Written Answers Nos. 150-169
150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE-funded therapists who have been allocated to special schools in County Cork in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61233/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action his Department is taking to address the low uptake in BowelScreen for women in at-risk populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61234/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
152. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the Government’s position on the ongoing pandemic treaty negotiations; if he will ensure that Ireland advocates for an equitable distribution of life-saving medicine across the world; his views on the fact that the current international healthcare architecture is broken and puts the lives of the poor at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61238/22]
View answerIreland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable and needs revision.
An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established by WHO to manage the negotiations; its December meeting will see discussion of a conceptual zero draft of the Pandemic Agreement. A progress report on the negotiations is expected to be delivered to the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023, with the aim of adopting the agreement by 2024.
The EU is a leading proponent of this process and Ireland, along with a majority of EU Member States, is part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty. It should be noted that while certain health matters are within the competency of EU Member States, other health matters are within the competency of the EU itself. Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging and will continue to engage with other Government Departments, the EU negotiator, and the INB bureau in this process.
The Group of Friends of the Treaty strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.
The Pandemic Agreement needs to include human rights, disability and gender-responsive equity as a core and underlying principle which informs the whole agreement. This also includes marginalised people in low-income settings, people living in crisis contexts, refugees and internally displaced people; by putting the furthest behind first, we can ensure equitable access to medical and non-medical measures for all.
To achieve this, investment will be needed in public health infrastructure globally, at all levels but with a particular focus on primary healthcare, and to include meaningful community engagement.
153. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his position on the Berlin declaration setting out the biopharmaceutical industry vision for equitable access in pandemics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61260/22]
View answerThe Berlin Declaration is a statement issued by the innovative biopharmaceutical industry calling on the G7, the G20 and all stakeholders in the global health community to play their part, to ensure that people in all countries have more equitable access to future pandemic vaccines, treatments and diagnostics no matter where they live.
In principle, the commitment by industry to work with governments and all stakeholders to help ensure that preparedness and response systems are put in place and maintained into the future is welcome; the mechanisms to underpin this however will warrant careful, considered analysis and review as the principle is operationalised.
The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe is premised essentially on ensuring access to safe, affordable, effective medicines for all European patients. The importance of assuring a regulatory environment that fosters and supports innovation and sustainability, underpinned by an ethos of trust, predictability and collaboration is recognised from a European, as well as a global perspective. Timely patient access to safe effective medicines supports the common good.
The EU is a leading proponent of the Pandemic Agreement and Ireland, along with a majority of EU Member States, is part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty. The Group of Friends strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics. The Pandemic Agreement needs to include human rights and disability and gender-responsive equity as a core and underlying principle which informs the whole agreement. This also includes marginalised people in low income settings, people living in crisis contexts, refugees and internally displaced people and, by putting the furthest behind first, ensure equitable access to medical and non-medical measures for all.
In a pandemic no one is safe until everyone is safe’ and the recognition of this tenet is important as we reflect and learn from the lesson of the Covid pandemic.
154. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with civil society organisations (details supplied) regarding an international pandemic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61261/22]
View answerIreland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable.
An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established by WHO to manage the process to negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; its December meeting will see discussion of a conceptual zero draft of the Pandemic Agreement. A progress report on the negotiations is expected to be delivered to the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023, with the aim of adopting the agreement by 2024.
Ireland supports this WHO-led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. The aim of such a Pandemic Agreement is to protect public health and to help save lives in the event of future pandemics.
The EU is also a leading proponent of this process and Ireland, along with a majority of EU Member States, is part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty. It should be noted that while certain health matters are within the competency of EU Member States, other health matters are within the competency of the EU itself. Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging and will continue to engage with other Government Departments, the EU negotiator, and the INB bureau in this process.
The Group of Friends of the Treaty strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.
As part of the negotiating process the INB has held a number of its meetings in public; Ireland strongly supports this action and welcomes the participation of civil society organisations in this process. Accordingly, I have instructed officials in my Department working on this agreement to respond positively to approaches from the organisations the Deputy mentions and arrange to meet in the new year.
155. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with the European Union and the World Health Organization with regard to an international pandemic treaty; the role Ireland will play in the negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61262/22]
View answerIreland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable.
On 1 December 2021, the members of the World Health Organisation reached consensus to begin the process to negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Ireland supports the WHO-led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. The aim of such a Pandemic Agreement is to protect public health and to help save lives in the event of future pandemics.
An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established by WHO and has met three times in 2022. The third INB meeting, which is currently being held, is discussing a conceptual zero draft of the Pandemic Agreement. Ireland has been participating in the INB process along with EU partners and is also, along with a majority of EU Member States, part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty. It should be noted that while certain health matters are within the competency of EU Member States, other health matters are within the competency of the EU itself. The Group of Friends of the Treaty strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.
Ireland will be advocating for an ambitious, fair and implementable agreement to protect public health through better pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging, and will continue to engage, with the Group of Friends, other Government Departments, the EU negotiator, other EU Member States, and the INB bureau in this process.
156. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 22 June 2022, the steps being taken to progress nurse prescribing of opioid substitution therapy; the reason this has still not been developed given the urgent need for additional personnel to prescribe; if his attention has been brought to the temporary closure of a detox unit (details supplied) during the summer due to a shortage of personnel to prescribe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61263/22]
View answerOver the last three years and in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the HSE has examined potential mechanisms to increase access to opioid substitution treatment in order to promote the safety of individuals who were opioid dependent and at potential risk of contracting SARS CoV 2 and suffering morbidity and mortality. A research paper on the HSE Addiction Services response during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the many adaptations to increase access and to reduce waiting lists. As a result of these innovations and changes, the HSE Addiction services and community level 1 and level 2 GPs are providing Opioid Substitution/Agonist Treatment (OST/OAT), to an additional 1,000 individuals in October 2023, as compared with January 2020. The number of GPs prescribing buprenorphine-based products has increased from 37 to 61 in this period.
To determine whether these new changes and new guidelines should be retained post pandemic, the HSE conducted a National Delphi study in conjunction with the RCSI to obtain consensus recommendations for OST/OAT following the introduction of emergency clinical guidelines in Ireland during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Delphi study drew together a multidisciplinary group of clinicians who were directly working in OST/OAT services in conjunction with people who were in receipt of OST/OAT and key workers. There was representation from specialist addiction services, primary care, homeless services, prison services and service users. This research examined the potential mechanisms to increase OST/OAT provision in the community and looked at all aspects of the current situation. The study produced 16 consensus recommendations, none of which identified nurse prescribing as a potential mechanism to expand OST/OAT provision.
The majority of opioid users (73%) are aged between 35 and 65 years. This aging population is more susceptible to infection, overdose and suicide and present with higher rates of degenerative disorders, circulatory and respiratory problems, diabetes, hepatitis and liver cirrhosis than their drug using peers. This population therefore requires an accessible collaborative approach, within which GPs are ideally positioned to provide comprehensive care. The ultimate aim is to have an individual receiving OST/OAT as part of routine care delivered by their GP.
Based on the above, I am satisfied that there is currently no objective need for the introduction of nurse prescribing of OST/OAT. This matter will be kept under review by the HSE, informed by the needs of service users.
As the issue of the temporary closure of a facility is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
157. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of recommendation 15 of the national cancer strategy in respect of a comprehensive cancer care centre; the engagements he has had with an institute (details supplied) regarding its plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61264/22]
View answerImplementation of the National Cancer Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment and is part of the implementation of Sláintecare.
Last week, I published the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 Implementation Report 2021. The Report can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/f012d-national-cancer-strategy-2017-2026-implementation-report-2021/.
The Report sets out the progress achieved on the improvement of cancer services and the delivery of better outcomes for patients, as set out in the 52 recommendations of the Strategy. It measures the achievement of these recommendations against 23 key performance indicators, which focus on reducing preventable cancer, promoting early detection and driving improvements in treatment and after-care for cancer patients.
Recommendation 15 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 states that the Department of Health will ensure that investment in infrastructure, facilities, personnel and programmes in the designated cancer centres will have a goal of ultimately developing at least one comprehensive cancer care centre that will optimise cancer prevention, treatment, education and research during the Strategy period.
My Department and the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) continue to consider the steps required towards the implementation of this recommendation. The development of a comprehensive cancer centre will require significant investment and planning by my Department and the NCCP, and I have not engaged with the institute the Deputy mentions on its plans.
In 2021, Ireland became involved in a European Joint Action under the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan on the development of national comprehensive cancer centres and networks across the EU, which will complement ongoing work regarding the development of a comprehensive cancer centre in Ireland over the coming years.
158. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if genetic counsellors will be recognised as a profession in Ireland; when accredited training for genetic counselling will begin in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61279/22]
View answerThe Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act) provides for the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training & competence through the statutory registration of health and social care professions designated under the Act.
Counsellors and psychotherapists were designated for regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 by the previous Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, in 2018. The members of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board were appointed in February 2019 and they held their inaugural meeting in May 2019.
The work of a registration board includes consideration of the titles to be protected and the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers. This work is ongoing.
I hope that this information is of assistance to you.
159. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a HSE pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61280/22]
View answerAs the payment of pensions is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
160. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the services that are available in counties Cavan and Monaghan respectively for children with epilepsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61317/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
161. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of new medical interns who were taken on in each year since and including 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61318/22]
View answerIn 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.
162. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time adult speech and language therapists for adults with intellectual disabilities in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 in tabular form; if this number will be further increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61319/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
163. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the investments in and capital projects at Cavan General Hospital in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61320/22]
View answerAs 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.
165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61335/22]
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.
166. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the process under which income from saving and investments are assessed for an over-70s medical card; if it is only the interest on savings in excess of €36,000 for a single person and €72,000 for a married couple that is assessed as income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61375/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
167. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2057 of 8 September 2022, if the two new replacement orthopaedic theatres at Merlin Park hospital are fully operational to date; the number of theatre sessions currently provided per week through each of the two new theatres; if he will provide an update on the recruitment of staff for the theatre sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61376/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
168. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore respite and day care facilities at a centre (details supplied) in Carraroe; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61377/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 19 October 2022, the status of the development of a primary care centre on Inisbofin; to provide a status update on the land transfer process; to provide details of the HSE’s engagement with Galway County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media since the beginning of November 2022 with regard to progressing the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61378/22]
View answerAs 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.
