Written Answers Nos. 109-123
109. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice if she will review and re-examine the case of a person (details supplied) whose visa extension application has been rejected with little explanation as to the reason for same. [46167/22]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy applied to my Department to retain their residence card on an individual and personal basis, having separated from their EU citizen spouse/partner.
Under Regulation 10 of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015, the Retention of the right of residence by family members in the event of divorce, annulment of marriage, annulment or dissolution of civil partnership, these Regulations apply only to those applicants who are legally divorced. Although it was acknowledged that divorce proceedings have been initiated in this case, a decree of divorce had not yet issued.
Therefore the application was subsequently refused as the person concerned did not have an entitlement to retain their residence card under Regulation 10 of the Regulations. The EU Treaty Rights division of my department received a request for a review of that decision on 28 May 2021, and the case remains ongoing at present.
The person referred to by the Deputy has been provided with a temporary stamp 4 while their application has been under consideration, which is valid until 14 October 2022. It is expected that a decision will issue in this case before the expiry of that permission.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
110. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice if an application for a work employment visa submitted by a doctor (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited given that they are waiting to start employment in a HSE-managed facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46177/22]
View answerThis visa application was received in our Dublin Visa Office for processing on the 26 August 2022. The application is currently awaiting comprehensive examination.
Processing of this application is ongoing at present. As each application is examined under it's own merits, we are unable to give an exact time-frame for completion. However, the applicant can be assured that there will be no avoidable delay in finalising their application.
The Visa office Dublin are currently processing applications of this type received on the 26 July 2022. Applicants can keep up-to-date with the dates the Visa Office in Dublin are processing applications received on by checking the following page; which is updated weekly: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
Applicants are advised not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having first been issued with a visa. The person referred to by the Deputy will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
111. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE feasibility study in relation to the future use of a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46071/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of healthcare equipment, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
112. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend free general practitioner care to all children under eight years of age and then under 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46094/22]
View answerMy officials and the HSE are engaged in preparatory work for the commencement of the initial stage of the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7. Consultations with the IMO, representing GPs, are currently underway with the intention of introducing this service this year.
113. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of scoliosis and spina bifida related orthopaedic procedures carried out for children in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46111/22]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
114. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida related orthopaedic procedures and consultations for each month in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46112/22]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
115. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issue of regulation of psychotherapy and counselling under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (details supplied). [46116/22]
View answerThe Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act) provides for the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training & competence through the statutory registration of health and social care professions designated under the Act.
As you are aware, regulations under SI No. 170 of 2018 were made by my predecessor in 2018. The effect of these regulations is to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act and to establish one registration board for both professions. Members were appointed to the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board in February 2019 and they held their inaugural meeting in May 2019. The Registration Board has held 20 meetings since it was established. The details of the Board membership are available on the CORU website at coru.ie/about-us/registration-boards/counsellors-and-psychotherapists-registration-board/.
The work of a registration board includes consideration of the titles to be protected and the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.
To date, progress made by the Registration Board has included:
- Identification, verification and comprehensive assessment of legacy/historical qualifications to determine if they are appropriate for transitioning existing practitioners onto the respective registers (when open);
- Scoping and research on the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists internationally has been conducted;
- The drafting of separate and distinct standards of proficiency for counsellors and psychotherapists has commenced.
The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is ongoing.
I hope that this information is of assistance to you.
116. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health Health when the Health Products Regulatory Authority expects to have rivotril back in stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46120/22]
View answerUnfortunately, medicine shortages have become increasingly prevalent worldwide over the past decade and are a feature of modern health systems around the world. There are many reasons for such shortages including shortages of raw materials, manufacturing difficulties, logistical/transport issues or product recalls due to potential quality defects.
Medicines shortages can therefore originate at any point in the supply chain and can involve and impact on many different stakeholders. Accordingly, medicines shortages require a multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder response to ensure patient safety, continuity of care and protection of public health. Ireland has a multi-stakeholder medicines shortages framework in place, coordinated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), to prevent, wherever possible, and manage medicine shortages when they occur.
