Tuesday, 4 Oct 2022

Written Answers Nos. 634-653

Disability Services

Questions (634)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

634. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will publish an accessible budget announcement for disability in order that persons with disabilities and their supporters can be informed of the number existing and new residential supports, day places and respite supports that have been provided for in Budget 2023; and the way that this relates to the needs’ outlined in the capacity review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48157/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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 has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised for approval. In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. This year, the overall Budget for disability services in 2023 will be €2.4 billion, including a significant level of funding for specialist disability services. Building on the previous year, this is an unprecedented level of funding for Disability services. It follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.

The following funding has been provided for 2023

Funding	Measure
€109m	To support existing levels of service
€4.3m	Digital Initiatives/Disability Awareness and Participation Fund
€25m	Building Capacity (Core Services)
€39m	One off Costs associated with activity during Covid-19

A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based voluntary organisations who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country. This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs. These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community. Details of the fund including its administration are being finalised.

The HSE, in preparing its National Service Plan, will examine how services, including relevant KPIs, can be progressed in 2023 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.

Question No. 635 answered with Question No. 627.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (636)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

636. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the person or body that oversees estate management in Cavan Monaghan for the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48182/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Hospital Inspections

Questions (637)

Paul Murphy

Question:

637. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the health inspection report of a hospital (details supplied) that was carried out in July 2021 and the fact that it reports that the pine ward has failed on matters repeatedly since 2014; the actions that he will instruct the HSE to take to address this urgent matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48184/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (638)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

638. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans for the health centre in Newcastle, Clonmel, County Tipperary, which has been closed since Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48185/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Health Services

Questions (639)

Paul Murphy

Question:

639. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the deepening crisis in the provision of radiation therapy to cancer patients and the fact that an organisation (details supplied) has been seeking an independent review of radiation therapy in an effort to deal with recruitment and retention; if he will remove any roadblocks by Government Departments to the establishment of the independent radiation therapist review; if he will commit to implementing any recommendations which could emanate from the review dealing with the crisis in recruitment and retention of radiation therapists and or service improvements, including advanced practice and safe and adequate staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48186/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

An independent radiation therapist review has been agreed under the auspices of the WRC. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair. Outcomes of the review will be given due consideration by the Department of Health.

As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Health Services

Questions (640)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

640. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date on setting-up an independent review of radiation therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48190/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

An independent radiation therapist review has been agreed under the auspices of the WRC. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair.

As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Dental Services

Questions (641)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

641. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the actions that his Department intends on taking to address the issue whereby medical card holders in County Clare are unable to access dental treatment. [48195/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Both I and the Government have been concerned that medical card patients in some parts of the country have been experiencing problems in accessing dental services.

I secured an additional €10 million in Budget 2022 to provide for expanded dental health care for medical card holders, including the reintroduction of Scale and Polish. I am also using an estimated €16 million of an underspend in this year’s estimate allocation (€56 million) to award fee increases across a number of items including fillings and restorations.

Following consultation with the Irish Dental Association, these new measures came into effect on 1st May. The numbers of patients being seen and the numbers of treatments being provided under the DTSS have started to increase in recent months. Patients are also accessing the preventative scale and polish which has been reintroduced, which is a positive development.

In addition, further funding has also been provided in Budget 2023 to assist the HSE in providing care to adult medical card holders who meet the HSE’s criteria for emergency care.

These are interim measures designed to address immediate concerns with the Scheme pending a more substantive reform of dental services. It is my intention that this is addressed in the context of the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which sets out a body of substantial services reform. Work is underway to design a governance framework to oversee and facilitate root and branch service reform.

Disability Services

Questions (642)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

642. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the additional budget allocated to his Department for 2023 to fund implementation of the Disability Capacity Review in tabular form. [48196/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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 has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised for approval. In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. This year, the overall Budget for disability services in 2023 will be €2.4 billion, including a significant level of funding for specialist disability services. Building on the previous year, this is an unprecedented level of funding for Disability services. It follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.

The following funding has been provided for 2023

Funding	Measure
€109 m	To support existing levels of service
€4.3 m	Digital Initiatives/Disability Awareness and Participation Fund
€25 m	Building Capacity (Core Services)
€39 m	One off Costs associated with activity during Covid-19

A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based voluntary organisations who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country. This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs. These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community. Details of the fund including its administration are being finalised.

The HSE, in preparing its National Service Plan, will examine how services, including relevant KPIs, can be progressed in 2023 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (643)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

643. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a primary care unit (details supplied); if a date for completion is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48203/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Workplace Relations Commission

Questions (644)

Mick Barry

Question:

644. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will establish the independent radiation therapist review as agreed with the HSE and unions at the Workplace Relations Commission; the measures that he will take to ensure that the vacancies among radiation therapists will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48216/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

An independent radiation therapist review has been agreed under the auspices of the WRC. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair. Outcomes of the review will be given due consideration by the Department of Health.

As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (645)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

645. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the absence of a general practitioner service for one hour per-day in a town (details supplied) between normal general practitioner clinic times and the North-East Doctor-on-Call service starting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48217/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the GMS contract, contracted GPs are to make themselves routinely available for consultation by eligible persons at their approved surgery for a total of 40 hours each week on five days or more in the week. The GP's hours of availability are to have regard to their patient's needs in the locality.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (646)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

646. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health about the availability of STI-testing kits in CHO 8. [48237/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (647)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

647. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of breasts pumps available in each maternity unit in tabular form. [48238/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Questions (648)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

648. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number and type of therapist posts that are currently advertised; and the average length of time to fill therapy posts by therapy discipline. [48239/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (649)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

649. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the correspondence, if any, that his Department has had with the HSE in relation to the setting-up of the independent radiation therapist review; if there are any obstacles from his Department; if he will support the review; if he will commit to implement any recommendations which could emanate from the review dealing with the crisis in the recruitment and retention of radiation therapists and or service improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48252/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

An independent radiation therapist review has been agreed under the auspices of the WRC. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair. Outcomes of the review will be given due consideration by the Department of Health.

As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Home Help Service

Questions (650)

David Cullinane

Question:

650. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an up-to-date list of approved home support providers across all counties in tabular form; the level of home service supports provided directly by the HSE, separate to those provided by third-party providers on behalf of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48267/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (651)

David Cullinane

Question:

651. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to approved home support providers by the HSE in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48268/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Questions (652)

Mark Ward

Question:

652. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the criteria used to decide if a child qualifies for free orthodontic treatment in the HSE; if there are any proposed changes to the criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48305/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (653)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

653. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the present status of the BreastCheck mobile scanning unit in relation to the time and schedule that it has made available in Waterford City and County (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48308/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.