Written Answers Nos. 811-830
811. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds available in north and east Cork by institution and setting in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32502/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
812. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of a welfare home (details supplied) and if he plans to close it in the forthcoming weeks.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32503/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the deputy as soon as possible.
813. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their Covid bonus payment. [32517/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
814. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32520/22]
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.
815. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing Traveller mental health funding by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32529/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
816. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the make-up of a crisis resolution team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32536/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
817. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the current and capital cost of establishing and operating a 24/7 multi-agency mental health crisis de-escalating team in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32537/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
818. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason that no explanation was provided to a person (details supplied) who did not meet the criteria for disability services. [32539/22]
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.
819. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to term long-Covid as an occupational injury for healthcare workers as some are now out sick over a year and must now switch to sick leave (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32542/22]
View answerI am aware of the changes planned for Special Leave With Pay from 1 July referred to in the correspondence provided.
However, it would be inappropriate for me to make a statement on the matter until the current high level engagement between officials and relevant stakeholders that is in train concerning the issue are concluded.
820. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has had their home help package reduced by half.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32543/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
821. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) had to wait for a two year wait for a particular form of pain relief treatment; the steps that he is taking to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32544/22]
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.
822. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding surgery for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32545/22]
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.
823. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland's present National Sexual Health Strategy runs to 2020; if he intends to update the strategy; if he will be consulting on the new strategy; the timeline for the new strategy to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32546/22]
View answerThe National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS) was launched in October 2015. It takes a life course approach, acknowledging the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age. The Strategy has been extended to the end of 2022, in order to account for the various impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on previous timelines.
Current priority deliverables under the Strategy are HIV prevention, including the continued expansion of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, which commenced in late 2019, and the HIV Fast Track Cities programme, involving Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Other key areas of work include expanding access to contraception, free of charge; expanding sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, progressing a population survey on sexual health and improving sexual health education, training and resources, including in schools, higher and further education.
A review of the Strategy began in 2021, having been postponed as a result of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Focus group meetings were held with key stakeholders, including clinical and public health staff, the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) team, those working in STI clinics, the education sector, the Department of Health and Women’s Health Taskforce, the research and academic sector and organisations representing the LGBTI+ community.
The detailed feedback from these meetings has been collated and will inform the future direction of the next iteration of the strategy. An external review of the Strategy has been approved and is currently being commissioned through standard procurement processes. It is envisaged that the procurement process will conclude by July, with the Review to take 3-4 months once commenced. When complete, the Report will be published on the Healthy Ireland website.
Results will, in turn, inform future policy direction and the Women's Health Taskforce will continue to provide input as the policy is implemented. Following the completion of the Review, and taking into account its recommendations, drafting of a renewed National Sexual Health Strategy will commence.
824. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the dedicated email addresses for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact his Department and bodies under its aegis as outlined in circular 25/2016. [32553/22]
View answerPlease see below email addresses for my Department and bodies under the aegis of the Department of Health.
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Department of Health |
Ministersoffice@health.gov.ie. |
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ministerbutler_office@health.gov.ie |
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ministerfeighan_office@health.gov.ie |
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minister_rabbitte@health.gov.ie |
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Aegis Bodies |
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Dental Council |
info@dentalcouncil.ie |
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Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
parliamentaryquestions@fsai.ie |
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Food Safety Promotion Board - Safefood |
parliamentary-questions@safefood.net |
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Health Information and Quality Authority |
info@hiqa.ie (general queries) concerns@hiqa.ie (concerns about a health or social care service) mwhelan@hiqa.ie (head of communications and stakeholder engagement) |
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Health Insurance Authority |
info@hia.ie |
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Health Products Regulatory Authority |
pqsandbriefings@hpra.ie |
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Health Research Board |
hrb@hrb.ie ccronin@hrb.ie |
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Health Service Executive |
reps@hse.ie. oireachtas.pcrs@hse.ie(for medical card queries) |
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Health and Social Care Professionals Council |
oireachtasquery@coru.ie |
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Irish Blood Transfusion Service |
contactus@ibts.ie |
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Medical Council |
oireachtasqueries@mcirl.ie |
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Mental Health Commission |
pad@mhcirl.ie |
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National Cancer Registry Board |
oireachtasqueries@ncri.ie |
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National Paediatric Hospital Development Board |
info@nph.ie |
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National Treatment Purchase Fund Board |
pq@ntpf.ie |
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Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland |
oireachtas@nmbi.ie |
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Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Council |
oireachtasqueries@psi.ie |
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Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council |
director@phecc.ie |
825. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount that Mayo University Hospital recouped through the use of debt collection agencies in 2020 and 2021. [32560/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
826. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a vaccine compensation scheme will be introduced in this country to fasttrack compensation for people who have been damaged as a result of taking vaccines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32573/22]
View answer916. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a vaccine compensation scheme will be introduced in this country to fast-track compensation for persons who have been damaged as a result of taking vaccines as in the case of a person (details supplied); if the recommendations made by the Meenan Committee are acceptable to the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32797/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 916 together.
