Mary Lou McDonald
Question:1147. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the number of safe homes only operational in December 2021 and December 2022, in tabular form. [2146/23]
View answerDomestic Violence
Questions (1147)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for DSGBV services continues to be channeled through Tusla. I have referred the question posed by the Deputy to Tusla for direct reply.
Residency Permits
Questions (1148)
Steven Matthews
Question:1148. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice if an application for an EU3 permanent residence card by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2155/23]
View answerWritten answers
The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for an EU3 - Permanent Residence card to our EU Treaty Rights Division, which was received on 1 November 2022.
Applications are dealt with in strict chronological order of receipt and decisions are reached on a case by case basis. The EU Treaty Rights Division endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible, however, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hands, individual circumstances, the complexity of an application, whether further information is required.
The person referred to by the Deputy will be contacted in writing as soon as a decision has been reached.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Family Reunification
Questions (1149)
Bernard Durkan
Question:1149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the options that are available to a person (details supplied) to have their spouse and child join them in this jurisdiction, whose application for family reunification was recently refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2225/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration, the Family Reunification application you refer to was refused. A letter issued on the 30 June 2022 outlines the reasons for this refusal.
The applicants should be advised that other immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including visa applications. Syrian nationals are visa-required and must have a valid Irish visa before they seek to enter the State. Any visa-required national who wishes to enter the State, and remain for up to 90 days must have a Type C Short Stay Visa. A visa-required national who wishes to reside in the State for longer than 90 days must have a Type D Long Stay Visa.
Any person who wishes to make a visa application must do so online at:
www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx.
Ireland supports the entry of migrants through a number of pathways, to facilitate legal migration into the State. These include arrangements for various categories of persons, including; workers, business persons, the Immigrant Investor Programme, the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme and international students.
Details of these legal pathways can be found on the Immigration Service website at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Questions (1150)
Holly Cairns
Question:1150. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the number of refugee spaces for victims and survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence currently being funded by his Department in each county, in tabular form. [2308/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for DSGBV services continues to be channeled through Tusla. I have referred the question posed by the Deputy to Tusla for direct reply.
State Bodies
Questions (1151)
John Paul Phelan
Question:1151. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice if the recruitment campaign for the additional Data Protection Commissioner posts will be advertised abroad; if not, if they will be advertised just within the State; when the posts will be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2340/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government commits to recognising the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland and states that the Government will ensure that Ireland delivers on its responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation. The Government is very conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and protection of the data privacy rights of EU citizens, which is critical to the development and growth of our digital economy. In dialogue with the Data Protection Commission, and with other relevant Government Departments, my Department’s role is to ensure that it continues to have the resources required to fulfil its important, statutory obligations, under on-going review. In line with this commitment, on 27 July 2022, Minister McEntee announced that the Government had approved commencement of the process to appoint two additional Commissioners to support the evolving organisational structure, governance and business needs of the Data Protection Commission. The appointments are to be made in accordance with Section 15 of the Data Protection Act 2018, which provides for up to three Commissioners to be appointed. Section 15(5) of the Act specifies that the Public Appointments Service shall recommend a person for appointment as Commissioner following an open selection competition held by the Service for that purpose. As such, the advertisement and recruitment approach, including the extent to which the roles will be advertised internationally, is a matter to be determined in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service in due course. The terms and conditions of the appointments are subject to the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.Following the competition process, the appointments will then be made by the Government.
Health Services
Questions (1152)
Duncan Smith
Question:1152. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of mothers and babies who were discharged from maternity hospitals directly into homeless services in 2022, broken down by month and by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1150/23]
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 Services
Questions (1153, 1165, 1238)
Denis Naughten
Question:1153. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to his response to questions on promised legislation on 30 November 2022 regarding the long-Covid clinic at the Mater Hospital, the current status of the clinic. [62909/22]
View answer
Paul Murphy
Question:1165. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm whether St. Vincent's has officially agreed to take on long-Covid clinic patients from the Mater Hospital should the clinic there need to close due to a lack of funding provided (details supplied). [63165/22]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:1238. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the urgent review of the business case provided by a person (details supplied) in relation to the long-Covid Clinic at the Mater Hospital is provided for, given that it is now approaching the end of December, and that this is the deadline for the closing of the clinic at the hospital without a positive response in terms of funding this clinic by the HSE. [63521/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1153, 1165 and 1238 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1154)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:1154. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when the community neurorehabilitation team for CHO 6 (details supplied) will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63143/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (1155)
Gino Kenny
Question:1155. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issue of the drug cariban used in pregnancy to treat hyperemesis gravidarium (details supplied). [63144/22]
View answerWritten answers
As part of Budget 2023, I announced €32.2 million in funding for Women’s Health Initiatives in 2023, to include dedicated funding for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine). Cariban® is an Exempt Medicinal Product i.e. not licensed with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland. Following the recommendations of the HSE Medicines Management Programme, this product will be made available on an individual patient basis for those patients who meet the criteria under Community Drug Schemes (GMS, DPS) from January 2023 where Consultant Obstetrician initiated.
Under Community Drug Schemes, Exempt Medicinal Products must be Consultant initiated. However, whilst the original prescriber is a Consultant and specialist in the relevant field, the HSE will accept a GP prescription further to the initial hospital prescription for approved patients.
Health Services
Questions (1156)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:1156. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that some patients with cancer coming to Ireland from Ukraine, who were undergoing chemotherapy treatments in the Ukraine, could not continue these treatments due to their not being available in Ireland; the actions taken to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63145/22]
View answerWritten answers
Chemotherapy is delivered in 26 hospitals approved for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT). These are the eight designated cancer centres and 18 other hospitals providing SACT services. These 18 hospitals operate on a hub and spoke basis under the planning and supervision of the designated centres.
