Written Answers Nos. 323-337
323. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of ensuring all hormone replacement therapy products are covered under the drug payments scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36889/22]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the General Medical Services and community drug schemes, and also for the administration of those schemes.
The HSE advise that while Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is used as a treatment for women’s health issues/menopause, there are also a wide range of other HRTs in place across multiple clinical areas, including the replacement of cortisone in Addison’s disease, and the replacement of thyroxine in thyroid disease, etc.
In addition, menopause can present differently for individual women, both in symptom severity and duration. Not all women experiencing menopause may be clinically eligible for HRT, which is prescription based. Women may also choose not to take HRT and to address their symptoms through alternative therapies and/or lifestyle changes.
In 2021, the provision of HRT under the statutory schemes cost €5.4m. This cost was broken down between €3.9m under the General Medical Services (medical card) scheme and €1.5m under the Drug Payment Scheme.
The HSE do not have access to data on the expenditure of patients receiving products privately in community pharmacies or whose expenditure for medicines falls below the threshold of the Drug Payment Scheme. This prevents the HSE from giving a robust estimation of the costs of providing HRT free to all who may need it. However, the HSE have estimated that the cost to the state would likely be €8.2m per annum, at a minimum. This estimation does not take account of any associated loss of prescription charge income or any demographic changes that could impact on uptake.
The Government is aware of the supply issues that have arisen in the provision of HRT and is doing all it can to address these. When supply issues arise for individual medicines, different options, including alternative brands or generic medicines, should be made available to ensure continuity of treatment. Pharmacies should also ensure the equitable supply of medicines to their customers, within their available stock. If a patient has concerns, they are advised to discuss their treatment and alternative options with their doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
324. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the financial support that he is planning to put in place for HSE front-line staff who are suffering from long-Covid and who are now facing a financial cliff edge following the abolition of the special sick pay scheme recently; the reason that a safety net had not been put in place for such staff prior to 1 July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36890/22]
View answerOfficials from my Department engaged with the Health Service Executive and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) as a priority to develop a proposal for a scheme for public health service employees in respect of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection, noting the change to Special Leave with Pay re Covid being introduced by DPER wef 1st July 2022.
An offer of direct engagement between the management side and the health sector staff representative bodies in respect of the Scheme has been made, and engagement commenced on 5th July, which I hope can be concluded quickly in order that eligible public health sector employees do not face any significant cliff edge in this regard.
It would be inappropriate to make any further statement on the matter until that engagement is concluded.
325. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Sláinte cá mhéad iarratas ar chártaí leighis a cuireadh isteach ar bhonn míosúil i ngach aon bhliain ó 2020 go 2022, i bhfoirm tábla; cá mhéad iarratas a ndearnadh próiseáil orthu gach aon mhí i bhfoirm tábla, cad é an meánmhéid ama a ghlac sé próiseáil a dhéanamh ar na hiarratais seo gach aon bhliain [36893/22]
View answerToisc go mbaineann seo le soláthar seirbhíse, d’iarr mé ar an FSS na ceisteanna a bhí ardaithe a fhiosrú agus a fhreagairt go díreach don Teachta Dála.
326. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if a child who has received an assessment report under the Disability Act 2005 is entitled to a review of that assessment on an annual basis. [36921/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
327. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason there was no engagement with union representatives in relation to the payment scheme for healthcare workers with long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36942/22]
View answerThis matter has been raised with officials from my Department and the HSE through industrial relations fora. Following the development of the proposed scheme, officials from my Department and the HSE met with the public health sector staff representative bodies to discuss it. This engagement commenced on Tuesday and is ongoing. I am aware of the urgency in respect of this scheme, and my hope is that the matter can be concluded quickly.
329. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current pathway for accessing paxlovid for patients at the highest risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19; if his attention has been drawn to reports of patients’ difficulty accessing this medicine within five days (details supplied); the steps that are being taken to address barriers to treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36950/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
330. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure patients at the highest risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19 have timely access to PCR testing to ensure that antiviral and monoclonal antibody treatments can be administered within five days of contracting the infection given the reduced capacity of testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36951/22]
View answerThe COVID-19 testing programme is transitioning towards a longer-term, sustainable model in which COVID-19 can be managed for public health and clinical purposes rather than the mass testing and tracing programme which has been in effect since early in the pandemic. The HSE continues to provide access to SARS-CoV-2 testing according to the prevailing public health advice.
