Written Answers Nos. 1727-1742
1727. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason that funding has not been released to support the recruitment of a nurse specialist in University Hospital Limerick as part of the roll-out of the national headache pathway announced by his Department in April 2022 (details supplied). [40121/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1728. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if the person may receive an appointment in Monaghan given the urgency of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40128/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1729. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40141/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1730. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children’s disability network teams, by CHO area; the current number of vacant posts by CDNT and CHO area, in tabular form; the positions to which these vacancies refer; when it is anticipated that all vacancies will be filled; the reasons for ongoing vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40150/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1731. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in an organisation (details supplied) in Swords who worked in practice during the Covid-19 pandemic who will receive their pandemic bonus payment; when they will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40163/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its website: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html. Payment is currently receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments. It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 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:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE; and
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
As the rollout of payments to the eligible workers highlighted above has not yet begun, and eligibility has not yet been assessed across the private sector, I cannot provide an estimated number of who workers who may receive payment in the organisation mentioned by the deputy. We expect the rollout to begin shortly and for eligible workers to be paid as soon as possible.
1732. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify when the Rowlagh health centre in Clondalkin will re-open to the public following its recent closure due to a public health issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40168/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1733. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the in-vehicle navigation system that is used by the HSE (details supplied); if the system has been assessed for accuracy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40181/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1734. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 956 of 12 July, the number of non-HSE inpatient services provided to persons who suffer from mental health difficulties that are not registered with the Mental Health Commission, by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40183/22]
View answerNo inpatient mental health service (known as an 'approved centre'), be it run by the HSE or otherwise, can operate in the State without first being registered by the Mental Health Commission as per Part 5 of the Mental Health Act 2001.
1735. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing a dedicated dietitian in the oncology day unit in Cavan General Hospital (details supplied) given the importance of diet with recovery; if he will request the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland or RCSI group if it intends to explore this role with a view to putting funding aside for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1736. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a child (details supplied); if he will provide an update on an appointment for speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40191/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1737. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the appointments for a child (details supplied); if he will provide a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40193/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1738. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when the nurses in a nursing home (details supplied) can be expected to receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment that they were promised at the start of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40196/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its website: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html. Payment is currently receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments. It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 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:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE; and
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention. Eligible employees should receive payment as soon as possible.
1739. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the vacant apartments above a shop (details supplied) in Macroom, County Cork; and if he has engaged with the company about same. [40200/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1740. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40203/22]
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.
1741. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 1464 of 26 April 2022, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no correspondence has been issued and that the application has not been processed since the application was lodged in February 2022; the steps he will take to ascertain the reason for the delay in processing and expediting this application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40204/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1742. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 635 of 24 May, if there is now a grade code for cognitive behavioural psychotherapists within the HSE; if so, the number of full-time cognitive behavioural psychotherapists currently employed by the HSE; the number of additional cognitive behavioural psychotherapist posts that are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40217/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