In June 2018, the Government agreed to the establishment of an expert group to review the management of clinical negligence claims. It was chaired by the High Court judge, Mr. Justice Charles Meenan. The expert group examined the system from the perspective of the person who has made the claim to explore if there is a better way to deal effectively, yet more sensitively, with certain cases.
Mr. Justice Meenan submitted the final report on the current system for managing clinical negligence claims to the then Minister for Health and Minister for Justice in January 2020, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government subsequently published the Meenan report in December 2020. One of the report's recommendations is that a compensation scheme be established.
On foot of a request from the Department of Health, the Health Research Board (HRB), carried out an evidence review on the vaccine injury redress programme in other jurisdictions, which was completed in March 2019. The expert group's report, in addition to the HRB's evidence review, and consultation with other Departments and relevant State agencies will inform the development of proposals regarding the establishment of a compensation scheme, including the need for primary legislation.
While some preliminary scoping work has been undertaken by the Department, during the pandemic all available Department of Health resources were devoted to the Public Health response. This has meant that progress on the development of policy in this area could not be progressed as intended.
There is still significant work required to develop proposals for consideration by Government regarding vaccine damage compensation. As part of that work, it is anticipated that consideration will also be given to the inclusion of claims relating to alleged adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccines.
827. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that those over the age of 69 years no longer have access to a colonoscopy or bowel screening; and the reason that the screening ceases at this age given that the risk of bowel cancer increases as you get older. [32574/22]
View answerI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
The age range eligibility for our cancer screening programmes have been set in line with international criteria for screening programmes, based on the best international evidence.
The BowelScreen programme currently invites men and women aged 60 to 69 for bowel screening. The Programme for Government commits to extend eligibility in BowelScreen to those aged 55–74 years, in line with the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 and international processes and best practice. The HSE is planning for this expansion.
Any decisions about changes to the screening programmes, such as further widening the age eligibility, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group, which was established in 2019, considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The NSAC held its first Annual Call for proposals for new screening programmes or changes to our existing programmes in 2021. Following consideration of proposals related to the BowelScreen programme, the NSAC has asked HIQA to look at the evidence for further expansion of the age range eligibility for BowelScreen.
It is important to remind that screening is for healthy people without symptoms, and I would advise anyone to take up their invitation for screening when they receive it. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact their GP who will arrange appropriate follow-up care.
828. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there are any options available to a 71 year old person who has been on a waiting list for a cataract consultation for over a year with the Eye and Ear Hospital who has been informed that it could be another three to four years before they get to see a specialist given that they are unable to afford to go privately; and if there are any other choices for this person. [32575/22]
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.
829. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of babies that received a full health screening and developmental checks in primary healthcare centres; the number of babies that reached the age of 9 to11 months without receiving a full health screening and developmental check in primary healthcare centres; the number of babies that reached the age of 9 to11 months that were not seen in this period for a full health screening and developmental checks in primary healthcare centres in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32577/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
830. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an dental treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32582/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