PCR testing for public health purposes is currently advised for those most vulnerable to the effects of the disease. This includes:
- those aged 55 years and older who have not received a booster vaccination
- those with a high-risk medical condition
- those who are immuno-compromised
- those who provide care or support for a person they know to be immunocompromised
- those who are pregnant symptomatic healthcare workers
- those whose severe symptoms who require clinical assessment, and where testing is advised by their doctor
Individuals who have concerns about an underlying condition and/or their level of risk in relation to COVID-19 should seek advice from their GP or treating clinician.
Public health advice regarding testing and tracing remains under continuing review under the guidance of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and is subject to the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the disease on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance and other international evidence and guidance.
331. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an urgent referral for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36957/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
332. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare staff employed by the HSE in receipt of the special leave with pay scheme on 29 June 2022 broken down by grade, gender and age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36963/22]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
333. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a number of CHOs in which child developmental checks are not currently taking place; his plans to ensure their full resumption; the timeline for same; his plans to ensure that those who originally missed out on developmental checks have been caught up with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36964/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
334. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is another scheme to help farmers to carry out work on land that is overgrown with rhododendrons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36825/22]
View answerMy Department does not have a specific scheme for the removal of Rhododendron ponticum. I am advised by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that responsibility for the control of invasive alien species (IAS), such as Rhododendron rests with the landowner and that Department does not have any scheme for its removal.
My Department funds European Innovation Programme (EIP) projects, one of which is based in the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, managed by the South Kerry Development Partnership CLG. Part of the work of this EIP is training participant farmers to deal with occurrences of this plant on their own land.
The Project has been working with local landowners in the area to manage the Rhododendron and prevent the loss of protected heath and bog habitats and grazing lands to this and other invasive species. On 21st June last I announced ACRES, a €1.5 billion agri-environment scheme which builds on the learnings of the current successful EIPs and, using a habitats-based approach aims to contribute significantly to long-term environmental improvement. Following a public procurement process, South Kerry Development Partnership have been awarded the contract for the management of the one of the eight project areas proposed for the ACRES Co-operation approach, and they are now developing Local Action Plans for the West Cork and Kerry area and engaging with farmers and advisers in that locality. The management of IAS will form part of those Local Action Plans where appropriate. You will also no doubt be aware that all 31 Local Authorities have received funding under the National Biodiversity Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme, which is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Queries related to same should be directed to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
335. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no manufacturing date or expiry date on fertiliser; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36859/22]
View answerManufacturing or expiry dates are not required for fertilisers. The primary reason is that fertilisers do not lose their efficacy if stored in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines. However, protected fertilisers should be used within 6-12 months in order to maintain the effectiveness of the inhibitor. In any event, the nutrient content of the fertiliser will be stable as for other fertilisers.
Fertiliser is made up of a variety of natural minerals and other elements that do not break down during storage, allowing unused fertiliser to be carried forward from year to year thereby ensuring no unnecessary disposal of unused stocks.
336. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 394 of 19 May 2022, when the review of S.I. No. 49 of 2016 will be completed; if he will extend this to the organic dairy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36865/22]
View answerOn the issue raised in relation to legislation for dairy producer organisations, the existing legislation, S.I. No. 49 of 2016, is currently being examined with a view to extending similar provisions to additional agricultural sectors including the dairy sector (including organic systems). It is anticipated that this process will be finalised in the coming months.
337. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of reconstitution and underplanting scheme applications made between January and June 2022. [36866/22]
View answerSince the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, my Department has provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by disease through the Reconstitution Scheme (Ash Dieback) (introduced in 2013) and more recently the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS – Ash dieback) introduced in July 2020.
The table below shows the total applications received, approved and on hand, including the area, since the commencement of the Scheme up to and including 17 June, 2022.
|
Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) |
Total |
|
Applications received |
706 |
|
Decisions issued |
237 |
|
Awaiting decision |
469 |
A total of 155 applications were decided in 2021 for a total of 492ha. A total of 389 applications were received in 2021, covering 1,628 ha.
The table below shows the breakdown of the applications on hand and the year in which that application was made.
|
Year received |
Number awaiting decision |
|
June to December 2020 |
93 |
|
January to June 2021 |
70 |
|
July to December 2021 |
304 |
|
January to June 2022 |
2 |
Thus, number awaiting a decision is 469.