The HPRA has been notified of a shortage of Rivotril 0.5 mg Tablets. The company that places the product on the market (Roche) has stated that the shortage is due to a manufacturing delay, and resupply is expected at the end of September.
Further information on current and resolved shortages can be found on the shortages page of the HPRA’s website. The website is updated daily as we receive new information.
www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/medicines-information/medicines-shortages
117. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when staff at a nursing home (details supplied) will receive their pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46136/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout 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.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/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. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
As the rollout of payments to the eligible workers in non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisations has not yet begun, and eligibility has not yet been assessed across the private sector, I cannot provide an estimated number of workers who will receive the payment. We expect the rollout to begin shortly and for eligible workers to be paid as soon as possible.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention.
I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
118. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has commissioned a tree surgeon to access the trees at a location (details supplied); if so, if he will furnish a report on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46143/22]
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 you in relation to this matter.
119. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health when the Disability Capacity Review Action Plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46151/22]
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.
120. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans to provide the pandemic bonus payment to non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisations covered by the Government decision; when these workers can expect to receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46160/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout 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.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/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. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
As the rollout of payments to the eligible workers in non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisations has not yet begun, and eligibility has not yet been assessed across the private sector, I cannot provide an estimated number of workers who will receive the payment. We expect the rollout to begin shortly and for eligible workers to be paid as soon as possible.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention.
I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be moved to a nursing home nearer to their family home in Glasthule, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46163/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
122. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the progress that is being made with regards to reinstating public health nurse check-ups for infants and children in Lucan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46164/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
123. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his plans, if any, to extend the provision of free condoms to all persons under 25 years, regardless of gender, as part of the State’s existing free contraceptives scheme; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46172/22]
View answerThe HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme established the National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS) in October, 2015. The NCDS functions as a central point for distributing free condoms and lubricant sachets to HSE services and NGOs working directly with individuals and groups who may be at increased risk of negative sexual health outcomes. These include young people; migrants; gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men; sex workers; people living with addiction issues and people living with HIV. Since 2017, the number of organisations ordering from the NCDS has doubled.
The service was extended to 3rd level institutions in late 2019. Third-level institutions can order condom dispensers from the HSE, which enable the provision of free condoms and sexual health information to students on campuses nationwide.
Information leaflets are provided with the condom dispensers, which outline to students how to use condoms correctly, and emphasise the importance of using condoms consistently and every time sex happens. The information leaflets direct students to HSE - led and HSE-funded websites for further information about sexual health and well-being; www.sexualwellbeing.ie and www.man2man.ie.
Since its establishment, the NCDS has distributed 2.6 million condoms and 1.5 million lubricant sachets.
The 2021 NCDS Report was published recently, highlights include the following:
70 organisations ordered over 439,400 condoms. These included:
- 23 public sector services
- 12 NGOs
- 30 third level institutions and organisations
- 5 others
Similarly, 50 organisations ordered 259,603 lubricant sachets. Supplies of condoms and lubricant sachets were provided via one to one sessions, information stands and packs, condom dispensers, training and workshops and outreach activities.
Venues where supplies were provided included third level campuses, social and nightlife venues, needle exchanges, festivals, public STI clinics/ hospitals, the LGBTI+ Pride week, rapid HIV testing sessions, World AIDS Day events and direct Provision centres. NCDS condoms are also available through STI clinics and GPs registered to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
It should be noted that, as condoms are not prescription contraception, they cannot be included in the free contraception scheme for women age 17-25, which was launched on the 14th September. It is envisaged, therefore, that access to free condoms will continue to be managed through the NCDS
The National Condom Distribution Scheme is funded under the overall budget of the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible, regarding the allocated budget for 2022.
Further expansion of this service will be contingent on the availability of resources, which is being examined in the context of the Estimates process leading to the Budget for 2023.
