Written Answers Nos. 2002-2017
2002. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the dividends paid by State-owned enterprises under the remit of his Department in each of the past five years; the projected dividends to be received in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41653/22]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to the dividends paid by State-owned enterprises under the remit of my Department in each of the past five years. As Minister for Health I have one commercial state body under the aegis of my Department, which is the Voluntary Health Insurance Board or Vhi.
Vhi operates on a mutual basis, with any surpluses at the end of the year being reinvested back into the business. Under the Voluntary Health Insurance Act 1957 (as amended) there is no provision for dividends to be paid from Vhi to the Exchequer.
Vhi Group was established in 2015 as part of its authorisation as an insurance provider by the Central Bank, and Vhi's different functions under the Voluntary Health Insurance Acts are carried out by subsidiaries. These subsidiaries can issue dividends within the internal group organization. The subsidiaries issue these dividends to the Vhi parent organization, Vhi Group. The amounts of these dividends can be found in the Vhi Annual Report.
2003. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the estimated total cost of delivering 700 additional acute inpatient beds; the number of additional acute inpatient beds that were delivered in 2021; the number delivered to date in 2022; the number projected for delivery in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41691/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2004. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully subsidising the training of an additional 200 ICU nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41692/22]
View answerAs this question relates to an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2005. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is considering making free PCR testing more widely available again in order that any member of the public can access one when he or she feels that he or she may have Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41693/22]
View answerPublic health advice regarding testing and tracing remains under continuing review 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.
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, and
- those whose severe symptoms who require clinical assessment, and where testing is advised by their doctor.
Outside of these categories, there is limited public health rationale at this time for COVID-19 testing.
People with symptoms of COVID-19 are advised to self-isolate and follow the advice available on the HSE website.
The 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.
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.
2006. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to cuts in services for adults with severe intellectual disabilities at Cheeverstown House due to a lack of funding from the HSE; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41698/22]
View answer2007. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if funding is being considered for a project (details supplied) in County Dublin; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41705/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2006 and 2007 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
2008. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the plans for a vacant HSE property (details supplied) in County Dublin; the reason that it has been left vacant for so long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41707/22]
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 about this matter.
2009. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason that public health nurse checks on babies in west Dublin have been discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41716/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2010. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 580 of 5 July, the number of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures carried out in 2021 and to date in 2022, by hospital (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41718/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2011. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of instances in which ambulance response times in County Kerry have exceeded best practice thresholds in the past five years; the number of complaints received by the National Ambulance Service about ambulance response times in County Kerry over the past five years; if he will ensure extra ambulance cover for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41728/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2012. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41749/22]
View answerIreland's COVID-19 vaccination programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to the Department of Health based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.
You can view the guidelines here: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf
The NIAC has recently recommended a first mRNA booster vaccine for those aged 5-11 years; a second mRNA booster dose for those aged 50-64 years, persons aged 12-49 years with an underlying medical condition or are residents of long-term care facilities. The Interim Chief Medical Officer has endorsed these recommendations and has written to the HSE requesting that the rollout commence as soon as practicable.
The NIAC has also made a number of recommendations regarding the Autumn/Winter period. It has advised that healthcare workers are offered a second mRNA booster and a third mRNA booster is recommended for persons aged 65 years and older, and those aged 12-64 years who are immunocompromised.
The Committee will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.
2013. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 624 of 5 July, the targeted domestic recruitment campaigns that are in place to hire staff for children's disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41767/22]
View answer2014. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 625 of 5 July, the targeted international recruitment campaigns that are in place to hire staff for children's disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41768/22]
View answer2015. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 626 of 5 July 2022, if he is considering introducing a sponsorship programme for children's disability network teams; the way that such a programme would work; the estimated cost of rolling out such a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41769/22]
View answer2016. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.628 of 5 July 2022, if he is considering the use of a relocation allowance to support any international recruitment campaigns aimed at filling vacant posts for children’s disability network teams; the estimated cost of providing such an allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41770/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2013 to 2016, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
2017. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 will be amended to include retrospective recognition of parental rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41785/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 passed Second Stage in the Dáil on March 23rd 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage. The content and text of the Bill is under ongoing review. However, I am not in a position at this juncture to speculate on non-technical amendments, if any, that could be tabled and accepted at Committee Stage or subsequent Stages, particularly as any such amendments may first require policy and legislative development and Government approval. Nevertheless, although I have prioritised the progress of this much-needed and long-awaited legislation, I am also most eager to ensure that any improvements which can be made to the Bill in a timely fashion will be considered.
