Wednesday, 22 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 210-229

Departmental Data

Questions (210)

Thomas Gould

Question:

210. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing professional supervision, counselling and mental health supports to social worker per worker. [33118/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Questions (211)

Thomas Gould

Question:

211. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average annual salary of an addiction counsellor. [33119/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Questions (212)

Thomas Gould

Question:

212. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the cost, per bed of an addiction stepdown residential facility. [33120/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Departmental Data

Questions (213, 214)

Thomas Gould

Question:

213. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the cost per bed of recovery housing. [33121/22]

Thomas Gould

Question:

214. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average length of stay in recovery housing by facility in the years 2015 to date in tabular form. [33122/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Question No. 214 answered with Question No. 213.

Departmental Data

Questions (215, 216, 217)

Thomas Gould

Question:

215. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average cost of providing a needle exchange service in a pharmacy. [33123/22]

Thomas Gould

Question:

216. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of needle exchanges by CHO; and if these are in a pharmacy or mobile in tabular form. [33124/22]

Thomas Gould

Question:

217. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the annual average cost of providing a mobile needle exchange service; and the capital cost in establishing one. [33125/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 216 and 217 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Question No. 216 answered with Question No. 215.

Question No. 217 answered with Question No. 215.

Departmental Data

Questions (218)

Thomas Gould

Question:

218. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the overall cost of the Drug and Alcohol Prevalence survey; the base cost for conducting same; and the additional cost per question. [33126/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The national drug and alcohol survey is a general population survey of households to measure the extent and pattern of drug use (including alcohol and tobacco) among a representative sample of those aged 15 and over. The survey is carried out by the Health Research Board (HRB), on behalf of the Department of Health. 

The survey is carried out according to standards set by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. The target sample size is c 7,000 people. Details of the methodology can be found in the technical report.

For the 2019/2020 survey, the HRB engaged a third party survey company to carry out the sampling and recruitment of survey respondents and data collection (interviews with the respondents) and an initial analysis of the dataset. A total of 22,828 contacts were made with the 11,788 households that were selected across the country.  Most contacts were in-person visits, which were subsequently halted due to Covid-19.  The total sample achieved was 5,762, which is 87.8% of the initial target of 6,560.   The fee paid to the third party was €706,850 (including VAT). There is no calculation of the additional costs per question. 

Departmental Data

Questions (219)

Thomas Gould

Question:

219. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost per uncompleted action of completing the unfinished actions in the 2017-2020 Action Plan included in the National Drugs Strategy. [33129/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Department of Health published the mid-term review of the actions in the national drugs strategy , Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery in late 2021. It shows significant progress in implementing the action plan for the period 2017 to 2020, with only a small number of the 50 actions outstanding. The Mid-term review also examined the effectiveness of government expenditure on the national drugs strategy, based on key indicators. It estimated the significant costs for society of drug use for the criminal justice system and the economy.

While the national drugs strategy covers the period 2017-2025, it included the flexibility to introduce new measures to address emerging issues and outstanding actions in the period 2021-2025. Based on the learning from the mid-term review, six strategic priorities for the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 were identified. These priorities strengthen the health-led approach, reflect commitments in the Programme for Government and align with the EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025.

The oversight structures have been revised to drive the implementation of the 6 new strategic priorities for 2021-2025. These new structures will strengthen the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society in developing national policy.

The outstanding actions from the National Drugs Strategy will be incorporated into the work plans of the six Strategic Implementation Groups - to be progressed over the period 2022-2025. The requirement for additional resources to support the work of the strategic implementation groups will be considered by the Department of Health and other relevant government departments as part of the annual Estimates process.

Departmental Data

Questions (220)

Thomas Gould

Question:

220. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the cost per year of opioid substitution treatment prescribing as paid to general practitioners. [33130/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The total cost of opioid substitution treatment prescribing for the year 2021 amounted to €22.3m of which €18.3m was spent on fees for medical professionals. A further breakdown of fees paid to General Practitioners specifically is not available.

Departmental Data

Questions (221)

Thomas Gould

Question:

221. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the cost difference in nurse prescribing and general practitioner prescribing. [33131/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Admissions

Questions (222)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33146/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Hospital Staff

Questions (223)

David Cullinane

Question:

223. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent radiation oncology professionals currently in post in the public system per 100,000 people in the population of Ireland; the number of full-time equivalent radiation oncology professionals that are required in order to meet the current and projected demands on the radiation oncology service to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33157/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (224)

David Cullinane

Question:

224. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the training, recruitment and retention plans that are in place to ensure that a sufficient number of radiation oncology professionals are in post to meet current and projected demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33158/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (225)

David Cullinane

Question:

225. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent medical oncology nurses currently in-post in the public system per 100,000 in the population of Ireland; the number of medical oncology nurses in-post who are required in order to meet the current and projected demands of nursing in oncology to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33159/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (226)

David Cullinane

Question:

226. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the training, recruitment and retention plans that are in place to ensure that a sufficient number of medical oncology nurses are in-post to meet current and projected demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33160/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Questions (227)

David Cullinane

Question:

227. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of colonoscopy capacity per hospital group used by the Bowel Screen programme, the estimated level of colonoscopy capacity per hospital group in order to meet the Programme for Government commitment to extend the Bowel Screen programme to all persons aged 55-75 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33161/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Questions (228, 229)

Holly Cairns

Question:

228. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to recruit recent speech and language therapist graduates for roles in Children’s Disability Network Teams. [33183/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

229. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to encourage speech and language therapists who are Irish nationals working in other jurisdictions to take up roles in Children’s Disability Network Teams. [33184/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.

As the Deputy's questions relate to service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Question No. 229 answered with Question No. 228.