Written Answers Nos. 1446-1469
1446. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of the actions in the Get Ireland Active - the National Physical Activity Plan which were completed; the actions completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19605/22]
View answerGet Ireland Active! – the National Physical Activity Plan for Ireland (NPAP) was launched on 14 January, 2016.
Significant progress has been made on almost all of the 60 actions within the defined timeframes; more details will be available through the 2020 NPAP Summary Progress Report, which will be published shortly.
Needless to say, whilst many of the actions can be deemed to be completed in terms of meeting the goals set out in the NPAP, the nature of some of the actions, such as further developing the scope of Local Sports Partnerships, expanding the number of schools engaging with the Active School Flag programme, providing additional supports for physical activity for older adults and those living with a disability, and many more, is that they are ongoing. Further progress will continue to be made pursuant to ongoing actions, past the target dates set out in the original plan.
Following the standard procurement processes, carried out through the Office of Government Procurement, the NPAP is currently under independent review by Crowe Ireland. The review will serve to assess progress against the original goals, and identify any outstanding actions which may need to be redefined, redeveloped or progressed further.
Crowe Ireland has developed and presented a draft report to the National Physical Activity Implementation Group, at its most recent meeting on 11th April, 2022. The Report includes a review and evaluation of implementation, analysis of policy and research materials, national and international guidelines, a comparison with the policy landscape in similarly sized countries and stakeholder feedback, as well as recommendations for policy priorities to be included, if possible, in future policy development.
The Review, once finalised, will inform the development of the next phase of the NPAP; it includes recommendations regarding priority action areas and measures for inclusion in the next phase of policy development. Once complete, the Review Report will be published online.
1447. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if student nurses who worked as vaccinators and as Covid swabbers will be eligible for the pandemic front-line health workers' bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19607/22]
View answerOn 19th April, the HSE published additional details on this payment, including full eligibility criteria, particulars, and terms and conditions that apply to HSE and Section 38 organisations' employees as well as students who trained in those eligible areas. This information is available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html.
On the Deputy's particular question, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct answer and reply.
1448. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the new children's hospital; if the planned national eating disorders centre is included in the plan; the number of beds that will be included in the build; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19609/22]
View answerThe new children’s hospital (NCH) project comprises the main hospital on a shared campus at St James’s, the Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and the Outpatient and Emergency Care Centre at Tallaght University Hospital. The two centres at Connolly and Tallaght are now operational, the centre at Tallaght having opened in November last year.
Work on the St James’s site is progressing well and the hospital is now clearly visible on the Dublin skyline. Major milestones were reached in 2021, which included the completion of the concrete frame with over 150,000 cubic metres of concrete poured, the topping out of the building (where the highest point on the building was completed- a significant milestone in any construction project), the infill concrete slabs over the steelwork frame, the closing in of the concourse and approximately 17,000 square metres of glazing and 5,800 square metres of external façade installed.
To date, 86,000 square metres of internal partitions have been installed, with the equivalent of over 26 kilometres installed in 2021. The fit out of most internal areas is now underway, including the south fingers comprising Outpatients, Cardiology Wards, and Therapies spaces and the ‘Hot Block’ comprising Emergency Department, Critical Care and Theatres. Work in 2022 will be focused on the progression of the internal fit-out of the over 6,000 internal spaces. Internal fit out ranges from first fix in some areas, whereas others are much further progressed, with ceilings and joinery being fitted.
The NCH was connected to a permanent supply of power from the ESB network recently, which is another important milestone in the project.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has advised that the main contractor’s current schedule outlines completion can be achieved by December 2023 which would mean the NCH at St James’s could open in the second half of 2024, after the necessary commissioning period. The NPHDB is working to ensure that contractor will meet its own schedule.
In relation to the number of beds in the new children's hospital, the Definitive Business Case for the new hospital plans for 380 inpatient beds and 93 day-care beds.
In relation to the specific query on eating disorders, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1450. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason that medical cards do not issue automatically to a child in cases in which the domiciliary care allowance is granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19613/22]
View answer1451. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; the reason that the application must be assessed when a medical card is granted to a child automatically on receipt of domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19615/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1450 and 1451 together.
As Questions Nos. 1450 and 1451 relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1452. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the wait time of 18 months for a patient (details supplied) to receive an MRI scan at Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19618/22]
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.
1453. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19631/22]
View answerThe staff of my Department are on centrally negotiated civil service pay scales.
