Written Answers Nos. 509-530
509. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to increase the percentage of electric or hybrid vehicles owned by his Department and state agencies and bodies under the Department’s remit. [45582/22]
View answerMy Department does not own any vehicles. In relation to vehicles owned by the HSE I have forwarded your query to the HSE and asked that they respond directly to you on this.
Details for other bodies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
510. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the engagement that he has had with representatives of general practitioners regarding work practice changes since Covid-19; the availability of face-to-face appointments specifically for medical card patients. [45602/22]
View answerIn response to the Covid-19 pandemic, GPs moved to curtail patient in-person contact with GP surgeries to help prevent the spread of the virus and for the protection of patients and staff. While general practice has availed of the use of phone consultations where appropriate, GPs have continued to see patients face-to-face as necessary, albeit with infection-control measures in place.
The HPSC website provides a number of guidance documents to assist general practitioners. including information on infection control and prevention, telephone pre assessments, environmental measures and personal protective equipment.
Determining whether a remote consultation or a face-to-face consultation is appropriate is a matter for the GP concerned in line with their clinical judgement. It is expected that clinical practice should be accessible to all patients, including medical card patients, in line with normal risk assessment procedures.
511. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if sufficient funding will be provided to an association (details supplied) to continue a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45609/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Ability Programme is an initiative of the Department of Social Protection and this query should be directed to that Department.
512. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 764 of 12 July 2022, the current status of the recruitment of the approved whole-time equivalent senior dietitian post for the Wexford CAMHS services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45617/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
513. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current status of the recruitment of a senior speech and language therapist to the children's disability network team service in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45618/22]
View answer514. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current status of the recruitment of an occupational therapist to the children's disability network team service in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45619/22]
View answer515. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of vacancies within the children's disability network team service in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45620/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 513 to 515, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
516. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to the funding that was provided in November 2021 for dedicated principal social work posts for adult safeguarding in each of the seven hospital groups, if he will seek a full update on the current status of the posts; if they have been filled; if job descriptions have been set out; if so, if a copy of same can be provided; if he will outline the assurances that are in place to ensure consistency of practice across these roles; if he will provide any other relevant details on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45627/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
517. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the estimated monthly cost to the Exchequer of providing universal free antigen tests. [45628/22]
View answerI have accepted updated advice from the interim Chief Medical Officer relating to COVID-19 Testing, Tracing and Surveillance which has also been approved by the Government. The public health advice does not include a scheme such as the one referred to by the Deputy so no estimate of the likely cost of such a scheme is available.
From the autumn, the HSE will be adopting a more targeted approach for COVID-19 testing which will be based on a clinical assessment where a clinician requires the result to contribute to the diagnosis and management of an individual patient, or where deemed necessary by Public Health in relation to the management of an outbreak or specific public health risk. It also means that we can target treatment interventions where they will be of benefit. The approach to COVID-19 testing is facilitated by the high level of vaccine-induced and naturally acquired population immunity in Ireland. This is mitigating against the worst impacts of infection.
The HSE is also enhancing existing infectious disease surveillance systems so that we can ensure effective monitoring and signalling of what is happening with the virus at population level, and so that we can understand disease transmission and severity along with population immunity and risk.
The pandemic is not over and COVID-19 is still a concern so testing remains an important part of our ongoing response to the disease for individuals vulnerable to its effects and for whom testing is indicated. For everybody, continuing to follow our public health advice available on hse.ie is still important. Anybody who has symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate until 48 hours after the symptoms are mostly or fully gone.
Anybody who has concerns about an underlying condition or their level of risk in relation to COVID-19 is advised to seek advice from their GP or treating clinician.My Department, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), overseen by the interim Chief Medical Officer, continue to review the COVID-19 epidemiological situation in Ireland and internationally. This includes the on-going close monitoring of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and assessment of any potential threat to population health.
518. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccines which have been pledged by Ireland to other countries since March 2020; and the details of these pledges and donations, broken down by terms of location and vaccine type, in tabular form. [45633/22]
View answer519. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccines that have been donated to other countries since March 2022; and the details of these pledges and donations, broken down by location and vaccine type, in tabular form. [45634/22]
View answer520. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the date that each consignment of Covid-19 vaccine doses arrived in each respective recipient country; and the expiry date associated with each respective consignment. [45635/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 518 to 520, inclusive, together.
Universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority for Ireland and the EU. Ireland has committed to donate up to 5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and over 2.1 million doses have already been delivered, mainly through the COVAX global vaccine initiative. The COVAX facility is a collaborative initiative, established to accelerate worldwide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and is the most effective mechanism to distribute vaccines quickly and fairly to those who need them most. Arrangements are currently in place for the delivery of a further 1.9 million doses through COVAX (est. delivery September/October). Ireland has also committed €13.5m in financing to the COVAX facility to facilitate the purchase of vaccines by low and lower middle-income countries and to cover the transport and insurance costs associated with donations.
