Written Answers Nos. 305-315
305. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of children suffering from long-Covid with no supports at school to deal with these issues; if discussions are expected with the Minister for Education to put supports in place for these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55968/22]
View answerClinical evidence currently suggests that longer-term effects of COVID19 are felt mostly by adults. The Interim Model of Care being implemented by the HSE aims to ensure a national service to support those needing care. €2.2m was allocated this year and within Estimates 2023, additional funding has been provided which will facilitate an overall investment of €6.6m for the development of Long Covid services.
There was a paucity of research in children, initial reports indicated that children recover quickly from Covid with a low incidence of Long Covid. Research is developing within this area, however evidence remains limited.
Thankfully, available international evidence suggests that the majority of children with Long COVID-19 infection have asymptomatic or mild disease, their recovery is quick and the incidence of Long Covid is low. Nevertheless, health services are in place to provide care for children who may need it.
I wish to advise the Deputy that school supports for children are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education.
306. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of trainee counselling psychologists who will benefit from the €750,000 funding announced in budget 2023; the way trainees will be selected to receive funding; his plans to financially support trainees who will not receive this funding; the reason all trainees will not be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55969/22]
View answer307. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of funding all trainee counselling psychologists across the three-year doctorate programme; if consideration is being given to funding all trainees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55970/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together.
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.
I am focussed on supporting counselling psychology students in an equitable way that benefits students, and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is currently being finalised by officials in my Department and will be applied as soon as possible to allow support for those undertaking studies. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.
Further detailed discussions are now taking 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.
308. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the laboratories that cervical samples are currently analysed in, with regards to CervicalCheck samples and other cervical samples respectively; the number of samples in each case in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55971/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
309. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the updated plan to replace the national rare disease plan for Ireland 2014-2018; the timeline for publication; the reason for the delay in publishing a new plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55973/22]
View answerA disease or disorder is defined as rare in Europe when it affects less than 1 in 2000 people. There are approximately 8,000 known rare diseases; 80% of rare diseases are of genetic origin and are often chronic and life-threatening. Up to 1 person in 12 in Ireland may have a rare disease at some stage in their life. Approximately 300,000 persons in Ireland are living with a rare disease.
Many of the recommendations of the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland (2014 – 2018) have already been implemented including the establishment of a National Rare Disease Office (NRDO) and HSE National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases which has now been operationalised and incorporated into the NRDO which is the main contact point and driver for National HSE rare disease projects and initiatives.
The National Rare Disease Plan elaborates on Ireland’s participation in European Reference Networks (ERN). ERNs are virtual networks involving healthcare providers across Europe where the networking of knowledge and expertise through reference centres and teams of experts takes place. These links are emphasized in the Plan to address the care of patients with rare diseases at both National and European levels. Significant progress has been made with regard to participation in ERNs with Ireland’s 15 applications for entry to ERNs recently being approved from 5 academic hospitals. Entry to these networks commenced on 1 January 2022 and represents a significant achievement for the Irish Health Service which will drive innovation, training and clinical research for highly specialised care. It is also a very positive development for individuals and families affected with rare diseases.
In order to ensure that the input and the voice of the patient is represented in the ongoing work in relation to Rare Diseases, in 2021 I met with the HSE, NRDO and the Rare Diseases Task force which comprises the main rare disease advocacy groups; Rare Disease Ireland (RDI), the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCP), and the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPPOSI). At this meeting priority areas for the future were discussed with a view to building further on the significant progress made to date in implementing the Rare Disease Plan. A number, of priority areas for the coming period were agreed including; patient awareness, European Reference Networks, research and registries, access to services, access to medicines, diagnosis, education, legislation and policy.
310. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if the HSE can provide suicide prevention awareness training to specific voluntary groups or within the community; if he will provide contact details of the person or division in the HSE will provide such training in the HSE mid-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55975/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
311. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health when the roll-out of Covid recognition payments to the list of six non-HSE/non-section 38 organisation types covered by the Government decision will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55976/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. To date, over 124,000 workers have received the payment, and payments to eligible HSE and Section 38 staff are substantially complete.
Certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees are also covered by the Government Decision. These include 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 frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The HSE and KOSI Corp are currently progressing the rollout to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above. Information on the process involved has now been provided by the HSE and KOSI Corp to relevant organisations.
The Department of Health has transferred funding to the Department of Defence and Dublin City Council to enable payments to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6 above, and payments to these staff will be arranged by their respective organisations.
312. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the shift leads will be appointed to the ICU in Mayo University Hospital as per the national directive given that all the other hospitals in the Saolta group have already had their shift leads appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55982/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
313. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by Letterkenny University Hospital who are eligible for the pandemic recognition payment; and the number who have received it to date. [55998/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
314. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct a new external audit of post mortem standards in Ireland. [55999/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
315. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the rationale for the rehiring of a person in the health system in Ireland (details supplied). [56000/22]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
