Tuesday, 26 Jul 2022

Written Answers Nos. 1839-1854

Substance Misuse

Questions (1839, 1840)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1839. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his Department has analysed the cost of the closure of the Keltoi Rehabilitation Unit given the need to source additional beds elsewhere. [40697/22]

Thomas Gould

Question:

1840. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the redeployment of staff of the Keltoi Rehabilitation Unit; the number of staff that were employed; and the number currently still employed in HSE addiction services. [40698/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1839 and 1840 together.

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

Question No. 1840 answered with Question No. 1839.

Health Services

Questions (1841)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1841. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his Department has analysed the impact of competitive tendering on community projects. [40699/22]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (1842)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1842. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason that a decision was taken to restrict access to school dental services in Cork to only sixth class students. [40701/22]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (1843)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1843. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when school dental services in Cork will be available to school aged children in all classes currently offered in other counties. [40702/22]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (1844)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1844. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children eligible for school dental visits in Cork in 2015. [40703/22]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (1845)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1845. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the classes to which school dental visits are offered in all counties other than counties Cork, Cavan and Monaghan. [40705/22]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (1846)

James Browne

Question:

1846. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) to become registered with the Dental Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40706/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department officials will revert directly to the Deputy with a response on the matter raised.

Health Services

Questions (1847)

Chris Andrews

Question:

1847. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if senior citizens from the North of Ireland who hold Irish passports can avail of healthcare treatment while travelling in the European Union under the European health insurance card; and if so, the procedures or processes that they must complete beforehand. [40711/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK provides for a continuation of healthcare rights when on a temporary stay in a State covered by the Agreement. Under the agreement a person’s competent State will issue them with ‘an entitlement document’, in the case of the UK a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), to allow them to access these healthcare rights. The State which issues the relevant GHIC\EHIC is the State in which a person makes their social security contribution or receives a social security contributory payment.

Furthermore, under the Agreement, residents of the UK, including Northern Ireland, can continue to use their current UK EHIC to access necessary care while on a temporary stay in an EU Member State, until the card reaches its expiry date. At that point, residents of Northern Ireland may obtain a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), issued by the UK Government. Further information can be found on the NHS website, on how residents of Northern Ireland can apply for a new GHIC.

Also, in certain circumstances, persons who are frontier workers will be entitled to an EHIC under the terms of the EU UK Withdrawal Agreement.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1848)

David Cullinane

Question:

1848. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1631 of 14 June 2022, the estimated number of staff by grade required to expand HSE safeguarding and protection teams by 10%; the whole-time equivalent staffing requirements; the pay and non-pay costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40713/22]

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.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (1849)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1849. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way that he intends to replace the standard operating procedure model given the recent High Court challenge to the existing SOP in the assessment of needs process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40715/22]

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, as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1850)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1850. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of children on a waiting list for scoliosis surgery across all hospitals in tabular form; his views on the waiting times for scoliosis surgery; if there are plans to outsource scoliosis surgery for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40718/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Reducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. Earlier this year I approved an ambitious plan for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million has been approved for this initiative. The plan will result in an additional 67 spinal fusions and 28 spinal other procedures for children with Scoliosis, as well as an additional 141 procedures for children with Spina Bifida. The plan also allocates substantial paediatric orthopaedic procedures at Cappagh orthopaedic hospital, with 720 additional procedures planned for the year. The impact of the plan has already been recorded with increased activity year to date, with 239 procedures carried out year to date on 1st July, compared with 178 procedures in the same period last year.

This latest initiative is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to address acute hospital waiting lists. The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan allocates €350 million to the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve waiting times. This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health.

In relation to the specific query raised regarding the number of children on a waiting list for scoliosis surgery, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (1851)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1851. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the new elective hospital for Cork; if his Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have now agreed on the project; if the hospital will have inpatient beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40719/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In December 2021, the Government agreed a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This aims to change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged and ensure greater capacity in the future. It will also help to address waiting lists on a national level through the provision of dedicated, standalone facilities in Cork, Galway and Dublin.

As agreed by Government, the elective care scope of service will be developed in two phases. The first phase will commence with day cases, diagnostics, and outpatients. The provision of in-patient treatment will be considered in a subsequent phase. The need for this future in-patient care will be factored into the detailed planning and design phase of the elective facilities.

The development of the elective hospital proposals is following the process outlined in the updated Public Spending Code. This sets out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning, and management of large public investment projects. A Programme Preliminary Business Case has been reviewed by my Department and shared with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A project-level Preliminary Business Case for Cork is now complete and has been submitted for review under the newly introduced External Assurance Process. This review will be completed in the coming weeks after which the Business Case will be submitted for review by the Department of Public Expenditure’s Major Projects Advisory Group. Once these processes are concluded, a Memorandum will be brought to Government for its consideration/approval.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1852)

David Cullinane

Question:

1852. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1625 of 14 June 2022, the estimated cost of trebling the National Counselling Service whole-time equivalent workforce to reach the staffing levels required in the assumptions regarding universal coverage; the current and projected WTE staffing requirements by grade to achieve this; the current WTE staffing by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40722/22]

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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1853)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1853. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason that CAMHS is excluding persons with autism with a primary diagnosis from the upcoming audit of its services; if this decision will be reviewed to include persons with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40724/22]

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.

Cross-Border Co-operation

Questions (1854)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

1854. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) only received half of the medical costs when they requested to be reimbursed under the cross-Border health scheme, despite being told that they did qualify. [40730/22]

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.