Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Written Answers Nos. 902-918

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (902)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

902. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he would detail, in tabular form, for each local health office, LHO, area as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available, the number of people on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list, and within that the numbers waiting less than four months; the number waiting between four and 12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and for each category the numbers waiting aged 0-17 years and those aged 18 and above. [24927/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (903)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

903. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on speech and language therapy (details supplied). [24928/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (904)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

904. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the speech and language therapy further treatment list (details supplied). [24929/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (905)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

905. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the occupational therapy first-time assessment waiting list (details supplied). [24930/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Primary Care Services

Questions (906)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

906. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each local health office, LHO, area awaiting a podiatry appointment in primary care as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the numbers waiting 0 to 12 weeks; the numbers waiting between 12 and 26 weeks; the numbers waiting between 26 and 52 weeks; and the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks. [24931/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Primary Care Services

Questions (907)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

907. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each LHO area awaiting an ophthalmology appointment in primary care as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the numbers waiting 0 to 12 weeks; the numbers waiting between 12 and 26 weeks; the numbers waiting between 26 and 52 weeks; and the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks. [24932/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Primary Care Services

Questions (908)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

908. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each LHO area awaiting an audiology appointment in primary care as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the numbers waiting 0 to 12 weeks; the numbers waiting between 12 and 26 weeks; the numbers waiting between 26 and 52 weeks; and the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks. [24933/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Primary Care Services

Questions (909)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

909. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each LHO area awaiting a dietetics appointment in primary care as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the numbers waiting 0 to 12 weeks; the numbers waiting between 12 and 26 weeks; the numbers waiting between 26 and 52 weeks; and the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks. [24934/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Primary Care Services

Questions (910)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

910. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each LHO area awaiting a psychology appointment in primary care as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the numbers waiting 0 to 12 weeks; the numbers waiting between 12 and 26 weeks; the numbers waiting between 26 and 52 weeks; and the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks. [24935/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Primary Care Services

Questions (911)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

911. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each LHO area awaiting a counselling appointment in primary care as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the numbers waiting 0 to 12 weeks; the numbers waiting between 12 and 26 weeks; the numbers waiting between 26 and 52 weeks; and the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks. [24936/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (912)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

912. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each Local Health Office area awaiting a child and adolescent mental health services appointment as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the numbers waiting 0 to 12 weeks; the numbers waiting between 12 and 26 weeks; the numbers waiting between 26 and 52 weeks; and the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks. [24937/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (913)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

913. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours currently being provided in each LHO area as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; how that compares with targets in each LHO for the same period; if he would detail, in tabular form, the number of people currently on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area; the number waiting 0-3 months; the number waiting between three and six months; the number waiting between six and 12 months; and the number waiting more than 12 months. [24938/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes

Questions (914)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

914. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme as of 1 May 2023 or the latest date available; the average waiting time; if he will provide, in tabular form, for each local health area the number of persons awaiting placement under the scheme; and the length of time waiting. [24939/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (915)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

915. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on when funding plans for the training of counselling psychologists will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24941/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As you will be aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.

I am focussed on supporting counselling psychology students in an equitable way and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is still being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.

Further detailed discussions are required between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (916)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

916. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the HSE's insistence on treating a charity group (details supplied) differently from other charities providing medical services whereby the HSE deducts professional services withholding tax from payments, which severely restricts the activities of the charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24945/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

GPs are private contractors, most of whom hold GMS contracts with the HSE for the provision of services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. GMS contracts are held by individual GPs and payment for the related services is made by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service to the GP concerned.

In accordance with tax legislation, Professional Services Withholding Tax is required, by law, to be deducted from the payments made to specified persons for certain professional services. Taxation policy is determined by the Department of Finance, while issues that may arise from the employment of GPs by private organisations are a matter for the parties concerned.

Emergency Departments

Questions (917)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

917. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the latest three-monthly numbers of emergency department presentations for the nine acute model 4 hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24946/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (918)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

918. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health in relation to the nine model 4 acute hospitals in the country, if he will publish the latest quarter running/expenditure costs for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24947/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

The latest information published by the HSE in relation to Model 4 Hospital expenditure is set out in the table below:

Table- latest information published by the HSE in relation to Model 4 Hospital expenditure