Written Answers Nos. 846-861
846. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when the national guidelines in respect of wigs/hairpieces and post-mastectomy products will be published; the funding to be allocated for the implementation of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34321/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
847. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1161 of 13 June 2023, if karotype tests will be available to males referred to regional fertility hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34324/23]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
848. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm what action he, his Department and the HSE will take to improve the efficiency of the high-tech medication scheme as there are delays in the supply of medication as pharmacies cannot request stock until prescriptions have been received from consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34337/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
849. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently expedite an appointment for surgery for a person (details supplied) or alternatively refer this patient through the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [34338/23]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
Under 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.
850. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of people, other than those in prison, currently involved in drug rehabilitation programmes; the extent of the programmes, whether first-time involvement or not in such programme; the number of persons who have been involved in such programmes more than once or more than five programmes in the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34352/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
851. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to provide a full list of the individual projects/schemes funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund spend of €5.5 million by his Department; the amount of funding allocated in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34372/23]
View answerFirstly, I wish to welcome the significant allocation of €920.4 million associated with the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund. This funding is designed to mitigate the impact of Brexit in a range of areas, including the health sector.
Officials of my department have attended Brexit Adjustment Reserve meetings convened by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform. The €5.5m allocation relates to Hospital Pharmacy Aseptic Compounding units. The breakdown of the allocation is set out below.
Aseptic Compounding Units (ACUs) are dedicated laboratory facilities which produce tailored treatments for patients which have a short shelf life. Currently, a number of public hospitals outsource a portion of their Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (e.g Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy) supply to UK third party providers. The ongoing uncertainty about trade arrangements between Ireland and the UK leaves Irish hospital pharmacy cancer services open to future supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly as the UK providers are operating at full capacity. Brexit Adjustment Reserve funding will expedite improvements to existing Aseptic Compounding Unit (ACU) infrastructure and support new ACU builds which could mitigate some of those risks.
|
Facility |
Estimate capital spend 2023 € |
|
Tallaght University Hospital |
3,500,000 |
|
Cork University Hospital |
870,000 |
|
Cork University Hospital |
670,000 |
|
Cavan General Hospital |
100,000 |
|
Beaumont Hospital |
100,000 |
|
Letterkenny University Hospital |
200,000 |
|
University Hospital Limerick |
100,000 |
|
Total |
5,540,000 |
This project is expected to form part of Ireland’s overall Brexit Adjustment Reserve fund application which will be submitted by D/PENDR in late 2024.
852. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason no person has had access to the Orthodontic Dental School and Hospital at Cork University since March 2023; the reason patients are being told that this practice will continue indefinitely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34381/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
853. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason the dental treatment services scheme is available to medical card holders in Cork but the Cork University Dental School does not participate in the scheme and charges patients private fees for dental treatment; the reason for same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34382/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
854. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health what systems are in place to ensure appropriate and swift reporting of adverse incidents to the State Claims Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34387/23]
View answerThis matter has been referred to the HSE for direct response as this relates to operational matters in the HSE.
855. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health what systems are in place within the HSE to ensure staff re-training takes place following adverse medical incidents where a patient suffered harm during their care. [34388/23]
View answerThis matter has been referred to the HSE for direct response as this relates to operational matters in the HSE.
856. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department is taking to improve the awareness and treatment of Lyme disease in Ireland. [34393/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
857. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that an employee of an organisation (details supplied) who worked on the frontline during the pandemic will receive the pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34395/23]
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.
858. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for the pandemic special recognition payment which remain to be processed. [34396/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
859. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Cork city in September 2023. [34080/23]
View answer879. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Cork city in September 2023. [34079/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 859 and 879 together.
The difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation is an issue of which Government and I are actively pursuing. This issue is heightened by the shortage of accommodation in the wider private rental market. Government is committed to addressing supply of affordable student accommodation attending publicly funded higher education institutions in Ireland.
Through “Housing for All ”, Government has approved a policy and funding for State supported purpose built student accommodation so as to ensure increased supply of student accommodation. At the heart of the new policy is a commitment to deliver student accommodation to those most in need, and to provide it at affordable rates.
This policy has resulted in the State directly supporting the construction of nearly 1,100 new student accommodation units in the short term. In addition, my officials are continuing to assess a number of other projects with planning permission for delivery of additional supply.
University College Cork currently has 1,281 PBSA beds on campus in Cork city, with an additional 255 beds coming on stream for the new academic year, bringing the total number of public PBSA bed spaces in Cork City to 1,536 for September 2023.
In addition, 2,448 private beds have been constructed in Co. Cork since 2018, with a further 981 beds currently on site.
As these are privately owned and operated I would not be in a position to advise on the numbers of bed spaces which will be available for September 2023.
The Residential Tenancies Board publishes a list of Student Specific Accommodation tenancies which are registered with the RTB. This list can be found here www.rtb.ie/register-a-tenancy/student-specific-accommodation.
860. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of increasing the funding for the MentorsWork Programme by 10%, 20% and 25%. [34325/23]
View answerDeveloped by Skillnet Ireland in partnership with the Small Firms Association, IBEC, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and Microfinance Ireland, MentorsWork connects SME owners and managers throughout Ireland with experienced mentors, helping them navigate business challenges and plan for growth. During 2022, MentorsWork supported 603 SMEs across a range of sectors including construction, tourism, manufacturing, technology, retail and services. Skillnet Ireland has advised that it awarded €1,255,920 funding to the MentorsWork programme for 2023, to support 660 SMEs. Accordingly, the costs of increasing provision as requested by the Deputy would be as set out in the following table:
|
Additional Cost |
Total Cost |
|
|
Baseline |
€1,255,920 |
|
|
+10% |
€125,592 |
€1,381,512 |
|
+20% |
€251,184 |
€1,507,104 |
|
+25% |
€313,980 |
€1,569,900 |
Skillnet Ireland will engage with the SFA regarding the MentorsWork 2024 budget in the coming months. All funding awarded by Skillnet Ireland is subject to the performance/KPIs of each Skillnet Network or scheme and the overall level of funding that is available to Skillnet Ireland.
861. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person can apply with a late application after the closing dates for CAO if at the time to apply they were unable to, due to medical complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33434/23]
View answerThe CAO is an independent body, its function is to process applications for undergraduate courses and some postgraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Enquiries regarding the CAO applications process should be addressed to the CAO directly. Neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO.
The CAO has an Independent Appeals Commission (IAC), to which recourse may be had by applicants who believe that they have been treated unfairly by CAO, and whose complaints have not been resolved by CAO.
Appeals should be addressed to: The Secretary, CAO Independent Appeals Commission, c/o Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway, Ireland. Further information is available on the CAO website. Central Applications Office (cao.ie)
