimbursement portal for a FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19510/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1430. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when it is intended for the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system for persons with diabetes over the age of 21 years to be funded. [19511/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1431. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of vacant HSE buildings in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19526/22]
View answerAs 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.
1433. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if contract cleaners who are not directly employed by the HSE will receive a Covid-19 pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19528/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
To recognise their unique role during the pandemic, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers. Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published by the HSE on 19th April and are available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html
Separately, the Department of Health shall shortly publish information for those other certain healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
Outside of the above recognition measures, the Government also notes that some private sector healthcare employers have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. The Government would encourage private sector healthcare employers that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
1436. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking in response to no HSE representatives attending a recent meeting with families of children with disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19574/22]
View answerThe Minister of State for Disabilities has commenced a process of engagement with families countrywide to listen to their issues in the context of the delivery of disability services.
The Minister, the Department of Health and the HSE remain focused on developing and delivering services to children and young people with disabilities, that are child and family centred, and based on best national and international practice.
To ensure that the issues identified are considered and addressed in a consistent fashion across the Community Health Organisations and Children’s Disability Network Teams, it has been agreed that it is appropriate for representation from National HSE to attend any future meetings.
1437. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the disability services management in CHO 4 meets with the Cork parents' advocacy network immediately. [19575/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1438. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that a person (details supplied) is provided with vital mobility equipment to enable them to participate in full-time education. [19576/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1439. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to recruit additional staff in the new children’s disability network teams primarily in CDNT9 based in County Roscommon to offer children within the ASD services the occupational therapy and speech and language therapy supports they have been left without for over two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19577/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1440. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit run apprenticeship programmes or are directly engaged in the training of apprentices; if so, the number of apprentices involved; the specialities in which they are being trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19586/22]
View answerUnder the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the Government has set an overall target of 10,000 new apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025.
An inter-departmental Working Group has been established by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to develop a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan. This will set out ways to advance a commitment to have 750 annual public service-wide apprentice registrations by 2025. The Department of Health is represented on this group.
As part of this work, over 100 civil and public service organisations have recently been surveyed for their views on apprenticeship and their skills needs. Following on from this, the Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan is currently under development, in partnership with a comprehensive range of civil and public service stakeholders, including this department. It is anticipated to be finalised before September 2022.
From a health perspective, there has already been keen interest expressed in developing an apprenticeship for Healthcare Assistants. My officials are liaising with relevant counterparts in the HSE, in collaboration with DFHERIS, with this concept in mind for further exploration for development, along with several other apprenticeship projects under consideration.
1441. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an application under the drug payment scheme by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19595/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1442. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a procedure to remove cataracts will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19596/22]
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.
1443. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the name of the stakeholders consulted as part of the review of the revised model of care for termination of pregnancy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19601/22]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
1444. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the date on which the review of the revised model of care for termination of pregnancy services commenced; and the date on which the review ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19602/22]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
1445. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 5 April 2022, the number of hysterectomies that have been performed in the State since March 2020; the number that were performed in public hospitals; and the number that were performed in private hospitals. [19603/22]
View answerThe Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
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.
