Written Answers Nos. 220-239
220. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners are to be paid the Covid-19 frontline bonus payment; if not, the reason therefor; if general practice nurses are to be paid the Covid-19 frontline bonus payment; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22394/22]
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, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above frontline workers faced. 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.
221. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the best source of public funding that a community group could apply for in order to purchase a defibrillator for a local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22398/22]
View answerAEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) are available in many locations and communities under the management of various organisations.
Funding through The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is available via the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme for voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, local authorities and Education & Training Boards, and schools in relation to procuring Defibrillators.
The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) promotes and advocates for the development of Community First Responder Schemes and can provide Heartsaver AED Training.
222. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when it is anticipated that construction works will commence on a unit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22402/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to provide funding for the provision of (details supplied) to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22424/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
224. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will consider ringfencing some of the anticipated 2021 cost savings from the recent HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) Preferred Blood Glucose Strips for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes evaluation to fund (details supplied) for people with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22425/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
225. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for (details supplied) that were submitted by individual hospitals for people with diabetes over 21 years of age; the number that were approved; the number that were refused in each of the years 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; if there are plans to remove the age restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22426/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
226. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the date in which he will announce the identity of the successful bidder of the tender to complete research into the views of service users and service providers as part of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act) review. [22428/22]
View answerThe Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.
The Review is being led by an independent Chair and comprises of 2 main phases. As part of the first phase of the Review, information and evidence on the operation of the Act will be collected. There are 3 elements within the first phase of the Review; service user research, service provider research and public consultation.
The second phase of the Review is being led by an independent Chair who will assess the extent to which the objectives of the 2018 Act have been achieved, analysing in that regard the findings of the three strands of information. The Minister for Health appointed Ms Marie O’Shea B.L. as the independent Chair of the Review.
A request for tender to carry out the research into the views of service providers was published on eTenders. The evaluation process has now concluded, and I am pleased to announce that the contract for this important research has been awarded to Manchester Metropolitan University. In line with the normal procurement process, my Department has been engaging with Manchester Metropolitan University to complete the necessary contractual arrangements. The objective of this research is to capture the views and experiences of service providers and will be a key input to the Review of the operation of the 2018 Act.
Separately, the HSE's Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme commissioned research to understand people’s experiences of using abortion care services and unplanned pregnancy supports. This research is being led by Dr Catherine Conlon of the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin. This work is ongoing and will also be a key input of the Review of the operation of the 2018 Act.
227. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if non-EU citizens of the United Kingdom whether from Northern Ireland or Great Britain, who train in an Irish medical school and complete to a sufficient standard are entitled to an internship on the same basis as an Irish EU citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22429/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, eligibility for access to medical intern training posts is set out in the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. The Act does not link eligibility to nationality or citizenship. Rather, eligibility is based on the completion of a course of study in the State or a Member State which results in the award of a basic medical qualification. I can confirm that UK citizens (whether from Northern Ireland or Great Britain) who graduate from Irish medical schools have the same eligibility for intern posts as Irish citizens.
228. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the details of the persons appointed to sit on the Assessment of Need Review Group; the details of the terms of reference of this group; if the terms of reference can be accessed by the public; the dates when the group has met; the dates of any future planned meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22431/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
229. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the reason that ambulances still attempt to use a route (details supplied) blocked by bollards since August 2017; and if the ambulance service mapping system can be updated to reflect this route closure. [22439/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
230. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment under the NTPF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22442/22]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
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.
231. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the number of children that are on the waiting list to access treatment for autism following diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22446/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
232. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the breakdown by date of the last visit by HSE personnel to each school in County Clare with an ASD unit in tabular form. [22450/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
233. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to provide treatment centres or community specialist services to support those with eating disorders in CHO area 3. [22451/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
234. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that presented to the minor injuries unit at Ennis Hospital in each of the years of 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [22452/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
235. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22462/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
236. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22479/22]
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.
237. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 192 of 6 April 2022, if a breakdown of the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in each of the hospital and hospital groups in 2021 and to date in 2022 will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22491/22]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
238. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 359 and 360 of 2 April 2019, the current value and income of each car park, for each hospital for each year since 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22501/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
239. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to establish a dedicated clinic for sufferers of long Covid on a permanent basis in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22511/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
