Written Answers Nos. 632-646
632. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the cost of each contract entered into by his Department and the agencies under his remit to deal with Covid-19 management and reaction; and the name of the contractor in each case. [21634/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
633. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to tackle the issues highlighted in response to a parliamentary question (details supplied) in relation to current nursing resource capacity in an area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21641/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
634. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the cost-of-living payment increases being provided to retired HSE workers pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21645/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
635. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding given for respite services, by CHO, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [21649/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
636. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding given for residential respite services, by CHO, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [21650/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
637. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding given for the development of new respite services, by CHO, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [21651/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
638. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of applications made for respite services, by CHO, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [21652/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
639. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of applications made for residential respite services, by CHO, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [21653/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
640. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if reimbursement of surgery costs under the cross-border directive will be expedited for a person, given the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21670/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
641. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for all therapies for children, occupational therapy and so on, in primary care in counties Roscommon and Galway, in tabular form. [21671/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
642. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to improve the capacity for genetic testing to identify rare diseases. [21673/23]
View answerImproving and expanding the care and treatment of patients with rare diseases is a priority for Government. The government has substantially increased funding for new innovative medicines for rare diseases, investing €100 million over the last three Budgets. The Government is also fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland.
One of the key ambitions the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland, launched in December 2022, is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. The Strategy outlines a plan to achieve this ambition by improving the evidence-base and infrastructure supporting genetic testing. The HSE is developing a National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics, which will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland and provide a more transparent process to referrals. This development, therefore, will be a key steppingstone to improving national genetic testing and ultimately help reduce wait time. The Strategy also outlines a plan to build a strong genetic workforce for the future. This will be achieved by not only recruiting new staff, but training and development for a future workforce, and professional development for current staff within the health service. To start implementing the Strategy in 2023, I approved €2.7 million to support the recruitment of key staff. These appointments included a National Director for Genetics and Genomics, a Bioinformatics Lab Director, two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors.
In addition to expanding a broad genetics and genomics service, I have also supported several key measures in rare diseases. My Department has worked with the National Rare Disease Office to facilitate Irish entry into 18 European Reference Networks (ERNs) for rare diseases and support an EU Joint Action for the integration of ERNs into the national system. These ERNs include representation from five academic hospitals and three universities. This represents a significant achievement by the health service, to drive innovation, training and clinical research for highly specialised care. The Department has also progressed Irish entry into Horizon Europe Partnerships on Rare Disease and Personalised Medicine. Participation in ERNs and Horizon Europe Partnerships ensure greater coordination and sharing of best practices in key areas such as genetic testing with European partners. Finally, I have recently announced a plan to develop a revised National Rare Disease Plan. This Plan will be a key step in progressing an improved overall service for individuals living with a rare disease.
643. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the number of eating disorder teams currently in place in each CHO, including the number of staff currently assigned to each team; the number of vacancies; his plans to recruit the required staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21680/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
644. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a EHIC refund for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21687/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
645. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the number of public health nurses currently employed, specifically whether on full-time or part-time basis; the number of vacant public health nurse positions in each location within CHO 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21690/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
646. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Covid bonus payment for a group (details supplied). [21693/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
