Written Answers Nos. 1377-1397
1377. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech and language therapists, social workers, nurses employed at CAMHS mental health intellectual disability, community mental health teams in community healthcare west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13202/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1378. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of people employed and whole-time equivalents at CAMHS mental health intellectual disability, community mental health teams in community healthcare west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13203/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1379. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for an appointment, the number of people on the waiting list, and the number of people waiting over a year, with CAMHS mental health intellectual disability, community mental health teams in community healthcare west, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13204/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1380. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will increase the budget available to meals on wheels providers in recognition of increased running costs to providers to ensure this vital service can be continued to our most vulnerable and isolated citizens. [13213/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
1381. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of requests made to the HSE for a meals on wheels service for individuals via the public health nurses in 2022, the number of these approved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13214/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
1382. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that meals on wheels providers are seeing more and more people being refused a subsidised service when sought from the HSE; the reason this service is being denied when sought by public health nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13215/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
1383. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the amount provided by the HSE to meals on wheels service providers in each of years 2017 to 2022, in tabular form. [13216/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
1384. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the funding options available to an organisation (details supplied) for upgrade works to ensure continuation of a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13217/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1385. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1079 of 2 November 2021, the current situation regarding a person (details supplied); how their care needs are being addressed, particularly when in a facility; if their medication has been reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13222/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1386. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if this HSE-mandated training for home helps is mandatory for all persons working as home helps in private companies; if this training is exclusively online; if workers taking this training do so as part of their working day; if the HSE requires private companies who employ these workers, to pay them for the hours spent doing this training; if the HSE that contracts these companies to provide home help hours, has set any minimum number of hours to be worked by their employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
1387. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken in response to the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure (MacCraith) Reports. [13231/23]
View answerA Working Group, chaired by Prof. Brian MacCraith, was established in July 2013 to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structure. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors. The Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure (MacCraith) Reports was published in 2014.
The Strategic Review Working Group recommended, inter alia, that the Department of Health and the HSE jointly agree and put in place appropriate multi-stakeholder arrangements to oversee continued implementation of the Strategic Review recommendations. The Department of Health subsequently established an Implementation Monitoring Group (IMG), comprising key stakeholders including trainee doctors, the Forum of Irish Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies, HSE, IMO, Medical Council, and the Health Workforce Research Group, RCSI. Following the publication of The Working Group’s final report, the Department of Health published regular update reports on the Department’s website.
Given the number of years that have passed since the publication of the MacCraith report the Minister established a new group the National Taskforce on NCHD Workforce in September 2022. The purpose of the Taskforce is to put in place sustainable workforce planning strategies and policies to address and improve NCHD experience to support present and future retention of NCHDs in Ireland. The work of the Taskforce will build on the work of the MacCraith report. The terms of reference specifically note that the recommendations from the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure (MacCraith) Reports will feed into the work of the National Taskforce.
The final Taskforce report is expected to be published in Autumn 2023.
1388. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his engagement with a regulatory body (details supplied) to address the backlog in the processing of applications for individuals to work as healthcare professionals in the Irish healthcare system. [13232/23]
View answerI met previously with the Chairperson and CEO of CORU and raised the issue of timeframes for both applications for the recognition of non-Irish qualifications and registration applications. As you may be aware, these are the two forms of application to CORU. An individual can only be admitted to a CORU register when they have demonstrated to their registration board’s satisfaction that they are suitably qualified, have committed to adhere to their profession’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, and are a fit and proper person to engage in the profession, which requires being vetted by the National Vetting Bureau.
Following our discussion, several measures were initiated by CORU aimed at further reducing timeframes.
Until last year, applicants were required to complete the recognition process before initiating the registration process unless they had confirmed job offers. All applicants are now invited to initiate an application for registration as soon as they have submitted a complete application file to the recognition department. This has the effect of reducing the time required to complete both the recognition and registration processes.
This is part of a suite of innovations that were initiated following my discussions with CORU. Further steps undertaken include:
- Full transfer to an online application system
- Increased frequency of regulatory decision making (Registration Board meetings)
- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources
- Recruitment of additional expert assessors in ‘under pressure’ professions
- Development of a Voice over IP (VoIP) solution to improve communications with applicants
- Transition to a new VPN system to improve connectivity
At present the average processing time for applications for recognition is 69 days while the average processing time for applications for registration is 9 weeks.
CORU is currently in the process of procuring a system which will integrate the processes of recognition of international qualifications and registration for all applicants which will further reduce administrative requirements and timeframes for applicants. My Department continues to support CORU in achieving its strategic vision and improving timeframes for all applicants.
1389. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if the HSE owns a facility (details supplied) or is renting it long-term; and if the HSE funded its construction. [13233/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1390. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to provide the staff and resources to treat individuals diagnosed with deep endometriosis in a timely manner. [13234/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
1392. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends to take to ensure that delays to the appointment of a dialectical behavioural team in the mid-west are overcome in as short a timeframe as possible (details suppled). [13241/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1393. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the supports his Department has in place for advice, healthcare, medication and mental health supports for adults in Ireland with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13242/23]
View answerAll matters relating to the provision of services for the treatment of foetal alcohol syndrome fall within the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
1394. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will recognise and meet with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13243/23]
View answerA request for a meeting was received in December of 2022 from the organisation referred to by the Deputy. While I make every effort to meet with as many stakeholders as possible, it is not always possible to commit to every meeting request due to work pressures and the sheer volume of meeting requests that my office receives. I was not in a position to meet with the organisation and referred the request to my Ministerial colleague at the time, Mr Frank Feighan TD. I believe that regrets were passed on to the organisation after consideration at the time.
I would suggest that the organisation in question submit another formal meeting request to my office and the office of Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton TD, for consideration in the coming months.
1395. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an urgent dental appointment for surgery will be issued to a person (details supplied) in Shantalla Health Centre, Galway in light of the exceptional medical circumstances of the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13252/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1396. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has conducted any tests on disposable vapes currently on sale in Ireland following the discovery of non-compliant stock on the UK market where some brands were found to exceed maximum nicotine levels by as much as 50% in excess of the permitted level; if he has been informed of the results of any tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13254/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, the Health Service Executive has been asked to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1397. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will revise the long-term illness scheme to cover persons diagnosed with Crohn's disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13261/23]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 illnesses covered by the scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.There have been no recent changes to the legislation underpinning the LTI Scheme. However, my Department is currently examining all of the issues around the scope of the Scheme.It is also important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
The significant investment in Budget 2023 will facilitate better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for people at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on everyone.
In 2023 this will mean:
- an expansion of GP care without charges to people earning no more than the median household income.
- all public inpatient hospital charges will be abolished.
- an extension of free contraception to 26-year-old women since 1 Jan 2023, and further extension to 27-30 years old women from 1 September 2023.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
