Written Answers Nos. 919-934
919. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the average waiting time for first time patients referred to the endometriosis clinic in the Coombe Hospital; the number of persons currently awaiting a first appointment; the number of persons awaiting a follow-up appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24948/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
920. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the delivery of two specialist endometriosis centres for complex care located at Cork University Maternity Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital; and if he will confirm when patient referrals will be accepted at these services. [24949/23]
View answer921. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the status of the Government's commitment to develop a National Endometriosis Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24950/23]
View answer923. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when the HSE National Clinical Guideline for Management of Endometriosis will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24952/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 920, 921 and 923 together.
In relation to endometriosis care in Ireland, the HSE’s National Women & Infants Programme has commenced the development of National Endometriosis Framework, which will be rolled out in a phased basis and published in 2023. This Framework will identify how care for women in this area needs to be delivered, with this care spanning primary care to local hospital care to specialist complex care.
Investment in this area commenced over the course of 2021 and 2022 with two supra-regional complex endometriosis services in the process of being established in Tallaght and Cork. The complex services in Tallaght and Cork will be supported by a network of 5 regional endometriosis hub services, which are being developed, and that will co-ordinate care within their respective Hospital Groups.
In addition, a National Clinical Guideline for Management of Endometriosis is also in development and is due for completion in the coming months. The availability of this evidence-based guidance will support the management of endometriosis in both the primary and acute sector.
As these issues relate to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
922. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the development of an endometriosis quick reference guide to assist GPs in recognising endometriosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24951/23]
View answerThe Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) has responsibility for the training of general practitioners. The ICGP education programme provides a wide range of continuous medical education for trained GPs and professional development opportunities to allow GPs to meet the relevant Medical Council requirements to maintain professional competence.
The Quick Reference Guide (QRG) on Endometriosis is being developed by the ICGP's ICGP/HSE GP Clinical Lead in Women’s Health. The ICGP have advised that it is envisaged that the QRG will be ready in draft format for ICGP Quality and Safety in Practice review by mid-June 2023. Once approved by the ICGP, it will be circulated to the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) to ensure that it aligns with the guidelines being developed for management of endometriosis in secondary care and with the National Endometriosis Framework which is being developed by NWIHP. It is anticipated that the QRG will be completed, launched and made available in Q4 this year.
924. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when Ireland will be making its official response to the European Commission on the pharmaceutical review; if he will provide an indicative timeframe; and the consultation he is making with industry in Ireland. [24960/23]
View answerOn the 26 April 2023, the European Commission’s proposal to revise the general pharmaceutical legislation was published - this is in the form of a Directive and a Regulation. The Minister for Health welcomed the publication of the legislation.
The objective of the revised framework is to impose safeguarding controls across the full spectrum of the supply chain, from “raw material” to a “medicine being placed in a patient’s hand”, with national and EU competences working synergistically to conserve patients’ best interests
The Department of Health is the lead department tasked with responding and engaging nationally as the EU commission proposal is negotiated by all 27 Member States. It should be noted that the legislative proposal is vast and complex and will need to be considered in full and with due regard in order to ensure that the national position is fully informed. Structured stakeholder engagement is a component of developing the national position as consideration of this proposal continues.
The Minister for Health established a Pharmaceutical Strategy Working Group (PSWG) to support the development of Ireland’s response to the proposal from a national perspective and facilitate this position to be informed by a whole of government view. The Department of Health recently conducted a Stakeholder Event where IPHA, Medicines for Ireland, IPPOSI and Rare Diseases Ireland attended and shared their initial views on the proposal - these contributions will also inform and be considered by the Department.
The Department of Health is also encouraging Stakeholders to submit their opinions on the legislative proposal and feedback can be submitted to the DOH at EUpharmastrategy@health.gov.ie.
The Department of Health understands that The European Commission is also conducting a Consultation exercise which is currently open until 17 July 2023, and is welcoming submissions from interested parties, details can be found on the EU website at: Revision of the EU general pharmaceuticals legislation (europa.eu)
925. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of days for each model 3 and model 4 hospital to date in 2023 that full capacity protocols have been active, in tabular form. [24968/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
926. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if a review of policy to prohibit former nursing homes registered on 1 September 2022 converting to accommodation for Ukrainian refugees has been completed; if there has been any change to the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24972/23]
View answerThe Department of Health takes the closures of nursing homes very seriously. The closure of nursing homes can put pressure on other local health and social care facilities. It is vital that the welfare of residents is ensured. There a number of reasons for nursing home closures each year including retirement, non-compliance with HIQA regulations, financial viability and, in some cases, recognition that the premises would not be compliant with revised regulations.
Given the challenges currently being faced in the nursing home sector, Minister Donnelly and I agreed with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Minister Roderic O'Gorman TD, to change the procurement guidelines around accommodation for persons under temporary protection in order to remove from consideration active nursing homes that were still registered operators with HIQA on or after the date of 1 September 2022.
The intention behind this position is to avoid unintentionally incentivising active nursing homes to leave the market. Former nursing homes that had already ceased operation and were deregistered prior to this date would not be affected if they wished to enter into contracts as accommodation providers.
This brings active nursing homes into the same category as other types of property that have been determined to be unsuitable as accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, including:
• Housing set aside for social housing,
• Accommodation planned for use by other arms of Government,
• Student accommodation during academic terms
Neither the Department of Health nor Minister Donnelly and I has a direct role in the procurement process or the approval of any individual accommodation centres for use by displaced persons.
Minister Donnelly and I are both committed to continuing, constructive cross-Government engagement to address the health and social care needs of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection as well as the identification of appropriate sites for that might be used for accommodation.