There are a small number of Clerical Officers & Service Officers on the starting points of the pay scale for their grade, who are on salaries below the living wage of €12.30 per hour (gross) but as they progress over time on their respective pay scale, their salaries will exceed the living wage.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to their workforce.
In respect of the Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I have sought to collect and collate the data and I will provide this by way of separate letter to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1454. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 antiviral pills (details supplied) that have been purchased by the HSE; when they will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19645/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1455. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if there are circumstances in which hospital parking fees for oncology patients can be waived or remitted; if there are plans to reduce the financial burden placed on oncology patients and their families by such parking fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19654/22]
View answerI am aware that hospitals that charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses.
Consequently, some hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge and reduced rate parking for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship.
The Programme for Government makes a commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. I am very aware of the financial burden this issue can cause some patients and families. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue.
1456. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the locations of rehabilitation consultants in hospitals throughout the country, including the catchment areas for which they are responsible geographically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19656/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1457. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the total revenue income from charges in hospital carparks annually; the amount that it costs to run the carparks in the same year; and the revenue annually to the HSE in cases in which a carpark is run by a private company. [19664/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1458. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the possibility of nurses and other healthcare workers having the right to early retirement through a cost neutral early retirement scheme similar to that available to teachers in this State. [19685/22]
View answerCost Neutral Early Retirement (CNER) was introduced in 2005 by the Department of Finance and was made available across the health service - Department of Finance Circular 10/2005 refers. Any individual who wishes to apply for CNER should make their application to their employer in the first instance.
It should be noted that approval for CNER must take account of the staffing needs of the organisation. Therefore consideration of applications must have regard to current recruitment challenges and the need to expand the numbers currently engaged in the provision of health care services.
1459. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if assistance will be provided for a person (details supplied) to obtain urgent support in the form of a medical social worker given their ongoing illness and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19686/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1460. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if appropriate staffing and finance will be put in place for the provision of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring for patients attending public hospitals who have been deemed to require this monitoring, particularly patients with diabetes; if the cardiology services in some hospitals have outsourced this service to the private sector thus requiring these patients to pay for it; the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19687/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1461. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a date for an operation; the reason for cancelled surgery dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19690/22]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Under 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.
1462. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when a substantive reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied) sent to his office by this Deputy on 23 March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19697/22]
View answerI wish to apologise to the Deputy for his correspondence not yet receiving a response, as officials in my Department continue to work through significant volumes of queries on this matter.
On 19th April, the HSE published additional details on this payment, including full eligibility criteria, particulars, and terms and conditions that apply to HSE and Section 38 organisations' employees. This information is available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html
Regarding the time period element of the eligibility criteria, otherwise-eligible individuals who worked for more than four weeks in total within the period between 1st of March 2020 and 30th of June 2021 will be in scope. Of those, eligible employees whose contracted hours are equal to or greater than 60% WTE for their grade shall receive €1,000, and eligible employees whose contracted hours are less than 60% WTE for their grade shall receive €600.
1463. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the plans that are currently in place to deal with the gynaecology waiting lists in Wexford General Hospital. [19698/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The 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.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists. Gynaecology waiting lists are a priority area of focus of this plan.
The plan builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly.
This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting List Task Force. The Task Force will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list plan, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
Waiting list reductions and maximum waiting time targets apply to all acute hospital scheduled care active waiting lists. The HSE is engaged with hospital groups in a process to focus on specialties and procedures towards which the waiting list fund needs to be specifically directed to ensure the targets are achieved by year end.
1464. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health nursing posts in County Wexford; the number of these posts that are vacant in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19699/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1465. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if it is still his intention to include provisions for international surrogacy in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 on Committee Stage when the Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy concludes it considerations and makes recommendations; if not, if this issue will be dealt with in a separate piece of legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19710/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the focus of Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction exclusively, and particularly those carried out by the private fertility clinics operating here.
The draft Bill does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions. The issues which arise from Irish people engaging in cross-border surrogacy primarily relate to parentage, guardianship, citizenship and, potentially, adoption. International surrogacy raises complex ethical questions concerning areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments and require detailed examination.
Accordingly, my colleagues Minister McEntee, Minister O’Gorman and I submitted a joint Memorandum to Government in relation to the establishment of a time-limited Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy. I have committed to having regard to the work of this Committee as the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction Bill) 2022 progresses through the Houses of the Oireachtas. I will do all I can to include recommendations on international surrogacy if it is decided that it is the appropriate vehicle and if specific legislative recommendations are concluded consistent with the timeframe for the AHR Bill which deals with the regulation of domestic surrogacy.
