Written Answers Nos. 1664-1683
1665. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated each year to develop the national ability supports system, as contained within the HSE Service Plan 2022, in tabular form; the timeframe for this system to be developed and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20474/22]
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.
1666. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the structures that have been put in place to enable service users to become active participants in the co-design of their care and support services as contained within the HSE Service Plan 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20475/22]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy to directly, as soon as possible.
1667. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the structures that have been put in place to support dialogue and collaborative working with voluntary organisations, including those representing sections 38 and 39 providers, and persons with disabilities and their families, as contained within the HSE Service Plan 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20476/22]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to the National Service Plan 2021 which states that the HSE will put in place structures to support dialogue and collaborative working with voluntary organisations, including those representing section 38 and 39 providers, and people with disabilities and their families. On that basis, I am referring the question for response to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1668. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of additional day service places that were allocated in each of the past five years; the budget that was allocated to provide additional day service places in each of the past five years; the number of additional day service places that were taken up in each of the past five years; the final amount that was spent on delivering additional day service places in each of the past five years; the number of persons exiting or no longer using day service provision in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20477/22]
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.
1669. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the total number of day services; the percentage that operate at 100% capacity; the average capacity in day services that are operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20478/22]
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.
1670. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the estimated unit cost of providing one additional full-day service for a person with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20479/22]
View answerAs this questions refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1671. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if correspondence and a petition by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the steps that his Department is taking on this issue; if this cohort can be included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20498/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The pandemic recognition grant has a range of eligibility criteria, further information on which was published by the HSE on 19th April, as relates to HSE and Section 38 employees, at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html
There are many, many individuals in our country who made an exceptional contribution during the pandemic. The Government are sincerely grateful for this commitment, and it is very difficult to draw a line on this matter, but it is appropriate that in particular public sector frontline healthcare workers, and private sector frontline nursing home and hospice workers, get particular recognition from the Government.
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 or St. Brigid's Day.
Outside of the above recognition measures, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. The Government would encourage private healthcare providers that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
1672. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of type 1 diabetes patients who have had appointments at University Hospital Limerick cancelled between March 2020 and February 2022, inclusive; the steps that will be taken to give appointments to them, as a matter of urgency, given the risks posed as a result of the cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20501/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1673. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a speech and language therapy service for school age children will be provided in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20502/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1674. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the areas of the country in which the HSE covers the cost of compression sleeves for breast cancer patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20504/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1675. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the areas of the country in which the HSE covers the cost of compression garments for patients who require them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20505/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1676. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on the funding rates that are set by the National Treatment Purchase Fund for individual nursing homes and the way that these rates will reflect the increases in energy prices; the way that these additional costs will be incorporated into a revised funding model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20513/22]
View answerI am aware of the specific challenges faced by the Nursing Home sector related to price inflation and increased energy costs. I have met directly with Nursing Homes Ireland, the representative organisation for private and voluntary nursing homes, to discuss this issue, and have written to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to request that they consider the matter alongside departmental officials.
Funding to support people to access services in the sector continues to be provided in line with the long-established statutory mechanisms under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This is the mechanism established by the Oireachtas to provide for the processes relating to funding under the NHSS and the negotiation of prices for services for private and voluntary providers with the designated State agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
The Department of Health has also provided significant specific supports to the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. As you are aware, the COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme, also known as TAPS, was established as part of a package of support measures for nursing homes at the start of the pandemic. €134.5 million was made available under the scheme from March 2020 to June 2021. The outbreak assistance element of the scheme is still in payment. In addition to TAPS, direct support has been provided by the HSE to private nursing homes in many areas, including the provision of PPE, serial testing and support with staffing.
The Department published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021. This review was conducted by the NTPF with input from stakeholders and external experts. It recommended several actions to improve the pricing system. These are now being taken forward by the Department and NTPF. Given the size and scope of the NHSS, which is expected to cost the State more than €1.04 billion this year, any changes must be delivered carefully and with due consideration to their impact and any unexpected consequences.
The department is also taking forward the 9 recommendations of the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home Costs, which was published in December 2021. The purpose of the VFM Review was to identify, quantify and analyse the reasons for any cost differential between private/voluntary and public nursing homes and, following analysis, to make recommendations for improving the value for money obtained by the Health sector.
To continue the substantial progress being made on implementing the recommendations of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report, nearly €18 million euro was allocated in Budget 2022 including investment in Community Support Teams and Safeguarding supports.
Finally, in response to the strategic workforce challenges in the nursing home and home care sector, a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group has been established. The Group is working to a tight timeline and is committed to providing a set of recommendations to me by September 2022.
1677. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the inpatient services that are available for children under the age of 13 who have been diagnosed with avoidant and-or restrictive food intake disorder, ARFID, per community healthcare organisation, CHO. area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20538/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1678. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the inpatient services that are available for children under the age of 13 who have been diagnosed with avoidant and-or restrictive food intake disorder, ARFID, who live outside the CHO catchment areas with inpatient services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20539/22]
View answer1679. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the inpatient services that are available for children aged between 13 and 17 years who have been diagnosed with ARFID, per CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20540/22]
View answer1680. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the inpatient services that are available for adults who have been diagnosed with ARFID per CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1678 to 1680, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1681. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has conducted an analysis of the potential impact of long-Covid diagnoses among healthcare staff on the operation and functioning of the health service; if he will make such an analysis available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20552/22]
View answerIn 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.
1682. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence from (details supplied); if he will address the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20558/22]
View answerI have been informed by my Department that a response has issued to Monaghan County Council on this matter.
1683. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule for each of the years from 2015 to date in 2022 of all organisations that had their funding suspended and permanently discontinued by the social inclusion unit in the community healthcare organisation for Dublin North city and county; and if he will provide the reason for same. [20561/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
