Written Answers Nos. 1561-1580
1561. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if front-line household staff in psychiatric HSE units will be eligible for the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20143/22]
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. 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.
1562. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20146/22]
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.
1563. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of action 19.8 of the Housing for All proposal which set out to amend the nursing home support scheme to remove disincentives against the rental of vacant properties in the fair deal scheme; and the likely timeline for progress in relation to same (details supplied). [20148/22]
View answer1564. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that those who are administering an estate on behalf of their loved one in a nursing home will be included in consultations in relation to action 19.8 of the Housing for All proposal which sets out to amend the nursing home support scheme to remove disincentives against the rental of vacant properties in the fair deal scheme (details supplied). [20149/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1563 and 1564 together.
The Government has approved a policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, or “Fair Deal”, to incentivise applicants to the Scheme to rent out their principal residence after they have entered long-term residential care. The rate of assessment on rental income from a person's principal residence will be reduced from 80% to 40% . This policy change addresses the commitments made under Housing For All Action 19.8. A 40% assessment rate - as opposed to a 0% rate - better manages the risks referred to by the deputy. My Department anticipates that the enactment of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, which is due to come into force at the end of June, will also provide a further framework to safeguard residents’ choices.
1565. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will exempt the rent received from the over-70s medical card calculations in relation to action 19.8 of the Housing for All proposal, which sets out to amend the nursing home support scheme to remove disincentives against the rental of vacant properties in the fair deal scheme (details supplied). [20150/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme “Fair Deal”, to incentivise applicants to the Scheme to rent out their principal residence after they have entered long term residential care. The rate of assessment for rental properties will be reduced from 80% to 40% for income from all principal residences. This will be reviewed after six months of operation, with the potential for further amendment after that point. This policy change addresses the commitments made under Housing For All Action 19.8.
The change will be made through Committee-Stage amendment to the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022.
At the present time, eligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. The current medical card assessment guidelines can be accessed by following this link: www2.hse.ie/file-library/medical-cards/medical-cards-national-assessment-guidelines.pdf.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which can be accessed by following this link: www2.hse.ie/services/medical-cards/medical-card-for-over-70s.html#:~:text=If%20you%20are%2070%20or,a%20week%20for%20a%20couple
While there are no proposals at present to amend the current assessment guidelines for the granting of eligibility for medical cards or GP visit cards, my Department keeps the medical card scheme under ongoing review.
1566. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeframe for when the new outpatient ophthalmology services for the south and south west HSE area that are currently being developed in Ballincollig, County Cork will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20151/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1567. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the names of the stakeholders who were consulted as part of the review of the revised model of care for termination of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20159/22]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
1568. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the date on which the review of the revised model of care for termination of pregnancy commenced; and the date on which the review ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20160/22]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
1569. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if funding is available through the Irish Red Cross for prosthetic limbs in Ireland; if so, if the means tests for Irish residents are similar to those carried out by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20165/22]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision of prosthetic limbs under the community funded schemes, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1570. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if his Department has advertised the tendering of the manufacture of prosthetic limbs to many countries in the European Union; the countries that have they been in contact with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20166/22]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision of prosthetic limbs under the community funded schemes, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1571. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are lengthy waiting lists for persons requiring wheelchairs in this country; if his attention has been further drawn to cases such as one in County Galway in which a man who is paralysed from the waist down has been waiting five and a half months for his made-to-measure wheelchair and gel cushion both of which he requires urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20167/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1572. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that many farmers and self-employed people with disabilities are unable to access medical cards due to the means test which takes into account the value of land owned as opposed to income from such land, and where there is none and such people are not able to work they are losing out on medical entitlements as a result; his further views that the additional costs relating to having a disability should be taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20168/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1573. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the stakeholders he and his Department have consulted with in relation to working through challenges, refining policy positions, and exploring legislative options in relation to his plans to introduce exclusion zones close to abortion facilities. [20170/22]
View answerI am committed to ensuring safe access to termination of pregnancy services, and the area remains an ongoing priority for me, this Government and my Department, including progressing legislation this year.
Officials in my Department are actively engaging with stakeholders to work through the challenges, refine the policy position, and explore legislative options. Stakeholders include other Government Departments and state bodies such as an Garda Síochána, the HSE, and the Department of Justice.
At my request, and with the support of the Joint Committee on Health, officials also met the Health Committee in March to collaboratively discuss options for overcoming the challenges that have been identified by the Department. I understand that this was a positive session, with the Committee voicing their support for bringing forward safe access legislation. I wish to thank the Committee for their time and input to support the advancement of robust legislation for safe access zones. It is important to me that the appropriate legislative solution is progressed with cross party support. My officials have listened carefully to the views and inputs of the Committee and will consider these into their ongoing work on this matter.
