Written Answers Nos. 1759-1774
1759. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if any of the transport or accommodation costs of patients who attend the HSE-contracted hospital in Alicante, Spain, are covered; and if not, if this health care delivery discriminates against low-income families. [40281/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1760. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the estimated CO2 emissions from the use of the HSE-contracted hospital in Alicante, Spain; if he has estimated the emissions; and if the HSE consulted with him in terms of the CO2 impact. [40282/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1761. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the particulars that constitute a relevant person in which section 20 applies under the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; if a relevant person can apply without the consent of the mother; and if the relevant person can be someone who is not a husband, civil partner or cohabitant of the mother. [40289/22]
View answerParts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationship Act 2015 commenced on 4 May 2020 and allow for the retrospective legal recognition of the parentage of certain donor-conceived children.
These retrospective provisions for parentage apply in circumstances where the conditions outlined in Section 20 are met. The child must have been born in Ireland as a result of a donor-assisted human reproduction procedure that was carried out before commencement of the legislation in May 2020. The procedure must have been performed in the State, or if performed outside the State, must have been performed by a person authorised to do so under the law of the place where the procedure was performed.
Under Section 21 of the Act, the mother and the intending parent may jointly apply to the District Court for a declaration that the intending parent is the parent of the child.
Under Section 22 of the Act, in cases where there is no joint application, the mother, the child or a relevant person may apply individually to the Circuit Court to have the intending parent declared a parent.
This application may be made if the child concerned is a child to whom Section 20 applies, and the relevant person applying for retrospective declaration of parentage was an intending parent of the child concerned at the time the DAHR procedure took place.
An intending parent for the purposes of Sections 21 to 23 is outlined in the legislation as follows:
“intending parent” means in relation to a child who is born as a result of a DAHR procedure, a person, other than the intending mother of the child who, at the time the DAHR procedure is performed, was aware of the performance of the procedure and undertook to care for, and exercise responsibilities towards, any child born as a result of the procedure, as if he or she were the parent of the child.
Any such applications to the Court must be accompanied by evidence that the child concerned is a child to whom section 20 applies and that the relevant person was at the time the child was conceived an intending parent of the child concerned.
1762. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the date that the €1,000 bonus payment will be paid to healthcare workers and if it will be paid to residential care home staff. [40290/22]
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 front-line 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 and will be completed as soon as possible.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the roll-out to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
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.
1763. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the rationale for managing long-Covid in children via general practitioners and general paediatricians rather than dedicated long-Covid services as in the case of adults with long-Covid. [40294/22]
View answer1764. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the general paediatrician consultants that are trained in the latest guidance regarding long-Covid (details supplied). [40295/22]
View answer1765. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a condition called PANS (details supplied) and the fact that there are two PANS knowledgeable general practitioner specialists in Ireland but no consultants, meaning that persons have to travel abroad to access a consultant level of care; if he will ensure that there are PANS consultants available to patients in Ireland; if he will ensure that these costs are reimbursed for those who have to travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40296/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1763 to 1765, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
1766. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if all staff who worked in disability services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, including in section 39 organisations, will receive the pandemic special recognition payment; if so, when will they receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40297/22]
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 front-line 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 and will be completed as soon as possible.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the roll-out to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
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. Once a process for implementing payment is confirmed, payments to eligible staff will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
1767. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty since May 2022 that is being experienced in securing a locum doctor who will provide full-time cover at the minor injuries unit in Our Lady’s Hospital, Cashel; if he will provide the number of days since May 2022 until July that the unit was fully operational with a locum doctor in attendance in tabular form; if he intends to address this ongoing issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40299/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1768. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a hospital appointment for nerve blocker injection is likely to be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40305/22]
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.
1769. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to clarify if long-term residential facilitates include residential respite facilities for children with disabilities in respect of the pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40334/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
As the deputy is aware, on January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for front-line 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 roll-out to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
It is hoped that further detailed 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.
1770. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of private consultancy companies contracted to carry out a review of the services related to patient flow in Limerick, Cork, Kerry and Galway university hospitals, respectively, in 2019; the value of each contract; if he will provide a report on the outputs from each review and the changes that have been implemented as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40336/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1771. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if Ireland will follow the example of the United States and cap the levels of nicotine contained in tobacco-inhaling products including e-cigarettes and other vaping devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40368/22]
View answer1772. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if Ireland will push for implementation of a cap on the levels of nicotine in tobacco-inhaling products including e-cigarettes and other vaping devices in the forthcoming European Commission review of the tobacco products directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40369/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1771 and 1772 together.
Nicotine levels in electronic cigarettes are already capped in Ireland under the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 271/2016). These Regulations transpose the EU Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU) which limits the maximum nicotine concentration for electronic cigarettes to 20mg/ml.
1773. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department and the HSE monitor juvenile consumption of tobacco-inhaling products, including e-cigarettes and other vaping products; if statistical analysis of juvenile use of such products has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40370/22]
View answerThe prevalence of the use of both tobacco products and nicotine inhaling products such as electronic cigarettes continues to be monitored by both the Department of Health and the HSE, using several surveys of differing regularity and methodologies.
The Healthy Ireland survey has been conducted each year since 2015, monitoring a number of lifestyle indicators among people aged 15 years and older in Ireland. These surveys saw the number of people using electronic cigarettes rising from 3% in 2015 to 5% in 2019 and down to 4% in 2021.
The HSE's Smoking Prevalence tracker survey has been carried out quarterly since 2002, tracking prevalence among Irish adults aged 15 years and over. The data is weighted by gender, age, social class and region. The most recent report combining the findings of 2021's quarterly surveys found a prevalence of 6.1% in the use of electronic cigarettes.
On young people specifically, the 2018 Health Behaviour in School - Aged Children (HBSC) survey consisted of more than 15,000 young people aged 8 - 18 years old answering a self - completion questionnaire on a wide range of health behaviour issues.
This survey found that 26% of boys and 18% of girls reported having ever used electronic cigarettes. 10% of boys reported having used these products in the last 30 days with 7% of girls reporting the same. Overall, 22% of 12 to 17 year old children reported that they had ever used electronic cigarettes. This was the first time that a question on the use of electronic cigarettes had been included. The 2022 survey is currently being conducted.
The 2019 edition of Ireland's European Schools Project for Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) Survey, which collects comparable data on substance use among students aged 15 and 16, found that 39% of respondents had tried e-cigarettes and 18% were current users. This was the second time that this topic had been included in the ESPAD survey and showed an increase in levels recorded in both responses from the previous 2015 survey.
The findings of these surveys will continue to be monitored by my Department.
Provisions within the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will further regulate nicotine inhaling products such as electronic cigarettes and reduce their availability to young people. These measures will include prohibiting the sale of these products by or to anyone under the age of 18, and the creation of a new licensing system for the retail sale of both tobacco and nicotine inhaling products. The Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
1774. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to plans by tobacco companies to become involved in healthcare provision in Ireland; and if he plans to monitor closely any possible plans by tobacco companies to enter the healthcare sector in Ireland. [40371/22]
View answerMy Department continuously monitors activity by the tobacco industry including the recent and controversial diversification by one global tobacco company into respiratory medical devices.
As a party to the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Ireland has a legal obligation to protect its public health policies with respect to tobacco control from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law. We will continue to actively comply with that obligation.
