Pa Daly
Question:1095. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the retention of home help hours for a cancer patient (details supplied). [54874/22]
View answerHome Help Service
Questions (1095)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1096)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1096. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 529 of 20 September 2022 and 224 of 12 October 2022, where in the sequencing of HSE staff were members of the national HSE executive management team placed for first dose Covid-19 vaccines in 2021, as part of the national roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine programme to HSE staff; the dates on which the national HSE executive management team were offered first dose vaccines as part of that national roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54883/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (1097)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1097. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of children who were deemed non-complex and transferred to primary care as part of the progressing disability services for children and young people programme in CHO4; the number of these children who had received 1:1 therapeutic intervention prior to being transferred and the number of these children who had never received in-person therapeutic intervention prior to being transferred. [54885/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (1098)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1098. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of children with disabilities, including neuro divergent children, who are under care or are awaiting diagnosis from primary care in CHO 4; the number of these children that are receiving in-person 1:1 therapy; and the number who are receiving in person group therapy. [54886/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (1099)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1099. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of hours per discipline that are required by the caseload in respect to children with disabilities, including neuro divergent children, under care or awaiting diagnosis from primary care in CH0 4; and the number that are being delivered. [54887/22]
View answerWritten answers
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 (1100)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1100. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when the national working group working on prescribing guidelines and lists for aids and appliances will finalise its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54889/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1101)
Chris Andrews
Question:1101. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if an urgent surgery for a child (details supplied) can be arranged. [54891/22]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Health Strategies
Questions (1102)
Ivana Bacik
Question:1102. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount of developmental funding allocated towards the implementation of the national cancer strategy in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54893/22]
View answerWritten answers
Budget 2023 sets out a budget of over €23.4 billion, the single largest investment in the Irish Health and Social Care Services in the history of the State. In 2021 this Government invested an additional €32 million in cancer services, including €12 million to help services address the additional challenges of Covid-19 and €20 million for new developments in services. In 2022 an additional €20 million was allocated to cancer services, which was used to drive improvement in services for cancer patients and their families.
This year's allocation will be used to ensure the continued rollout of the National Cancer Strategy, and includes €3.8 million for cancer screening services including BreastCheck, Cervical Check and the National Cervical Screening Laboratory.
The HSE will shortly be submitting its National Service Plan to my Department for approval which will set out the type and volume of cancer care services to be provided.
Health Promotion
Questions (1103)
Holly Cairns
Question:1103. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the period poverty initiatives being rolled out across 26 local authorities, as committed to in the women's health action plan, including the number of local authorities taking part in the scheme thus far in 2022, and the way in which the scheme is being evaluated; the steps that are being taken to address the prioritised groups as outlined in the plan, including women experiencing homelessness, women living with addiction, Traveller and Roma women, and women experiencing consistent poverty. [54897/22]
View answerWritten answers
This Government is committed to the introduction of measures to address period poverty, evidenced by the commitment made in the Programme for Government and by the actions taken more recently to progress the issue.
The Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper was published in February, 2021 and can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/264f4-period-poverty-in-ireland-discussion-paper-period-poverty-sub-committee-national-strategy-for-women-and-girls-20172020-february-2021/
Government has agreed that the recommendations of the Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper be taken into account and that cross-Government, inter-Departmental, interagency and societal support for implementation measures should be sought, including from voluntary and private sector organisations that provide services funded by the State, as well as from public service providers.
The recommendations of the Report include, but are not limited to, consideration of the provision of free period products in public buildings, through publicly funded services and in the context of education.
My Department has established a Period Poverty Implementation Group, with representation from most Government Departments, to achieve cross sectoral input and to co-ordinate oversight of implementation measures recommended in the Discussion Paper. The Period Poverty IG has now met on three occasions, in July and November, 2021, and in March, 2022. Various bilateral meetings have also been held between officials of this Department, other Government Departments, State agencies and NGOs.
In terms of implementation, the most urgent focus is on supporting those most in need (e.g., the homeless, those living with addiction, minorities including Travellers and Roma, and those experiencing consistent poverty). Funding of €0.71m was allocated for this in Budget 2022.
My Department has reached out to local authorities and to the NGO sector, seeking expressions of interest regarding projects that will improve access to period products. To date, 26 Local Authorities have been funded to progress period poverty initiatives; initial progress reports have been returned, all showing that the provision of free products have been well received within their communities. A number of Local Authorities have sent in expressions of interest regarding further funding to expand their pilot period poverty projects to meet demand in 2022. This additional funding will be provided in Q4.
15 NGOs working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and/or food poverty have been similarly funded; progress reports for NGO projects will be sought at the end of Q4, 2022.
My Department and the HSE are also progressing design and implementation of a period dignity support programme for Travellers and Roma in Community Health Organisation 5 (CHO5, based in the South-East); following initial positive results, the HSE have reached out to offer additional supports to other CHOs in Q3-4.
Period poverty related questions and modules are included in the 2022 Healthy Ireland Survey and Health Behaviour in School Aged Children Study, which will be published later this year and in late 2023 respectively. Once results from these are available, it will be possible to estimate need with much greater accuracy.
Once the final reports for the local authority, NGO and CHO funding streams have been received, and the Healthy Ireland Survey results finalised and published at the end of 2022, we envisage being able to provide more accurate information in 2023.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (1104)
Jackie Cahill
Question:1104. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person (details supplied) can gain access to a mobility scooter that they need to comfortably move around their local town, given that the HSE has previously stated that it cannot provide such a necessary aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54901/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1105)
Barry Cowen
Question:1105. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a child (details supplied); and when they can expect an appointment. [54907/22]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (1106, 1107)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:1106. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service personnel based in County Clare and the station that they are based at, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54909/22]
View answerViolet-Anne Wynne
Question:1107. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances permanently based in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54910/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1106 and 1107 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 1107 answered with Question No. 1106.
Ambulance Service
Questions (1108)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:1108. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the status of an ambulance base in Kilrush, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54911/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Questions (1109)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:1109. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the average response time for an ambulance from each base in County Clare in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54912/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Questions (1110)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:1110. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the salary scale applicable to persons employed as ambulance personnel in the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54913/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Questions (1111, 1112)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:1111. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in detail the Pathfinder model for the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54914/22]
View answerViolet-Anne Wynne
Question:1112. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the planned national roll-out of the Pathfinder model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54915/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1111 and 1112 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 1112 answered with Question No. 1111.
Health Service Executive
Questions (1113)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:1113. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54920/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.