Written Answers Nos. 711-726
711. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of postnatal women referred from the Rotunda Hospital to the district health nurse in north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15218/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
712. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason the pandemic bonus has not been paid to a person (details supplied); if provision has been made for pay increases for Section 39 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15220/23]
View answerRegarding the Pandemic Recognition Payment as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
A process of pay restoration for Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022.
While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
The Department notes that this is a cross-sectoral issue and cannot be taken in isolation
713. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not received the home help package they were awarded; when home care support will start as offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15225/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
714. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list for 8-16 year olds in CHO8, per test centre, age, and the length of time on the list, in tabular form. [15237/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
715. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to make the injury unit in Bantry General Hospital a 24 hrs a day service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15249/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
716. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the waiting times for women to access public gynaecological services, with particular reference to women diagnosed with adenomyosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15250/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
717. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Roscommon and Galway currently awaiting public eye examinations; the current waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15255/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify whether retrospective declarations of parentage can be dealt with prior to the establishment of an Assisted Human Reproduction Regulator under the provisions of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15260/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 was introduced to, and passed Second Stage in, the Dáil in March 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage.
The focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices undertaken within the jurisdiction. The provisions contained therein will ensure that such practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way, and with the necessary oversight, but it is specifically the proposed establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority which is of central importance in this regard.
Following the approval in mid-December 2022 by the Government of the policy approach in respect of both the regulation of international surrogacy and the recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements (domestic and international) the formal drafting process by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, in conjunction with the three relevant Departments (the Department of Health, the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth), as appropriate, is well underway. These new provisions will need to be approved by Government following the completion of this process.
The process of drafting these new provisions is being undertaken in tandem with the drafting of potentially substantial proposed amendments to the 11 Parts and 134 pages of the published Bill. It is intended that the new Parts dealing with international surrogacy as well as recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements will be introduced at Committee Stage.
As the Deputy will appreciate,?I am not in a position at this juncture to provide specific detail in respect of the proposed process for the recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements (domestic and international). However, I wish to reiterate my commitment to ensure both that the goal of providing for a route to formal recognition by the State of past surrogacy arrangements or surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions is achieved and that a robust regulatory framework for AHR more broadly is put in place, as quickly as possible.
719. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15269/23]
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.
720. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the IHREC submission (details supplied) requesting a human rights-based inquiry into residential care during Covid 19 has been reviewed; and if so, his views on the submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15275/23]
View answerThe submission referred to by the Deputy has been made to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), which is an independent body. Consideration of the submission is a matter for the IHREC under Section 35 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 and it is not appropriate for me or the Minister for Health to comment on it.
721. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) cannot have a procedure carried out by the HSE school dentist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15276/23]
View answerThe HSE Public Dental Service provides a targeted programme which includes screening and necessary treatment for children at key stages of development. This is, children aged 6 to 8, 11 to 16 and, subject to capacity, 9 to 11. Emergency care is also provided for children up to 16 years of age and for those with complex and additional needs.
The HSE also provides orthodontic treatment to patients referred before their 16th birthday and who have the greatest level of need. The HSE will carry out orthodontic extractions for those patients who have been assessed by the HSE consultant orthodontist as qualifying for HSE orthodontic treatment. In order to ensure there is capacity to provide the targeted programme and necessary emergency care, the HSE does not generally provide orthodontic extractions for patients availing of orthodontic treatment either privately or through the Cross Border Directive.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly regarding the specific case of the patient mentioned, as soon as possible.
722. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if supports will be provided to the operators of the Tuam meals on wheels service, County Galway to prevent its closure at the end of the March 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15284/23]
View answerWe are committed to the development of improved community and home-based services, shifting care to home and offering greater choice for older people. This year a wide range of core services will be provided for older persons including home support, day care, dementia day care and meals on wheels in partnership with voluntary groups and intermediate care as well as long-stay residential care when remaining at home is no longer feasible. In Budget 2023 I secured an additional €1.75 million for the meals on wheels service.
As this is an operational matter, I have referred your query to the HSE for direct reply to you.
723. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the proposed facilities at a facility (details supplied) are suitable for traumatised people fleeing war and the additional trauma of fathers or husbands fighting on the front lines and long, hazardous journeys; if his Department will publish the expert advice sought and received on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15295/23]
View answerThe Department of Health provides healthcare services for refugees in approximately 1,130 congregated settings. The Department is providing health services for over 78,000 Ukrainian refugees as well as more than 16,000 International Protection applicants.
In order to inform the provision of appropriate health services, a health needs assessment questionnaire is administered for newly arrived Ukrainian refugees in the National Transit Centre.
The provision of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, and the suitability or otherwise of that accommodation, is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
724. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a full medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); if the matter can be reviewed urgently, given the medical circumstances of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15308/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
725. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to access an appointment in a long-Covid clinic; how many people are currently waiting for an appointment; the current staffing in these clinics; the action will he take to reduce these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15317/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
726. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when retired nurses will receive their two overdue pay rises as per the building momentum pay deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15323/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been requested to respond directly to the Deputy.
