Written Answers Nos. 1823-1838
1823. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount that the HSE has spent on European Union cross-Border directive healthcare provision in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the name of the hospital; and the name of any other agency to which related payments were made in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40628/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1824. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason that autistic persons and their families are excluded from the upcoming audit of the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS (details supplied). [40641/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1825. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of independent dental practices who are currently signed up to the dental treatment services scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form broken down by community healthcare organisation, CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40644/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1826. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults that are on the dental appointment waiting list in County Wicklow; the average waiting times for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40645/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1827. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the orthodontic waiting lists in County Wicklow; the average waiting times for appointments broken down by a wait period of up to one month, up to three months, up to six months and 12 months or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40646/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1828. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health when the appointment service for the Civil Registration Service for a registry office civil marriage ceremony in County Wicklow will reopen for bookings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40647/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1829. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health when the Civil Registration Service online booking system will reopen for appointments for a registry office civil marriage ceremony at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40648/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1830. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if it is intended to reopen the Civil Registration Service at a location (details supplied) for a registry office civil marriage ceremony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40649/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1831. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if his Department has plans to reopen the Civil Registration Office at a location (details supplied); and if so, if he will provide a timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40650/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1832. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health when the walk-in service for the Civil Registration office in County Wicklow for births, deaths and marriages will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40651/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1833. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently awaiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, testing at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway; the average waiting time for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40665/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
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.
1834. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the construction of a primary care centre in Ballyhaunis; the timeframe for the project’s completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40678/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1835. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, that are being taken to ensure that undergraduate paramedic science students may complete their training in Ireland without the need to go abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40679/22]
View answerThe Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent statutory body with responsibility for standards, training and education in pre-hospital emergency care, including courses delivered to undergraduate paramedic students.
I have asked the PHECC to respond to the Deputy in the matter, as soon as possible.
1836. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of engagements that the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy has held with addiction community stakeholders in each month in 2022, in tabular form. [40693/22]
View answerThe number of engagements that the Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy has held with addiction community stakeholders in each month in 2022 is below.
|
Month in 2022 |
Number of Engagements |
|
January |
0 |
|
February |
7 |
|
March |
2 |
|
April |
4 |
|
May |
6 |
|
June |
4 |
|
July |
0 |
1837. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if it is envisaged that a new action plan will be completed on the National Drugs Strategy with trackable deliverables; and if so, the timeline for the delivery of same. [40695/22]
View answerThe mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, identified six strategic priorities for the remaining period 2022-2025. These priorities will strengthen the health-led approach, reflect commitments in the Programme for Government and align with the EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025. Activities in relation to these priorities were funded in Budget 2022.
Strategic implementation groups have been established to support the implementation of the priorities and to agree additional actions, under the auspices of the national oversight committee. These new structures reflect the partnership approach and give a stronger voice to civil society by broadening and deepening the involvement of community and voluntary groups in the implementation of the strategy. Membership of the Groups is comprised of representatives from Government departments and agencies, drug and alcohol taskforces and civil society.
Independent leadership has been provided to ensure the accountability of all stakeholders and to bring impartiality, insight, and experience in addressing the challenges of drug and alcohol use. The independent chairs of the strategic implementation groups report to the national oversight committee.
The strategic implementation groups are responsible for developing their respective action plans. The groups are action-oriented and comprise stakeholders who are directly involved in the delivery of the relevant priority. Chairs will report to the national oversight committee on the progress made in developing and progressing their actions within their individual groups. The next meeting of the national oversight committee is scheduled for September.
I am committed to a partnership approach in implementing the strategic priorities for the national drugs strategy.
1838. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Budget measures announced under the remit of the National Drugs Strategy in Budget 2022, by measure in tabular form. [40696/22]
View answerA total of €7 million was allocated for new health measures to support the implementation of the national drugs strategy in 2022, including an additional €1m provided in the revised Estimates.
€6.32m of this funding has been released to the HSE. This includes €1.5m for the community services enhancement fund to increase access and provision of community-based drug and alcohol services and €0.85m for initiatives to reduce the harms from cocaine and crack cocaine. It is expected the remaining €0.62m to provide health screening and brief intervention (SAOR) under the health diversion programme will be released shortly.
The HSE advise that activities, including the recruitment of staff, under these new measures is underway. A factsheet on the Budget 2022 health measures is attached.