Subject to Government approval, I plan to have proposals for safe access on the legislative programme for 2022.
1574. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the services currently available for persons suffering from eating disorders; the future provision plans for health services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20174/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1575. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to change the current regime whereby only students from the richest families can access graduate-entry medicine given the high costs involved of €100,000 and the fact that the only loan provider to this group is now pulling out of the loan provision; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the graduate-entry salary of €36,000 is too low to allow these doctors to live near hospitals and repay high student loan costs; his views on whether the high student costs and low entry salary is contributing to the stark lack of newly qualified doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20176/22]
View answerThe Graduate Entry Programme for medicine has been a significant success as an alternative pathway for graduates and degree-holders to pursue medicine as a career option. The costs of the course are high given that the initial degree has already been obtained. I am aware that the loan provider concerned has recently announced that it is leaving the market.
It is noted that the salary referred to by the Deputy for the 'Intern year' is a requirement to achieve registration and only applies for one year following completion of the Degree. It therefore is not the pivotal issue. However, acknowledging that the costs associated with pursuing medicine through the Graduate Programme had already been highlighted as a significant barrier to entry prior to the recent announcement, the matter does require consideration to ensure the Programme achieves the desired objective.
1576. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure a system is in place for those arriving from Mongolia to have their professional qualifications recognised, particularly in relation to doctors and other medical professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20177/22]
View answerThe Medical Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of doctors in Ireland. In order to protect patients, it has a responsibility to ensure that all doctors registered to practise medicine in Ireland meet the requirements to practise as set out in its legislation.
Pathways for registration with the Medical Council do not differ based on a doctors nationality but rather on the country they received their primary qualifications and based on their experience and higher/specialist training. A non-EU/EEA applicant for registration must have received their primary medical qualification from a recognised medical school as identified by the World Federation for Medical Education which currently recognises eight medical schools in Mongolia.
A doctor can visit the Medical Council website and use the eligibility chart to determine which division of the medical register they are able to apply for registration with based on their qualifications and experience. This chart will also let the doctor know if they must complete any pre-registration exams.
Depending on where a doctor qualified and the type of qualifications they hold, some doctors arriving into Ireland from outside the EU may be required to take a pre-registration exam and provide evidence of proficiency in English, often through an English language exam. The pre-registration exams look at a number of areas including communication skills and clinical skills. This is an important step to ensure patient safety. The requirements for registration are set out in legislation and are in place for patient safety purposes.
1577. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 30 March 2022, the details of the costs incurred to date relating to this protected disclosure; if he will provide copies of the policies and procedures that his Department refer to when managing protected disclosures from 2014 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20181/22]
View answerMy Department encourages staff to 'speak up' to raise any concerns they may have relating to potential wrongdoing in the workplace and to assure them that it will provide the necessary support for those who raise possible wrongdoings. A staff member who makes a protected disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 is protected from penalisation.
In accordance with Section 21 (1) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, my Department has established procedures for the making of protected disclosures by workers who are or were employed by the Department and for dealing with such disclosures. The procedures have been developed in accordance with the guidance issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and are published on the Department's intranet. Where an issue is raised under the 2014 Act the following principles are applied by the Department:
- the concern will be treated seriously and investigated where it is considered appropriate;
- where an investigation takes place, the identity of the person raising the concern will be safeguarded insofar as this is practically possible;
- the person raising the concern will be advised on how the issue has been addressed, including the outcome of any investigation.
Following consideration of the allegations made in the matter referred to by the Deputy, my predecessor as Minister for Health, Simon Harris T.D., arranged for an independent review to be conducted and a report to be submitted to him. This was in accordance with Section 27(9) of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. This review was completed and the cost was €9,459.24 + 23% VAT (€2,175.63). This totals €11,634.87.
1578. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the shortage of GMS general practitioners in (details supplied); if he will provide an up-to-date list of current GMS general practitioners operating in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20185/22]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the provisions of the Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Act 2012, a GP can enter into a State contract to provide GP services provided he/she is on the Medical Council's Specialist Register in the Speciality of General Practice, irrespective of the number of GPs who are already established in an area.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. As of 1 April, there are 32 GMS vacancies in the State, accounting for only approximately 1 percent of all GP GMS panels. There are no reported GMS vacancies in the area referred to by the Deputy.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reform and service development will see the Government increase annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with an intake of 258 planned for this year.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
In relation to the GMS GPs operating in the area referred to by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1580. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the status of 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. [20204/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