The below table sets out the vaccine doses delivered through COVAX to date with the exception of Uganda where the donation was on a bilateral basis.
|
Recipient Country |
Doses allocated |
Manufacturer |
Delivery date |
|
Uganda (Bilateral) |
335,500 |
AstraZeneca |
Oct 2021 |
|
Nigeria |
496,800 |
Janssen |
Nov 2021 |
|
Indonesia |
403,200 |
AstraZeneca |
112,800 and 122,800 in Dec 2021 and 168,000 in Jan 2022 |
|
Ghana |
276,000 |
AstraZeneca |
Dec 2021 |
|
Burkina Faso |
376,800 |
Janssen |
Jan 2022 |
|
Sudan |
165,600 |
Janssen |
Jun 2022 |
|
Djibouti |
93,600 |
Janssen |
Sep 2022 |
|
Mexico |
312,000 |
Pfizer |
Expected Sep 2022 |
|
Sudan |
1,591,200 |
Janssen |
Pending |
It has been requested that donations to COVAX meet certain minimum standards including a recommendation for a minimum of 10 weeks shelf life when donated vaccine doses arrive in-country. Officials in my Department engage extensively with relevant stakeholders to ensure donated vaccines distributed through COVAX have adequate shelf life to meet recipient country requirements.
The COVAX donation process follows several complex steps and coordination across multiple stakeholders. The vaccine donation landscape has become increasingly complex with many developing countries experiencing significant absorption, administration and hesitancy challenges that prevent matching available supply with need.
521. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his Department records the number of Covid-19 vaccine doses procured by the Government which have expired without being used; and if so, the details of these expirations, broken down by vaccine type, in tabular form. [45636/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
522. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a dental appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45640/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
523. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when carers employed by an organisation (details supplied) can expect to receive their pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45641/22]
View answerWhile the Department cannot comment on individual cases, I can advise that 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.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, it is hoped that information will be published shortly for those 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.
With regard to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6, the Department of Health is engaging with the Department of Defence, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress payments to these cohorts as soon as possible.
I would like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
524. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an interim payment arrangement can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) who is awaiting a document to be signed by the Courts but is encountering significant delays through no fault of their own, who does not have the money to pay the fees of €1,200 per week; if an interim nursing home payment can continue pending receipt of a document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45654/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
525. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 22 June 2022, the basis on which the findings of a report with minimal supporting evidence are being accepted by his Department; and the reason that a report composed by a human resources director as opposed to a clinical expert is being accepted (details supplied). [45655/22]
View answerThe Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is an independent non-commercial state agency under the aegis of the Department of Health. Established under S.I 78 of 1965, the IBTS is required to organise and administer a blood transfusion service, and make such changes as they see fit for the administration of these services.
As such, the Board and management of the IBTS are responsible and accountable for the proper management of the organisation, and the Department of Health has no role in the matters raised. Nonetheless, the Deputy may wish to note that the IBTS has assured the Department that these matters were investigated thoroughly in accordance with the appropriate procedures. It should also be noted that the IBTS is in full compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
526. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when the members of Dublin Fire Brigade will receive their frontline pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45659/22]
View answerThe 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.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, it is hoped that information will be published shortly for those 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.
With regard to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6, the Department of Health is engaging with the Department of Defence, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress payments to these cohorts as soon as possible.
527. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a pre-budget submission by an organisation (details supplied); if he will consider its requests and ensure that they are implemented in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45664/22]
View answerMy officials review and consider pre-budget submissions received as part of the budgetary planning process each year. Currently, the Department is engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE in relation to the 2023 Estimates. Until these discussions are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter. However, I am committed to ensuring the continued enhancement of mental health services through the allocation of additional funding for mental health in 2023.
The Government’s clear commitment to enhancing mental health services, is shown by significant mental health funding increases in recent years. I would note for the Deputy that 2022 saw a record budget for mental health of €1.149 billion, comprising €24 million for new developments, €10 million for mental health initiatives in response to Covid and €13 million for existing levels of service.
This Budget, which is the largest mental health budget in the history of the state, is supporting the continued implementation of new developments under our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, including out of hours supports, CAMHS services, crisis resolution team, the national clinical programmes, and specialist mental health services for older people.
The additional once off €10 million for mental health supported the following work. €1m of this was provided for MyMind to continue to deliver free of charge counselling sessions, to clients impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic. This scheme has been extended to those affected by the Ukrainian crisis and defective concrete blocks in Donegal and Mayo. €1m was also provided to Mental Health Ireland to manage a grant scheme on behalf of the Department for community and voluntary agencies promoting mental health and wellbeing.
Funding allocated to mental health services in recent years has allowed for the continued investment in the mental health national clinical programmes and models of care, which has led to significant service improvements, including the full implementation of specialist perinatal mental health network provided for and the on-going expansion of specialist mental health teams for eating disorders, ADHD in adults, and dual diagnosis.
Importantly, as budgets increase, we need to ensure that we have plans and strategies in place so that those resources are used effectively and efficiently to the benefit of people using our mental health services. All aspects of mental health services are being improved and developed, through Sharing the Vision in the short to longer term. Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.
528. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if the drug gammacore which is recommended by a consultant for the treatment of chronic and cluster headaches is being considered for approval; if not, if it will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45667/22]
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.
529. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the dates that the members of the national HSE executive management team were offered first-dose Covid-19 vaccines in 2021 as part of the national roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine programme to HSE staff; if the executive management team was notified in writing or by phone of the vaccine schedule being offered to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45677/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
530. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the management personnel in the HSE who had responsibility for the scheduling of first-dose Covid-19 vaccines to executive HSE managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45678/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
