Written Answers Nos. 529-548
529. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to open the new ophthalmology unit in Ballincollig, Cork as part of the overall development in the South and South West HSE area; if funding has now been provided to fully equip the building; if he will provide an adequate number of staff to provide ophthalmology services there; the expected date when it will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44541/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
531. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to publish the Action Plan for the Disability Capacity Review and if he will provide a date for its publication [44564/22]
View answerThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group, whose membership consisted of senior officials from the Departments of DCEDIY, Social Protection, Housing, Further and Higher Education, Health, and the Health Service Executive, has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised.
532. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to include an accessible budget announcement for disability as part of Budget 2023 in order that persons with disabilities and their supporters can understand the number of existing and new supports that will be provided; and the way that this relates to the needs outlined in the capacity review. [44565/22]
View answerThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group, whose membership consisted of senior officials from the Departments of DCEDIY, Social Protection, Housing, Further and Higher Education, Health, and the Health Service Executive, has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised.
The arrangements for announcements and communications pertaining to Budget 2023 are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance. It is of course hugely important to ensure that Government communications are made as accessible as possible for people with disabilities. I can confirm the Disability Action Plan 2022-2025 when published, will be available in a range of accessible formats, in the same way as the Disability Capacity Review to 2032.
533. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the provision of a fully funded primary healthcare facility for Freshford and Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, given the extensive rural area being serviced by both locations and the growing demand from patients in Kilkenny city who are finding it difficult to access general practitioner services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44566/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
534. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the vacant posts by position and community mental health area in counties Roscommon, Mayo and Galway in tabular form; the current status of recruitment for each position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44567/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
535. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list to see a psychologist in each community mental health area in counties Roscommon, Mayo and Galway; the average waiting time to access a psychologist in each area; the steps that are being taken to address the current delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44568/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
536. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the mechanism available to an adult to secure an ADHD diagnosis; the current waiting times for access to such a diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44569/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
537. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed in his Department that have a formal agreement to work from home one day per week, two days per week and five days per week; his Department’s policy in respect of facilitating requests by persons to work from home; and the number of persons that have made requests to work from home in 2021 and to date in 2022, that have been declined. [44582/22]
View answerThe Department, in line with all other Government Departments, has developed its own Blended Working Policy based on the Blended Working Policy Framework for the Civil Service. The framework can be accessed at the link below - www.gov.ie/en/publication/da010-blended-working-policy-framework-for-civil-service-organisations/.The Department’s policy was launched on the 30th of June 2022 and allows staff members to request a maximum of 3 days working remotely. The application process is ongoing and will be open until 30th of September 2022 for existing staff to make their applications. To date we have received 339 applications for Blended Working from staff in the Department. No application has been refused; however all applications are only approved in principle until such time as the remote workplace is confirmed to be in compliance with relevant Health & Safety requirements.
538. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a fair deal application by a person (details supplied) will be reassessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44591/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
539. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of additional therapy hours that would be generated with a 20% increase in whole-time equivalent therapy positions to children's disability network teams. [44607/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
540. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant urologists recruited per CHO in each of the years since 2019, in tabular form. [44608/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
541. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of positions in the community intervention teams for County Meath that are currently vacant; the titles of these posts; and when each of these vacancies will be filled in tabular form. [44609/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
542. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time community psychologist based in CHO8 in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [44610/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
543. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a response to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44611/22]
View answerWhilst I cannot comment on the individual case raised by the Deputy in his question, I am aware of the correspondence referred to by him and he will receive a substantive response shortly.
544. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will put procedures in place to ensure that there is better coordination and communication between the National Ambulance Service, the Dublin Fire Brigade and the Irish Coast Guard in respect of rescues in the Greater Dublin Area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44627/22]
View answerThe HSE has informed me that the National Ambulance Service engages with the Dublin Fire Brigade and the Irish Coast Guard on a regular basis to discuss operational matters and ensure optimum coordination and communication among all agencies. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with any additional relevant information.
545. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the position concerning the case of two elderly persons (details supplied); if one of the homeowners can refuse to sign fair deal scheme forms resulting in the denial of full-time appropriate care for the other deteriorating homeowner; if the homeowner can be legally compelled to sign the forms in order that full-time care can be provided; the measures that can be employed in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44646/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
546. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when full day-care services will be recommenced in a nursing unit (details supplied); the interim measures that he intends to put in place until a permanent solution is found; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44648/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
547. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the analysis that his Department has carried out into extending the provision of medical cards to all persons with a serious spinal cord injury; his plans to extend medical cards to all persons with a serious spinal cord injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44652/22]
View answerUnder the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.
The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
548. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if the pandemic bonus payment will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [44653/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
While my Department cannot comment on individual cases, I can advise that payment of the Pandemic Recognition Payment is receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE.
The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments. 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 frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/non-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. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
I would like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