The centralisation of specialist services into designated cancer centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports. This is in line with the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 which has the main goals of reducing the cancer burden, providing optimal care, maximising patient involvement and quality of life, and enabling and assuring transformation of cancer services. My Department leads on the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy, working in partnership with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in the HSE.
This Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. New development funding of €20 million was allocated in 2021 and a further €20 million was provided for 2022. This funding was used to support ongoing initiatives and to drive improvements across all stages of cancer treatment, including the recruitment of 26 Acute Oncology Nurses who help patients accessing SACT treatment to manage their care and avoid ED attendance for routine treatment.
At the June NCCP Executive Management Team meeting, it was noted that a small number of people coming to Ireland from Ukraine were in receipt of or requiring treatment for cancer. A standard process was put in place in the HSE to manage these patients who need to receive treatment for cancer in Ireland.
This process will ensure that, for patients due to commence SACT, treatment will be provided in line with HSE approved treatments currently accessible to Irish patients. For those patients requiring continuation of SACT that is not currently accessible to Irish patients, they will be assessed on an individual basis, with treatment provided as appropriate and in line with reimbursement processes, as established by the HSE.
My Department has not been informed by the NCCP of any patient issues to date.
Health Services
Questions (1157)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:1157. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the amount the State has paid under the treatment abroad scheme for patients to travel to other EU member states or the UK to have pharmacological treatments that were not reimbursed yet in Ireland, such as cellular therapies or gene therapies, in the years 2020 to 2022. [63146/22]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (1158)
Mark Ward
Question:1158. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been allocated to the early intervention psychosis national clinical programme in the HSE for developing three new early intervention in psychosis teams in 2023, as per Sharing the Vision in Budget 2023. [63154/22]
View answerWritten answers
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 Supports
Questions (1159)
Seán Haughey
Question:1159. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health when the staff at a facility (details supplied) will be awarded the pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63155/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (1160)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:1160. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when staff at a facility (details supplied) will receive their pandemic bonus payment. [63157/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
Health Services
Questions (1161)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:1161. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the entitlements that are available for children under seven years of age in terms of early intervention healthcare such as dental checks, hearing tests, eye tests and general medical check-ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63158/22]
View answerWritten answers
Dental services for children up to 16 years of age are provided by the Public Dental Service of the Health Service Executive (HSE) through its dental clinics. HSE dental clinics provide a screening and fissure sealant programme for children at key stages of development, that is, children aged six to eight; children aged 11 to 16; and, where resources are available, children aged nine to 11. Emergency care for children up to 16 years of age is also provided.
The HSE Community Audiology Service provides a full range of hearing assessments to identify the presence (type, degree and configuration) of a hearing loss in children of all ages. All babies born in Ireland are offered a newborn hearing screening in order to check whether a baby has permanent hearing loss in one or both ears. Further hearing tests may be offered at later stages (e.g., when a child starts school at 4 or 5) or if a child is referred to the Service by their GP or other healthcare professionals.
Audiology services, including the provision of hearing aids (if needed), are free for all children under the age of 18. Those presenting in primary care settings with certain medical concerns are referred to Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services. ENT departments in hospitals treat acute hearing problems. They assess and treat hearing problems with surgery or medication if required. Where the ENT consultant identifies a longer-term (or 'chronic') hearing problem that cannot be treated with surgery or medication, they may refer the child to the HSE audiology service.
All children, including those not covered by a medical card, receive a vision screen while in national school from a Public Health Nurse. The HSE provides optical services free of charge to pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate consultant for treatment. In such circumstances, these services will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16.
Children’s development is monitored by Public Health Nurses. This includes regular checks at 3 months, 9-11 months, 18-24 months, and 31/4 - 31/2 years. All stages of checks include assessing physical development such as growth, posture, and motor skills. Checks after 9 months include assessment of a child’s psychological development through social, emotional, and play behaviours.
Ambulance Service
Questions (1162)
Willie O'Dea
Question:1162. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is appropriate that ambulances are coming from as far away as Rathkeale in response to emergency calls from patients in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63162/22]
View answerWritten answers
In line with the overall strategic direction, the NAS does not operate a station-based deployment system, but instead uses “dynamic deployment” on a national basis. Dynamic deployment allows staff in the HSE’s National Emergency Operations Centre to see all available resources and match them with service demand requirements in real time.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy with any further information they may have in relation to the Deputy's specific question.
Disease Management
Questions (1163)
Ciarán Cannon
Question:1163. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Health the details of the services and specialists available in Ireland for persons diagnosed with EDS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63163/22]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1164)
Paul Murphy
Question:1164. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of funding provided to long-Covid clinics, per clinic, including details of funding spent on the long-Covid clinic itself and any funding that was spent on other, non-long-Covid related expenses, in tabular form. [63164/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
Question No. 1165 answered with Question No. 1153.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (1166)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:1166. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time GPs operating in each county for the years 2012 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63172/22]
View answerWritten answers
GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of health services such as the GMS contract for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card patients. As GPs are self-employed they may establish practices at a place of their own choosing.
At the start of the year, 2,533 GPs hold a GMS contract and a further 564 GPs hold some other contract with the HSE for the provision of health services such as services under the Primary Childhood
Immunisation Scheme or National Cancer Screening Service.
In relation to the number of full-time GPs in each county with HSE contracts for the years 2012 to 2022, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.