Written Answers Nos. 1014-1033
1014. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that his Department will develop a long-term strategy which will assist in the radiation therapy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54571/22]
View answerAn independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been agreed under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. 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.
1015. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of house-bound persons still awaiting a second Covid-19 vaccine; the plans in place to administer the second and third booster vaccinations to this cohort (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54573/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1016. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Covid-19 bonus payment for a person (details supplied); the reason that this has not been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54575/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1017. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) remains waiting for an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54599/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1018. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a second booster vaccine; the reason that this has not happened to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54607/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1020. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists who treat patients at St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4; the number of vacant physiotherapist posts in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54611/22]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
1021. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the plans to bring the pay of workers in Section 39 organisations in line with the public service pay agreement entitled Building Momentum and successor agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54613/22]
View answerI would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the very important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector, particularly in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
While the Government does provide assistance, under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, to organisations that provide services similar or ancillary to services that the HSE may provide, it must be acknowledged that these organisations are privately owned and run and that their terms and conditions of employment, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between private sector employers and their employees. They were not and are not party to the Public Service Agreements and, therefore, are not covered by the pay restoration provided for in these Agreements, including Building Momentum.
The pay of public servants was cut by the FEMPI reductions in 2010. While FEMPI did not technically apply to community and voluntary organisations, savings were made by those organisations including, in many cases, pay cuts.
An agreement was reached at the WRC in October 2018, in relation to a process of pay restoration for staff employed by 50 Section 39 agencies. Pay restoration commenced in April 2019 with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000. Any outstanding balance was paid in 2020 and 2021. A further WRC engagement followed in December 2020 in relation to a final phase of 250 organisations who were identified as part of the earlier agreement. A payment arrangement consisting of three phases was agreed with the first two payments to be made in 2021, and the third and final payment due to be made in 2023.
I believe a process similar to that conducted for pay restoration could play a useful role in providing solutions to the current pay-related issues that Section 39 organisations have raised.
1022. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the detail behind the methodology employed for the north Kerry child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, sample audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54615/22]
View answer1023. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the total number of files selected for inclusion in the north Kerry CAMHS sample audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54616/22]
View answer1024. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if any files, originally selected for inclusion in the north Kerry CAMHS sample audit, were subsequently removed from the list of files; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54617/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1022 to 1024, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1025. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the date by which the sample audit of north Kerry CAMHS files will be completed; the date by which the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54618/22]
View answer1026. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will request a full review of all north Kerry CAMHS files opened since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54619/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1025 and 1026 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1027. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the completion of the modular extension to Mallow Hospital, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54624/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1028. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if the original design of the extension to Mallow Hospital altered from its original design; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54625/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1029. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if there is a process through which people can apply for funding from the HSE in order to obtain medical treatment from private hospitals in which the HSE cannot provide the treatment required in a timely manner; and if so, if he will provide the information for same. [54629/22]
View answerIn relation to access to treatment in Private Hospitals within the State for public hospital patients, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, rather than individual patients, to offer and provide funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients on an inpatient or day case waiting list.
The clinical suitability of a patient to avail of NTPF funded surgery or procedures is determined by the public hospital where the patient is on an Inpatient or Daycase waiting list.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List.
1030. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54631/22]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In 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.
1031. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the total number of dietitians employed by Cavan and Monaghan hospitals; the specific services within which these dietitians are employed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54632/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1032. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a person must pay for the cost of staying in a community hospital for five weeks if the person is in receipt of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54633/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1033. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a child (details supplied) is granted a date for an assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54634/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
