Written Answers Nos. 1604-1623
1604. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the cost to deliver one additional day service place for a school leaver with a disability or graduate of rehabilitative training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20267/22]
View answer1606. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing one additional planned residential place for a person with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/22]
View answer1607. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing one additional emergency residential place for a person with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20270/22]
View answer1609. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing one supported living place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20272/22]
View answer1610. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing a planned residential place for a person with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20273/22]
View answer1611. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing an emergency residential place for a person with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20274/22]
View answer1613. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing a supported living place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20276/22]
View answer1614. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the cost of producing one residential place to support a young adult ageing out of Tusla services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20277/22]
View answer1615. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of producing a residential place to support a young adult aging out of Tusla services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20278/22]
View answer1616. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the budget that has been allocated for the commencement of a demonstration project to develop planned access to residential services as contained within the HSE Service Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20279/22]
View answer1649. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital cost of providing one-person-centred supported living residential home for people with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20456/22]
View answer1650. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the estimated staffing cost of providing one-person-centred supported living residential home for persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20457/22]
View answer1651. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the estimated operational non-staffing cost of providing one-person-centred supported living residential homes for persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20458/22]
View answer1655. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of transferring one person with a disability under the age of 65 years living in a nursing home to a person-centred home in the community; the budget that has been allocated to transfer 63 persons with a disability under the age of 65 years living in a nursing home to a person-centred home in the community as contained within the HSE Service Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20464/22]
View answer1656. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of disabled persons under the age of 65 years in each of the past five years to be transferred from a nursing home to a person-centred home in the community; the budget allocated in each of the past five years to transfer disabled persons under the age of 65 years living in a nursing home to a person-centred home in the community; the final amount spent in each of the past five years to transfer disabled persons under the age of 65 years living in nursing homes to a person-centred home in the community in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20465/22]
View answer1657. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average capital cost in each of the past five years of delivering a supported living home in the community for the transfer of disabled persons under the age of 65 years from a nursing home in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20466/22]
View answer1658. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average staffing cost in each of the past five years of delivering a supported living home in the community for the transfer of disabled persons under the age of 65 years from a nursing home in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20467/22]
View answer1659. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average operating non-staffing cost in each of the past five years of delivering a supported living home is the community for the transfer of disabled persons under the age of 65 years from a nursing home in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20468/22]
View answer1660. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of disabled persons under the age of 65 years who to date remain living in a nursing home; the number of disabled persons under the age of 65 years living in a nursing home who were transferred in each of the past five years to a person centred home in the community; the number of disabled persons under the age of 65 years who died while living in a nursing home in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20469/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1604, 1606, 1607, 1609 to 1611, inclusive, 1613 to 1616, inclusive, 1649 to 1651, inclusive, and 1655 to 1660, inclusive, together.
As the questions relate to service matters, I am forwarding the PQs to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1605. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of developing and implementing a process of identifying and managing day service vacancies as contained within the HSE Service Plan 2022; the timeframe for the delivery of developing and implementing this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20268/22]
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.
1608. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing one intensive home support package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20271/22]
View answer1612. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing an intensive home support package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20275/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1608 and 1612 together.
As this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1617. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a modern fit-for-purpose air conditioning system will be installed at Cork University Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20280/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1618. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the special measures his Department is taking to reduce energy usage in the scenario in which members of the public are being asked to do the same. [20296/22]
View answerMy Department is fully engaged with the Government's objectives to improve public sector energy efficiency. The target for 2020 was set at a 33% improvement. We are delighted to have exceeded this target achieving a saving of 39.8% and we are committed, through our Green Team, to continue to collaborate with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), our Landlord, the OPW and our staff to play our part in achieving the Government's ambitious new targets for energy reduction in our HQ at Miesian Plaza through 2030.
My Department's HQ in Miesian Plaza is an extremely complex environment which incorporates a wide range of energy efficient technologies and measures to minimise the energy footprint of the premises and achieve greater efficiencies in our energy consumption. These include low energy fan coil units, high efficiency air-conditioning cooling systems including thermal storage and low energy ventilation systems.
The Department’s HQ “Green Team” continues to promote environmental awareness and implement green strategy initiatives across the building as the lead tenant. For those engaged in purchasing for and on behalf the Department, Green Procurement guidelines have been defined and are reported on centrally.
I recognise and support my Department's contribution as critical in Ireland meeting its overall climate change goals on energy usage and emissions.
1619. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the extent of long-Covid supports for HSE workers; the extent, length, rates of pay and variety of paid leave options; the options for secondment or transfer available to healthcare workers who have been injured by a Covid-19 infection and cannot return to their original employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20301/22]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) introduced Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) re Covid for all Civil and Public sector employees at the start of the pandemic as a temporary measure to assist in the prevention of the onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises. SLWP is made up of basic pay plus any fixed allowances payable.
DPER introduced a change to the application of SLWP wef 1.1.2021 which set out that new cases of SLWP may continue beyond 28 days only if the employee had been in the workplace during the 14 days prior to commencing the Covid self-isolation period. For new SLWP cases from that date, employees who had not been in the workplace have access to SLWP for up to 28 days, moving to sick leave arrangements if the employee remains unwell after the 28 days.
DPER introduced a further change to the application of SLWP on 7.2.2022 to take account of revised isolation periods and the revised public health advice. SLWP is applicable for a maximum of 10 consecutive calendar days for all new cases arising from that date. If an employee is unable to return to work after 10 consecutive calendar days they will move to ordinary sick leave arrangements. The details of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme regulations are available to view online here: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/si/124/made/en/pdf
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of occupational supports, secondment/transfer/reasonable accommodation options that they have put in place for staff who may still be unwell post Covid.
1620. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 779, 780, 781, 782, 796, 797, 800 and 804 of 29 March 2022 and the response of the HSE (details supplied) the legal costs of the State Claims Agency involving claims over the HSE’s assessment of need obligations under the Disability Act 2005; the amount payable by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20305/22]
View answerThe State Claims Agency has recorded legal costs claims associated with assessment of need obligations under the Disability Act 2005 as a separate legal costs claims category since 3rd January 2020. Since that date the State Claims Agency has advised that it has paid legal costs of €1.323m on behalf of the HSE in relation to third-party legal costs of plaintiffs as charged to the HSE, for which the State Claims Agency is reimbursed by the HSE.
1621. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the amount received by the HSE for rental income through the fair deal scheme in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [20314/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1622. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons diagnosed with long-Covid on a three-monthly basis for 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20316/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1623. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if the special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers can be extended particularly for those with long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20324/22]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) introduced Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) re Covid for all Civil and Public sector employees at the start of the pandemic as a temporary measure to assist in the prevention of the onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.
DPER officials continue to keep SLWP re COVID-19 for public service employees under regular review, taking into account the evolving circumstances and Government and public health advice.
While SLWP re COVID-19 is currently available for self-isolation and where someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19, for certain time periods, public service employees may access the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme thereafter.
In respect of public health sector employees who have remained absent on SLWP in respect of Long Covid, there will be engagement by officials of my Department with DPER in advance of the cessation of Special Leave with Pay.
