Written Answers Nos. 1743-1769
1743. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the refurbishment, refit and extension of the Castlebellingham health centre to a new primary care centre; the estimated total cost of the project; the list of services that will be provided in the new premises; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30157/22]
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.
1744. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE funded posts which are currently funded across acute, community and primary care broken down by post type and speciality; the number of vacant or unfilled funded posts; and the percentage of vacant or unfilled posts by hospital, hospital group and by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30164/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1750. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of additional therapy hours which would be provided if all vacant whole-time equivalent positions in children's disability network teams were filled, broken down by CHO and by therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30170/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1751. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of additional therapy hours that would be provided with a 20% increase in whole-time equivalent therapy positions to children's disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30171/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1752. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing pay parity for therapists working within children's disability network teams across all 18 employers if employees are paid the same as those directly employed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30172/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1753. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of net additional speech and language therapist whole-time positions funded by the HSE in each of the years 2017 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30173/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1754. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of net additional occupational therapist whole-time equivalent positions funded by the HSE in each of the years 2017 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30174/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1755. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of net additional psychologist whole-time equivalent positions funded by the HSE in each of the years 2017 to 2022; the areas the additional psychologists were assigned to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30175/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1756. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of net additional physiotherapist whole-time equivalent positions funded by the HSE in each of the years 2017 to 2022; the areas the additional physiotherapists were assigned to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30176/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1757. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of net additional social worker whole-time equivalent positions funded by the HSE in each of the years 2017 to 2022; the areas that the additional physiotherapists were assigned to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30177/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1758. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the public can expect a full and complete progress report on the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 will be published; the breakdown of implementation progress; and the progress that remains outstanding for each individual hospital. [30193/22]
View answerAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
1759. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he plans to waive the fee charged for dexa scans for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30199/22]
View answerI understand the Deputy may be referring to the GP access to diagnostics initiative.
This initiative, launched in early 2021, with allocated funding of €25 million, provides a structured programme to facilitate direct referral by GPs of patients to private diagnostic radiology service providers and enabling access to scans of various modalities - including dexa - in a community-based setting. I can confirm that referrals are accepted from GPs to all from the full adult population until the end of year – including medical card holders and non-medical card holders - at no cost to the individual involved.
1760. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the travel allowance will be increased for home-help support staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30202/22]
View answerMy Department has contacted the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to request when the next periodical review of Circular 05/2017 – Motor Travel Rates will take place. It is my understanding that the mileage rates for Civil and Public Servants are currently being reviewed and will shortly be the subject of discussions with the Staff Side under the process of the General Council of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Civil Service.
1761. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an application for the fair deal scheme of a person (details supplied) will be reassessed on the basis that not all documentation was submitted and given the fact that form 6A was delayed due to an administrative error not of the family's making; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30206/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1762. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children with disabilities in each CHO area in tabular form; the number of children with disabilities assigned to each of the 91 children’s disability network teams in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30220/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1763. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the ratio of clinical therapy staff to children with disabilities in each children’s disability network team in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30221/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1764. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of backfilling maternity and paternity leave cover within children’s disability network teams since these teams were formed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30222/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1765. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of clerical administrative support staff in each children’s disability network team; the ratio of clinical therapy staff to clerical administrative support staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30223/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1766. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health with reference to Parliamentary Question No. 1580 of 26 April 2022, the details of the additional strategies that are being scoped with Government to recruit staff to children’s disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30224/22]
View answer1767. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of the clinical therapy posts referenced by the Minister of State for Disability at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters on 2 May 2022 that are filled to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30225/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1766 and 1767 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1768. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average length of time from application that it takes for clinical therapists with qualifications gained outside Ireland to register with CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30226/22]
View answerCORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator for regulating health and social care professionals. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards.
As you will be aware, certain professions have been designated for regulation by CORU. The title ‘clinical therapist’ is not a designated title. As a result, the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 does not require an individual using the title ‘clinical therapist’ to apply for the recognition of a qualification obtained outside the State.
1769. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical therapists working in the HSE that have been recruited from overseas excluding Northern Ireland in the past five years, in tabular form; the number of clinical therapists working in the HSE that have been recruited from the UK excluding Northern Ireland in the past five years, in tabular form; the number of clinical therapists working in the HSE that have been recruited from Northern Ireland in the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30227/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