Given the changing situation with regard to accommodation for persons under temporary protection, the Department of Health is reviewing the policy agreed with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with a view to providing longer-term certainty to the nursing home sector and potential providers of temporary accommodation services. The review is imminent.
927. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of cardiothoracic surgeries performed at the Mater Hospital in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [24981/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
928. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the services available within the State for children and adults suffering with anorexia nervosa. [24982/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
929. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric neurosurgeons surgeries performed at CHI Temple Street in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [24983/23]
View answerAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
931. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the long waiting lists for endometriosis clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25012/23]
View answerIn relation to endometriosis care in Ireland, the HSE’s National Women & Infants Programme has commenced the development of National Endometriosis Framework, which will be rolled out in a phased basis and published in 2023. This Framework will identify how care for women in this area needs to be delivered, with this care spanning primary care to local hospital care to specialist complex care.
Investment in this area commenced over the course of 2021 and 2022 with two supra-regional complex endometriosis services in the process of being established in Tallaght and Cork. The complex services in Tallaght and Cork will be supported by a network of 5 regional endometriosis hub services, which are being developed, and that will co-ordinate care within their respective Hospital Groups.
In terms of the waiting times for endometriosis services, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
932. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the long waiting lists for pain specialists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25013/23]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care. On the 7th March, I published the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which is the next stage of a new multi-annual approach to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists, and builds on the foundational work done through the short-term Waiting List Action Plan between September and December 2021, which was followed by the first full year Waiting List Action Plan for 2022, both having reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
The 2023 Plan sets out the priorities to continue to address waiting lists this year. The 30 actions in the Plan, which are governed by the Waiting List Task Force, focus on delivering capacity, reforming scheduled care and enabling scheduled care reform.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to implement longer term reforms and provide additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. This will reduce hospital waiting lists by 10% in 2023 as well as continuing to significantly reduce waiting times in line with Sláintecare recommendations. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With this ambitious 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving our vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
The NTPF has advised my Department, that they have approved 7 pain management outpatient insourcing initiatives for funding so far in 2023, which will facilitate over 3,900 appointments for patients on OPD pain management waiting lists.
933. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of ensuring all postgraduate research students receive a full-year €28,000 stipend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24073/23]
View answerI would like to specify to the Deputy that the figures provided below should be considered indicative only.
There are approximately 10,000 PhD enrolments at present in Ireland. Approximately 6,000 of these are in receipt of a stipend – either from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) or the Irish Research Council (IRC), other public funders such as Teagasc or the Health Research Board (HRB), or from the higher education institutions themselves.
SFI and and the IRC fund circa 3,000 PhD students and the current stipend is €19,000 annually. Other public funders fund circa 1,000 PhD students and the current stipend is in the region of €18,500 annually.
If a €28,000 stipend were to be awarded to these 4,000 stipend recipients, the additional annual budgetary requirement would be €36,500,000 per annum.
Given that the current annual cost is estimated at €75,500,000, the hypothetical total full year annual cost for these students would be €112,000,000.
Higher education institutions fund circa 2,000 PhD students directly. Stipends from these institutions vary significantly both between and within institutions. My Department is conducting a review of supports for PhD researchers which will provide additional information on these stipend levels. For this reason, an indicative adjustment cost is not provided now.
934. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of providing a funded psychology postgraduate course for counselling, education and clinical services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24074/23]
View answer935. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing postgraduate third-level registration and tuition fees, including the associated reduction in the student support grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24075/23]
View answer936. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing third-level registration fees for all EU students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24076/23]
View answer937. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing tuition fees for postgraduate courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24078/23]
View answer938. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing tuition fees for mature or repeating students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24079/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 934, 935, 936, 937 and 938 together.
I thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with tuition fees and other higher education costs.
I am acutely conscious of the challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education. I also recognise that costs are not limited to tuition fees payable by students and that students have real cost of living challenges such as fuel, food or accommodation and have specific costs associated with their courses such as books or materials.
In May 2022, I launched Funding the Future, a landmark funding and reform framework for higher education. I also set out my intention to advance a progressive range of measures to address cost as a barrier to education, in the context of overall budgetary decision-making. The Government has now made important decisions about a sustainable model of funding for the higher education into the future. Critically, we have definitively taken income contingent student loans off the table. We have instead chosen a mixed model of investment, which includes funding from the Exchequer, employers and from students.
In Budget 2023 we introduced a range of once off supports for students as part of the Government cost of living packages for students. In addition we introduced a range of changes to the student grant scheme including increasing maintenance grant rates from January 2023. A further range of improvements to the student grant scheme will take effect for the 2023/24 academic year, including:
• An increase in income limit from €55,240 to €62,000 for the 50% student contribution grant;
• A new student contribution grant of €500 for incomes between €62,000 and €100,000;
• An increase to the postgraduate fee grant by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000;
• A reduction in the eligibility for second chance mature students from 5 to 3 years;
• Exclusion of up to €14,000 rental income earned under Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme from reckonable income;
• An increase in student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552; and
• A greater degree of flexibility for students who may have a long term social welfare payment but are falling outside of the special rate (this will allow a small increase on the income threshold for the special rate if a family has 4 or more children and/or has two or more students in college).
In advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options in respect of providing additional tuition fee supports or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
In terms of the specific costings requested, as the Deputy will be aware, the higher education tuition fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the fee rates of a particular institution. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees payable to the institution in the case of repeat fees, postgraduate tuition fees or the charge of any other fees upon registration such as a student levy, in addition to the total number of students enrolled, are generally matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. An estimated cost of the State fully supporting all such fees or all fees for specific courses is therefore not readily available.
