Thursday, 13 Oct 2022

Written Answers Nos. 454-469

Departmental Funding

Questions (454)

Thomas Gould

Question:

454. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding to be given to each of the local and regional drug and alcohol taskforces in 2023, in tabular form. [50987/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

It is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 to enhance access to and delivery of drug and alcohol services in the community. This priority seeks to provide health and social care services at the community level to meet identified health needs for people who use drugs. In line with this priority, I established a €2 million fund to enhance community-based drug and alcohol services - the Community Services Enhancement Fund (CSEF), in 2022.

The Department of Health provides €28 million in recurring funding for 280 community-based drug and alcohol services annually. In 2019, additional funding of €1m was provided for drug and alcohol task forces, including €240,000 on a recurring basis for core budgets.

In Budget 2023, I secured an additional €10.5m for the national drugs strategy and inclusion health. This includes €3.5m for community and voluntary providers of drug and alcohol services and inclusion health services to maintain existing level of service. This will deliver a substantial uplift in grant agreements with service providers to cover cost of living and operational cost increases. Details of the additional funding secured in Budget 2023 are outlined in the attached factsheet.

Details of the additional funding for community-based drug and alcohol services in 2023, including those supported by drug and alcohol taskforces, will be finalised in the coming months, in conjunction with the HSE and other channels of funding.

I am committed to strengthening the health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, through reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and by promoting rehabilitation and recovery.

Factsheet

Mental Health Services

Questions (455)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

455. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if more residential places will be offered for teenagers in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50994/22]

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, insofar as it potentially relates to the provision of HSE services in Kerry.

Budget 2023

Questions (456)

Emer Higgins

Question:

456. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the funding that is to be available to counselling trainee psychologists based on Budget 2023; if it will consist of a contribution to fees and a salary and be equal in support to the funding available to clinical psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50998/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health services. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short and medium-term measures in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. It will enhance the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery. The funding will enable us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2023.

In relation to the HSE Mental Health care programme, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training. Further detailed discussions will now take place between the Department and HSE to progress both this and wider commitments of the 2023 Budget in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023.

Mental Health Services

Questions (457)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

457. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 14 September 2022, the dates on which family members of residents of Garnish House, Cork were informed of the decision by the HSE to vacate the property in Q1 of 2023; the format and context that this information was conveyed to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50999/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (458)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

458. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce an occupational injury scheme for healthcare workers with long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51000/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recently recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.

In Ireland, Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) is available for the recommended isolation period, for civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid. SLWP provides for paid leave, including full pay, any fixed allowances payable as well as premium payments.

For certain employees who remain unfit to attend the workplace and are suffering from long-Covid, a scheme, specific to the public health service has been developed to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.

The HSE have issued the full details of the Scheme to all public health service employers by circular, and employees who meet the criteria for eligibility for the Scheme will have transferred to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1 July 2022.

I am advised by officials from the Department of Social Protection who operate the national Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, that Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and that they do not intend on revising this position.

Mental Health Services

Questions (459)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

459. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the advice from clinicians that going from single-room occupancy in Owenacurra to shared occupancy would be a retrograde step for any resident and contained in their meeting minutes of 5 October 2021 was overturned; the person in the HSE who decided to overturn this agreement; if the subgroup of clinicians handling the closure was consulted; the number of Owenacurra Centre residents who have been offered shared rooms in long-stay wards to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51001/22]

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.

Departmental Data

Questions (460)

Emer Higgins

Question:

460. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of wholetime equivalent psychologists for CH09 in CAMHS, the children’s disability network teams, children’s primary care and the National Educational Psychological Service in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51024/22]

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 in relation to the aspects of the question relevant to them.

Departmental Data

Questions (461, 462, 463)

Emer Higgins

Question:

461. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of children’s disability network teams in Dublin west; and their locations. [51025/22]

Emer Higgins

Question:

462. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of staff in each children’s disability network team in Dublin west, including social workers, psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and so on, by full-time equivalent. [51026/22]

Emer Higgins

Question:

463. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the role of the new children’s multi-disciplinary assessment hub in Castleknock, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51027/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 461, 462 and 463 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 462 answered with Question No. 461.

Question No. 463 answered with Question No. 461.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (464)

James O'Connor

Question:

464. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the status of physiotherapy services in the primary care centre in Fermoy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51041/22]

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.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (465)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

465. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which occupational therapy and speech and language therapy have been made available in the case of a child (details supplied) given that they have been deemed to suffer from a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51049/22]

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.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (466)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

466. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when speech and language therapy may be made available in the case of the son of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51058/22]

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.

Energy Prices

Questions (467)

Richard Bruton

Question:

467. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has assessed the implications of rising electricity costs for patients undertaking home dialysis; and if some special arrangements can be made. [51083/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government is committed to providing accessible and affordable health care and there are a range of schemes that assist individuals in meeting their medical costs.

People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.

In certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.

In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.

The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines who are not eligible for a medical card.

Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.

The Department of Social Protection administer the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme and the Fuel allowance, which may assist individuals with the costs associated with operating a home dialysis machine. Further information on these can be found at:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/d5554-supplementary-welfare-allowance/

www.gov.ie/en/service/00aa38-fuel-allowance/

Finally, as announced in Budget 2023, every household in Ireland will receive three €200 energy credits, totalling €600, towards the costs of their electricity over the coming months.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (468)

Denis Naughten

Question:

468. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason that the special Leave with pay under Covid-19 for those healthcare workers with long-Covid is only available to those who contracted the virus at least 84 days prior to 7 February 2022; if he will review this threshold date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51090/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

For all civil and public sector employees, access to DPER's Special Leave with Pay re Covid, was capped at just 10 days paid leave with effect from 7 February this year, and this was further reduced by DPER to paid leave for the required isolation period only (currently 7 days) with effect from 1 July this year.

While a temporary Scheme for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection had been introduced for eligible public health sector employees in recognition of the increased level of risk faced by some of our staff in clinically exposed settings, it was necessary to include some eligibility criteria in respect of access to the Scheme, particularly noting that the Scheme is specific to the public health sector only, and will provide paid leave for an additional period to those who faced the highest risks at the most challenging phases of the pandemic.

The HSE have introduced the Scheme and eligible employees will have been transferred to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1 July 2022.

Health and Safety

Questions (469)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

469. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes that are proposed in relation to the use of creosote and specifically its use on timber products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50821/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The active substance creosote has undergone a review at EU level in the context of renewing or not an approval for use in biocidal wood preservative products.

The outcome of these discussions culminated in a decision by the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products to renew creosote for vacuum pressure impregnation of wood used for railway sleepers and telecommunication poles only. The renewal regulation is expected to be published in the coming weeks.

Following publication, authorisations of creosote containing products in Ireland will be amended to prohibit the sale and use of products containing creosote to treat agricultural/equine fencing. A period of grace will be applied for the sell out and use of existing stock of creosote, where applicable. From 30 April 2023, any placing on the market and sale of timber treated with Creosote except for railway sleepers and telecommunication poles will be prohibited.

The Department has engaged with industry stakeholders throughout this review and will continue these engagements over the period ahead to ensure that all stakeholders are fully aware of this regulatory change.