Written Answers Nos. 1291-1306
1291. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the undertakings the HSE committed to in respect of the transfer of a patient to Unit 3, St. Stephen's Hospital in July 2022 in breach of a condition of registration of that service as an approved centre such that the Mental Health Commission suspended a prosecution it had commenced against the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28398/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1293. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the undertakings the HSE committed to in respect of the transfer of a patient from the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton to another facility in July 2022 outside of the agreed process of transfers in place, such that the Mental Health Commission suspended enforcement action it had commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28400/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1295. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current status of free GP care for children aged six and seven years, as announced in Budget 2023; if any automatic GP cards for children aged six and seven years have been issued; if not, when applications will open; when the first cards will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28402/23]
View answerThe expansion of GP care without charges to all children aged 6 and 7, whereby all children aged 6 and 7 will be entitled to a GP visit card based on their age, is intended to commence as early as possible. At present all children under 6 years of age are entitled to a GP visit card. My officials and the HSE have made preparations for the expansion. Engagements were held by my Department and the HSE with the IMO, representing GPs, throughout last year, and engagement is ongoing in relation to the necessary fee structures for this service. Applications will open and the service will commence when that process has been completed.
1296. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the dentists in County Wexford providing services to medical card holders under the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1297. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will seek an update from within the HSE in respect of the need to provide a state of the art new primary care centre in Dunleer, County Louth given the significant population increase in the area; the details of premises in the area that would be suitable for the project that are already in HSE ownership; the projected cost of such an addition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28411/23]
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.
1299. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason (details supplied) is waiting on an appointment in the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28412/23]
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.
1300. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland; the status of the development of the promised National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28413/23]
View answerIn 2023, I allocated €2.7 million to support the implementation of the National Strategy for Genetics and Genomics. Key priorities for the first-year implementation plan are as follows:
• to ensure that key front-line staff and National Office roles are recruited
• to operationalise a multi-stakeholder implementation steering group
• to progress Irish entry into 1+MG
• to progress a National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics
Recruitment
To accelerate the establishment of the National Office, interim appointments have been made for senior positions in the first instance. To date the following positions have been appointed to the National Office:
• An Interim National Director
• An Interim National Clinical Director
• An Interim National Clinical Laboratory Director
• An Interim National Bio-Informatics Director
• A Business Co-ordinator (Grade VI)
• A Communications Co-ordinator (Grade VI)
The allocation of front-line staff will be determined by an operating model for genetics and genomics. The Interim Director and Interim National Clinical Director will be responsible for progressing this. However, to address current demand, some front-line posts have been progressed ahead of the completion of this operating model. Recruitment for the following positions in currently underway:
• Consultant Clinical Geneticist at Galway University Hospital
• Genetic Counsellor at Galway University Hospital
• Genetic Counsellor at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin
• Genetic Counsellor at Beaumont Hospital
• Genetic Counsellor at St James/St Vincent’s
• 2 Genomic Resource Associates (Grave V) at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin
The operating model, once developed, will support equitable allocation of the remaining resources across the Health Regions in line with Sláintecare.
Implementation Steering Group
In April 2023, a Steering Group for the implementation of the Strategy was operationalised. Chaired by the Chief Clinical Officer, Colm Henry, this multi-stakeholder group is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of the Strategy’s implementation. Representatives of this group include members of the National Office and Bioinformatics team, Department of Health representatives, clinicians, researchers, state agency representatives and patients. This work has been divided into the following four work streams:
1. The Genetics and Genomics Operating Model
2. Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
3. Testing and Guidance Directory
4. Data and Bioinformatics
These work streams will deliver key outputs associated with each area in the Strategy and report back to the Implementation Steering Group on progress.
Irish Entry into 1+MG
Ireland has been progressing its entry into Europe’s 1+MG initiative. In April 2023, the Department established a National Mirror Group to support the delivery of this work. In addition to progressing the 1+MG agenda in Ireland, this group is designed to harmonise efforts of complementary European initiatives that will support Ireland’s genetics and genomics ambitions. These include Ireland’s progress on the Genomic Data Infrastructure Project and the implementation of the European Health Data Space. Ireland has recently nominated experts identified by the National Mirror Group to participate in the 13 work streams associated with the 1+MG initiative. Areas covered by these work streams include: cancer, rare diseases, interoperability, pharmacogenomics, and legal frameworks.
National Testing Directory for Genetics and Genomics
Progression of a National Testing Directory of Genetics and Genomics is a key ambition of the first-year implementation plan and is currently being supported by one of the work streams of the Implementation Steering Group. After a successful submission to the Sláintecare Integration Innovation Fund, a call for the development of this Directory will be advertised in Q3.
1301. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of extending the opening hours to 8am-9pm, seven days a week for the Cashel minor injury unit. [28435/23]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1302. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the services currently available for people who have multiple sulfatase deficiency. [28436/23]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1303. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when the new primary care centre in Roscrea will be opened; and the services that will be provided at this PCC when opened. [28437/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1304. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the out-of-hours GP services that are contracted or in operation; the number of GPs with contracts; and the number of GPs actively making claims, by month, to date in 2023. [28438/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1305. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the hospitals that were allocated funding for obesity surgery in 2023; and the number of such procedures that will be funded. [28439/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1306. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE midwives working in the University Maternity Hospital, Limerick in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if this number will be further increased; and if so, when. [28440/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