Subject to the Committee’s findings and recommendations, it is not clear, at this juncture, whether the AHR Bill will be the appropriate vehicle for accommodating legislative proposals, or whether the amendment of other relevant legislation on the Statute Book is more appropriate. The Deputy will also appreciate that, at this time, it is also not clear if the output of the Committee’s work will focus on legislative recommendations or other types of intervention, if any. This will only become clearer as the Committee’s work progresses.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 passed Second Stage on March 23rd 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage. I am particularly determined to progress this much-needed and long-awaited piece of historic legislation as quickly as possible and avoid any further delays to a robust regulatory framework for AHR being put in place. Crucially, this would also adversely impact upon the Government’s plans to introduce the provision of IVF and other advanced AHR treatments through the public health system.
Nevertheless, I am fully committed to supporting the work of the Committee and having regard to its work in the context of the AHR Bill where possible and appropriate, and my officials will continue to work collaboratively with it and other relevant Departments in respect of examining the issues concerned, as it has done so to date.
1466. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that Ukrainians with medical qualifications are assisted with their registration for relevant professional bodies; the engagements he has had with said bodies; if dedicated helplines have been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19711/22]
View answerMy Department has been in regular contact with the health professional regulators with a view to ensuring that any practitioners arriving here from Ukraine can be assisted and facilitated in gaining access to the professional registers where possible.
Officials have been working closely with the Medical Council in recent weeks to examine the ways in which support can be provided to doctors arriving from Ukraine and the Council has established an internal working group to explore and address the issues that arise. The Council is working directly with key stakeholders in the HSE, Postgraduate Training Bodies and the Irish Medical Schools Council and discussions with these partners are ongoing.
The HSE, through the National doctors training programme (NDTP), in partnership with the Medical Council and the Postgraduate Training Bodies, is coordinating an information gathering process that will collate basic information about healthcare professionals who are coming to Ireland from Ukraine. This data collection process is ongoing and will assist the relevant bodies in supporting these doctors and enable them to contact the individual doctors directly. The HSE is also looking at other options which these doctors can avail of while registration is pending, such as medical translation and access to CPD resources.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) will ensure that as many Ukrainian applicants as possible can be fully supported to achieve recognition and registration, while at all times consistent to the organisation’s primary functions which are to protect the public and protect the integrity of the professions. The NMBI has engaged with the RCSI, my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and other key stakeholders to develop an interim-orientation course to address any gaps identified during the recognition of nurses and midwives coming from Ukraine e.g. incomplete or missing transcripts of education.
This orientation course would be a once-off course for approximately 3 months, including some supernumerary clinical placement time, providing orientation to nursing in Ireland. However, it should be noted that not every Ukrainian applicant would be suitable for the programme, for example, those that do not have sufficient levels of occupational English to safely undertake the supernumerary placements. Guidance documents are also being translated into Ukrainian to support applicants in the process.
CORU, the body responsible for the regulation of certain Health and Social Care Professionals, is providing information for Ukrainian applicants on its website including a dedicated email address for queries.
I have been advised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) that any application from an individual holding a qualification as a pharmacist obtained in the Ukraine would have the application considered under the third country recognition route via the PSI. This would involve assessment for recognition through the third country process.
The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC), the independent statutory body who sets the standards for education and training for pre-hospital emergency care in Ireland, have also recently been involved in a number of meetings with DFHERIS and the Professional Regulators Forum and the Health Care Regulators Forum. PHECC also plans to include registration information in Ukrainian on its website.
Several of the regulators have established direct contact with the Ukrainian Embassy and the Ambassador has kindly offered the support of the Embassy in acting as a liaison with Ukrainian authorities. It is expected that some practitioners arriving from Ukraine will face difficulties in providing all the necessary documentation associated with their undergraduate education and post qualification experience as a practitioner. However, the Ukrainian Embassy in Dublin can verify or re-issue expired identification documents of Ukrainian nationals.
Officials from my Department will continue to liaise with the various relevant bodies to ensure that as many Ukrainian applicants as possible can be fully supported to achieve recognition and registration where possible, mindful at all times of the importance of maintaining and promoting patient safety.
1467. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the initiatives he is taking to strengthen children's disability services in 2022; the funding being provided for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19716/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1468. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline access for HSE patients to services (details supplied); if this service is available for referral in all CHO areas; if children from County Westmeath with a diagnosis of autism are being actively referred to this service if it is deemed suitable for their needs.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19719/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1469. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a date for a procedure at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19722/22]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Under 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.
