Written Answers Nos. 693-713
693. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the difficulties that owners of homes with defective concrete blocks are having in fully accessing the fair deal scheme; how he proposes to address these difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30935/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
694. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health for details on the sun smart sunscreen campaign; where it is being piloted; for how much and under what criteria it might be deemed successful and expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30939/23]
View answerAction 1.4 of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 is "Develop and deliver an annual SunSmart communications plan to raise awareness of skin cancer prevention behaviours". This follows on from a similar action in the first Skin Cancer Prevention Plan.
The SunSmart campaign has run in 2021, 2022 and is currently running for 2023. This campaign is rolled out across social media, radio and digital audio. Healthy Ireland has co-funded this campaign with the HSE every year, and will be providing €60,000 to co-fund the campaign in 2023.
Our colleagues in the Health Service Executive have also run a sunscreen dispenser board pilot project in 2022, and again in 2023. As the rollout of this project is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
695. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30957/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical products and services under the Community Funded Schemes to eligible persons (as set out in the Health Act 1970) free of charge following assessment by a relevant health professional.
The HSE oversees the provision and supply of incontinence wear products for eligible persons across Ireland. Provision is based on an appropriate clinical assessment and a determination of the most appropriate products that will meet the individual’s needs. The provision of clinically appropriate incontinence wear products to eligible persons is operated by each Community Healthcare Organisation under a national tender arrangement.
The HSE advise that this is a person–centred delivery system, which allows the individual or their carer to vary both the time of delivery, and the amount of product delivered according to their specific needs. It is also possible to alter the location for a particular delivery should the need arise.
The HSE also utilise the service provided by public health nurses and continence nurse advisors, to assess individual patient needs in order to ensure that the supply of incontinence wear products is appropriate.
As part of the National Service Improvement Programme for the Community Funded Schemes, the HSE have completed and implemented national guidelines in respect of incontinence wear products. Governance arrangements have been strengthened through the implementation of an integrated electronic management system to support the ordering, supply, and distribution of incontinence wear products across all healthcare settings, including the home delivery service.
Care for Nursing Home residents including those in private facilities can be covered under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal. The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
• Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person
• Bed and board
• Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living
• Laundry service
A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS and for this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS. Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, such as social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing.
In circumstances where a person does not hold full eligibility, such as a medical card or a Long-Term Illness scheme card, reimbursement support for incontinence wear products is provided under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS). While there are no set limits on the quantity, the DPS claim must be supported by a valid prescription for such products.
The DPS provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances (including incontinence wear) exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS threshold was reduced on 1 March 2022 to €80 per month. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for those who are not eligible for a medical card but incur ongoing expenditure on medicines.
696. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health for an-up-to date review on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31027/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
697. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health for an up-to-date review on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31028/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
698. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health for a reply on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31029/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
699. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health for a reply on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31030/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
700. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health for a reply on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31031/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
701. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health for a reply on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31032/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
702. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 604 of 25 April 2023 and 468 of 18 May 2023, the number of people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties under the care of the Cobh/Glenville and Midleton/Youghal adult mental health teams who have been transferred to continuing care or high-support hostels outside those HSE catchments since February 2021 when the Owenacurra Centre took its last referral for residential placement; the number of people in this cohort of service-users within those HSE catchments who have been transferred in the same timeframe to nursing homes, either within those HSE catchments or outside them; the reason that this information was not provided in the response to the two aforementioned Parliamentary Questions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31035/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
703. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1154 of 21 March 2023 and 597 of 25 April 2023, if he will provide an update on the formation of the development team, announced by Cork HSE management in May 2022, tasked with conducting an options appraisal for the construction of a new ten-bed mental health rehabilitation/continuing care residential service in Midleton, County Cork; the names of HSE management staff who have been appointed to the team; the dates of any development team meetings held to date or engagements with the local authority; if he will provide details on progress the development team has made on identifying a site for the service over the past thirteen months and on the acquisition of capital funding; if he will provide an update on the timeframe for commencement and completion of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31036/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
704. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1219, 1292 and 1294 of 13 June 2023, what assurances were given to the Mental Health Commission by the HSE regarding the breach of a condition of registration of Unit 3, St. Stephen's Hospital, Glanmire, such that the Mental Health Commission decided to suspend enforcement proceedings it had initiated against the HSE in September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31037/23]
View answerIt should be noted that the Mental Health Commission is an independent regulator established under the Mental Health Act 2001. The Commission has statutory responsibility for supporting and assisting in the development and improvement of mental health services. Department officials directed this query to the Mental Health Commission and the following is their response:
"The Mental Health Commission (MHC) is an independent state agency and has confirmed that proceedings were issued against the HSE - the proprietor of St Stephen’s - in September 2022, for the alleged offence of the contravention of a condition attaching to the registration of the Approved Centre. The MHC can confirm, as was stated in open Court, that following discussions between the parties, assurances were given by the HSE in relation to improved compliance with admission regulations and adherence to the conditions attached to the Certificate of Registration held by the Approved Centre moving forward, resulting in the MHC withdrawing its prosecution. More specifics on these assurances were reported on in November 2022 and are in the public domain."
705. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 602 of 25 April 2023 and 617 of 9 May 2023, the reason the Mental Health Commission has declined a request from the Oireachtas Committee on Health to benchmark the provision of community residential mental health placements serving the combined East Cork HSE catchments of the Cobh/Glenville and Midleton/Youghal adult mental health teams in respect of A Vision for Change-recommended allocations; the reason, in particular, the Commission has refused to do so given that it reviewed such services nationally in 2019 and benchmarked those provisions against A Vision for Change and given that the Mental Health Commission has repeatedly made reference to A Vision for Change-recommended staffing allocations in its interim CAMHS report from January 2023 in the context of assessing current service provision; what barrier prevents specifically the Mental Health Commission from doing likewise with the East Cork mental health catchments of Midleton/Youghal and Cobh/Glenville given that the request made in respect of East Cork adult mental health services does not call on the Mental Health Commission to "set targets" in a statutory manner but to confirm from the standpoint of an independent oversight body recommended with actual service provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31038/23]
View answerIt should be noted that the Mental Health Commission is an independent regulator established under the Mental Health Act 2001. The Commission has statutory responsibility for supporting and assisting in the development and improvement of mental health services. Department officials directed this query to the Mental Health Commission and the following is their response:
"The work of the Mental Health Commission (MHC) includes regulating inpatient mental health services, protecting the interests of people who are involuntarily admitted and setting standards for high quality and good practices across mental health services in Ireland. The MHC does not have a statutory remit to set targets or benchmark for service provision.
The Inspector of Mental Health Services has powers under the Mental Health Acts 2001–2018 to carry out reviews periodically and to report on various aspects of the care and treatment given to people in receipt of mental health services in the State. The Inspector’s report entitled ‘Rehabilitation and Recovery Mental Health Services in Ireland 2018/2019’ was one such report and reflected ‘point-in-time’ findings based on fieldwork conducted across 2018 and 2019. The Inspector’s interim report arising from an ‘Independent Review of the Provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the State’, which was published in January 2023, again reflected ‘point-in-time’ findings based on fieldwork conducted across 2022, while the final version of this report – due to be published soon – will reflect fieldwork conducted across 2022 and 2023. This work supports the MHC’s ongoing statutory function to promote, encourage and foster high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services in Ireland."
706. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will identify the national mental health policy guiding Cork HSE management in its plans to replace long-stay mental health facilities in hospital campus locations in St. Stephen's Hospital and St. Finbarr's Hospital with new congregated settings involving a 50-bed unit in St. Stephen's Hospital and a 20-bed unit in St. Finbarr's Hospital; if he will provide an estimate of the cost of these services, if they are pursued; if any similar mental health service projects are being proposed in other CHOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31040/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
In relation to policy component of the question, part of the implementation of Sharing the Vision, Ireland's national mental health policy, has seen the standing up of an Acute Bed Capacity Specialist Group. Established in August 2021, the Group was set up to examine Acute Inpatient (Approved Centre) bed provision, (including Paediatric Intensive Care Units [PICUs]) and to make recommendations on capacity reflective of emerging models of care, existing bed resources and future demographic changes. It has met on a number of occasions and agreed a draft, interim report which was presented to the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) in Quarter 1, 2023. The recommendations of the Acute Bed Capacity report will be encompassed as part of an overall multi-year Capital Plan which covers existing as well as additional facilities and capacity. A working group is to be established to both prioritise and oversee the capital plan for mental health with a remit to look at requirements over the next 10 years. As of end Q1 2023, draft terms of reference and proposed group membership of this working group have been developed, and its work is on-going.
707. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the names of the companies or individuals contracted by the HSE to remove 70 trees from Merlin Woods in 2023; the name of the arborist who carried out an assessment of the trees in advance of the works; if he will provide details of how the timber from the removed trees was disposed of, and in particular the destination of this timber and its use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31041/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
708. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health whether proposals to 'decriminalise' performing terminations of pregnancy would permit non-medically trained individuals to carry out terminations without legal consequences. [31044/23]
View answerIn line with statutory and government commitments I initiated the Review of the Health(Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy)Act 2018 in late 2021.
The final Report of the Review was submitted to me as Minister at the end of February 2023. The Report makes a range of recommendations most of which are operational in nature with some proposing legislative change. The Government has agreed that the HSE will establish an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations while those proposing legislative change have been referred to the Joint Committee on Health for their consideration.
Given the Committee’s cross-party composition and oversight role in relation to the health service, it represents an effective and appropriate forum to consider the changes proposed. It is important to allow them to complete their deliberations.
709. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health to clarify, based on Section 10.1 of the abortion review report, whether babies have been born alive having survived late-term abortions in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31045/23]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters it has been referred to the HSE for answer.
710. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite promotion of suitably qualified non-EEA healthcare assistants as nurses with an employer letter, without the need for a language proficiency exam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31058/23]
View answerThe Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is the independent, statutory organisation which regulates the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland. It maintains the Register of Nurses and Midwives. Ensuring patient safety and protecting the public is a core function of the NMBI and therefore rigorous evaluation of information and thorough regulatory checks are required when processing applications from all of those who want to practise as nurses and midwives in Ireland.
To register to become a nurse or midwife, all applicants need to complete a two-stage process:
1. Recognition of qualifications
2. Registration.
In the first stage, recognition of qualifications, an Education Assessor will assess evidence of education, qualifications and credentials; usually evidenced in the applicant’s transcripts of the education programme undertaken. The Assessor will examine in detail whether the qualifications' clinical and theory content demonstrates the competency level set out to meet the NMBI standards and requirements to practice in Ireland. If relevant, courses additional to the applicant’s graduate qualifications, post-graduate qualifications and post-qualification work experience will be considered in the demonstration of nursing or midwifery competency. Once an applicant’s qualifications have been assessed as satisfactory, a decision letter will issue from the NMBI.
Often, a decision letter will inform an applicant that their qualifications have been provisionally recognised and there is a requirement to complete a ‘compensation measure’ to address the identified gap between the qualifications provided and the NMBI Standards and Requirements. These compensation measures are either a paid period of adaptation or an aptitude test; these are mechanisms which allow an applicant to demonstrate their competency to meet the NMBI standards.
The compensation measures are undertaken in Ireland, either an adaptation programme for assessment, which is a paid period in an approved hospital or community centre (a minimum of six weeks, to a maximum of twelve) or by undertaking an aptitude test comprising multiple-choice questions and practical examinations over one /two weekends. Once the applicant has completed the compensation measure successfully, the recognition process is complete, and they can apply for registration.
As part of the second stage, all registration applicants must satisfy the NMBI that they have the necessary knowledge and competency in English to communicate effectively and safely in their practice. Communication is defined as speaking, reading, listening and writing, and the applicant must provide evidence demonstrating that they have met the required level of competence in these four mandatory skills. For many overseas educated applicants, this means taking an English language test and submitting a certificate of test results. The NMBI recognises both the International English Language Test System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET) and verified test providers. IELTS and OET are valid for two years across all Irish regulators and Canadian, Australian, American and UK regulators. This is also the standard validation period across immigration services internationally.
These language tests are carried out by independent third parties, internationally recognised for providing rigorous and evidence-based professional or occupational English testing, especially for healthcare professionals. Tests can be taken in Ireland, or nearly all other countries.
The NMBI, citing the level of responsibility and clinical competence required to work as a registered nurse or midwife, has informed my Department that accepting a letter from an employer as a means of verification of competency in the English language would not be acceptable regulatory practice.
711. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify whether the main vaccination centre for CHO 8 is going to be located in Ardee, County Louth (details supplied). [31060/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
712. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31067/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases
713. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to conduct a review of the Health Act 2004. [31074/23]
View answerThe Health Act 2004 is the legislation which established the Health Service Executive. The Act was amended in 2019 with the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act to allow for the establishment of a Board, which is now in place. It was also recently amended to take account of the transfer of specialist disability functions from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on 1st March 2023. The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 provides for the functions and responsibilities of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under the Health Act 2004 (as amended) in respect of specialist disability services.
There is no current plan for a general review of the Health Act, however if the Deputy has a query in relation to a specific part of the Act my Department can provide further clarification.
