Written Answers Nos. 260-269
260. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no proper day care mental health facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22181/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
261. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of plans for the development of a new acute adult mental health unit to replace the existing unit at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22182/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
262. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there is any new development funding for the early intervention psychosis National Clinical Plan in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
263. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health how many areas have no access to an early intervention psychosis service in Ireland currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22184/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
264. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the projected length of time it will take to achieve national early intervention psychosis team coverage based on the current rate of annual investment into early intervention psychosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22185/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
265. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of the new primary care centre at Boot Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22; if there is a timeframe available for completion of the project and the opening of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22206/23]
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.
266. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the lack of available GP services in Clondalkin, Dublin 22; and if the HSE is taking any action to promote the provision of GP services to the growing population in the area. [22207/23]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,539 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. While recruitment is ongoing, the HSE puts in place a locum or other appropriate arrangement to maintain GP services to the communities in question.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement the additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for. In addition, the enhanced supports package for rural GP practices has been increased by 10%.
The number of doctors entering GP training has increased approximately ten percent year on year from 2019, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, and a further large increase to 285 is planned for this year. Following the transfer of responsibility for GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), it is aimed to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
Furthermore, I recently published the Terms of Reference for a Strategic review of General Practice which is to commence shortly and will be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues around GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice.
267. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the role of a firm (details supplied) in the new home care tender process and the services provided, in view of the fact that this is not a competitive process; the purpose of this firm's detailed examination of some service providers accounts; how that examination influenced the offer made to the sector on 19 April 2023; if the firm provided the Department with a suggested offer per hour for home care services; if the services of this firm are still be utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22212/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason an offer (details supplied) to home care providers as part of the new home care tender process was withdrawn; the reason this offer was so far below the price per hour required to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22213/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
269. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the TAPS audit on nursing home payments; if the audit has been received by his Department; if so, the date it was received; the results of this audit; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22216/23]
View answerThe Government has provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €149 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) since its introduction in 2020. The Outbreak Assistance element of the scheme was extended, with a gradual reduction of the threshold for maximum monthly claim amounts applying to claims from 01 March 2023. The scheme has ceased with effect from 30 April 2023. This approach takes account of the changed situation with regard to COVID-19 in Ireland, and the inherently temporary nature of the scheme. This approach takes account of the changed situation with regard to COVID-19 in Ireland, and the inherently temporary nature of the scheme.
A robust control framework was put in place for the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme, including requirements for validation, review of claims by an external accountancy firm, and provision for all claims to be audited and any misallocated funds clawed back for up to six years following. The thresholds also provided a strong control on costs.Claims to the scheme were administered by the NTPF (National Treatment Purchase Fund), with the HSE validating and processing payments.Internal audits of the scheme have been finalised by the NTPF and HSE. The NTPF and the HSE have also undertaken to carry out an audit of payments, which is ongoing. Finalisation of the audit of payments will require ongoing contact with third parties, but both agencies are working to bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible.
