Written Answers Nos. 2018-2033
2018. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for children needing scoliosis surgery; the efforts that he is undertaking to improve waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41786/22]
View answerReducing 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 waiting times for children needing 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.
2019. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations between his Department and the HSE to address the 35 children waiting on access to kaftrio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41787/22]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2020. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of therapists that are assigned to work directly with children and young people in schools in each community healthcare organisation or CHO, including a list of the relevant schools. [41797/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2021. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the child and adolescent mental health services to exclude autistic people and their families from the upcoming audit of its services; if his attention has been drawn to this decision; and the actions that he has taken since. [41798/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2022. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the details of each children's disability network team in terms of whether it is run by the HSE or a third-party organisation, the name of the organisation in each relevant case, in tabular form. [41799/22]
View answer2023. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the children's disability network teams that provide specialist supports; the type of exceptional needs for which they provide supports; and the number of staff, the speciality and seniority of each who provide these supports, in tabular form.. [41800/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2022 and 2023 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Question No. 2023 answered with Question No. 2022.
2024. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to recognise qualifications for psychologists accredited in non-EU jurisdictions to enable them to work in public healthcare and clinical settings. [41801/22]
View answerThe profession of psychology is designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. The Psychologists Registration Board was appointed in July of 2017 and has since undertaken a substantial programme of work to develop a regulatory framework for the profession. Before the register can open the Board must, amongst other things, set the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates and also consider which titles should be protected.
When the register opens, the Psychologists Registration Board will be the Competent Authority responsible for the recognition of non-Irish qualifications. Currently, as Minister for Health, I am the Competent Authority for the recognition of psychology qualifications held by EEA nationals under Directive 2005/36/EC. However, this is for the assessment of psychology qualifications to access employment in the publicly funded health service only.
Directive 2005/36/EC only applies to EEA nationals wishing to practise a regulated profession in an EU Member State. However, my Department also applies the assessment processes of the Directive to qualifications which are outside the Directive’s scope, i.e. the psychologists referred to in the Deputy’s question.
As the HSE solely recruits persons in the specialist areas of clinical psychology, counselling psychology and educational psychology, a recognition process exists for these three specialties alone. I am advised by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PsSI) in the assessment of the applications and the process is administered by the Validation Unit of the Department on my behalf.
Each application received is assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure the professional meets the standards that are required and is safe to practise the profession in this State. In some instances, an applicant may have deficits in their professional qualification/experience and these applicants are offered a compensation measure in the form of an adaptation period (a placement) or an aptitude test. All efforts are made by the Validation Unit and the Psychological Society of Ireland to deal with these applicants in as time efficient a manner as is possible. Applicants with any queries should contact validation_unit@health.gov.ie.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
2025. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to recognise qualifications for occupational therapists accredited in non-European Union jurisdictions to enable them to work in public healthcare and clinical settings. [41802/22]
View answer2026. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to recognise qualifications for speech and language therapists accredited in non-European Union jurisdictions to enable them to work in public healthcare and clinical settings. [41803/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2025 and 2026 together.
CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator for regulating health and social care professionals. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards. There are two forms of application to CORU: applications for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and applications for registration.
Professional qualifications, including for speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, awarded outside the State are assessed through a process of “recognition” which involves expert assessment of a qualification’s alignment with the standards of proficiency required in Ireland, and assessment of professional experience and lifelong learning where required. Where a health and social care professional qualifies outside the State and applies to register in Ireland, they must apply for the recognition of their qualification. EU/EEA applicants have the right to have their qualifications assessed in accordance with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 and Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (SI No 8 of 2017). Once a complete file has been submitted to CORU, i.e., one containing all the required documentation, a decision must issue within four months.
CORU has provided the following table with the average processing time for recognition applications, from the submission of a complete application:
|
Therapeutic Professions |
Average days to Decision Jan-mid June 2022 |
|
Occupational Therapist |
74 |
|
Speech and Language Therapist |
84 |
|
Overall (all professions) |
85 |
I met the Chairperson and CEO of CORU in 2021 and raised the issue of timeframes for the recognition of qualifications and registration applications. Following our discussion, several measures have been initiated by CORU aimed at further reducing timeframes.
Until 2021 applicants were required to complete the recognition process before initiating the registration process unless they had confirmed job offers. All applicants are now invited to initiate an application for registration as soon as they have submitted a complete application file to the recognition department. This will have the effect of reducing the period of time required to both complete the recognition and registration process.
This is part of a suite of innovations that have been initiated following my discussions with CORU. Further steps underway include:
- Full transfer to an online application system
- Increased frequency of regulatory decision-making (Registration Board meetings)
- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources
- Recruitment of additional expert assessors in ‘under pressure’ professions and
- Development of a Voice over IP (VoIP) solution to improve communications with applicants.
My Department will continue to support CORU in achieving its strategic vision and improving timeframes for all applicants in the future.
Question No. 2026 answered with Question No. 2025.
2027. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when comprehensive services will be available to autistic children from their local children’s disability network team nationally; the shortfall in staff in each CDNT at present and the grades and specialties involved; the steps that are being taken to rectify this issue; the reason that full early intervention is not being provided given that it is recognised to be vital in terms of long-term outcomes for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41804/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
2028. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if there are exceptional circumstances through which the HSE might relax the qualifying criteria for a course at an institution (details supplied). [41805/22]
View answerIn terms of the particular query raised, this is a service matter and I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2029. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the date on which the recommendations by the HSE medicines management programme for cariban will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41824/22]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2030. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 30 June, the details of all allocations over €1 million made by the HSE to for-profit commercial service providers over each of the past three years, broken down by service category and exact allocation figure. [41829/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
2031. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of liaison psychiatrists available in CHO3 and CHO5; the number of liaison psychiatrists available at Tipperary University Hospital. [41835/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2032. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of liaison psychiatrists for children available in CHO3 and CHO5; the number of liaison psychiatrists for children at Tipperary University Hospital. [41836/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2033. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the case of a child (details supplied) with avoidant restrictive food intolerance disorder who has been refused access to treatment by the community child and adolescent mental health services; the options that are open to the child concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41837/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
