Written Answers Nos. 229-249
229. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to accommodating an individual (details supplied) in a certain accommodation centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34739/23]
View answerDeputy, as you may be aware, unfortunately I am unable to comment on individual accommodation allocations within International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres.
I can advise that any requests for accommodation or re-accommodation for a person awaiting a decision on their application for international protection should be made by the individual applicant, in writing, to ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie.
On receipt of a written re-accommodation request, IPAS will consider these taking in to account the personal circumstances of the applicant and the accommodation that is available at the time, including the location where the international protection applicant (IPA) is currently residing.
Owners, managers or operators of IP accommodation locations will be advised on the outcome of decisions made by IPAS on re-accommodation requests.
230. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34744/23]
View answerDeputy, as you may be aware, unfortunately I am unable to comment on individual accommodation allocations within International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres.
I can advise that in arranging moves, IPAS takes in to account the personal circumstances of the applicant and the accommodation that is available at the time, including the location where the international protection applicant (IPA) is currently residing.
Requests for re-accommodation for a person awaiting a decision on their application for international protection can be made by the individual applicant, in writing, to ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie.
Due to the acute accommodation shortage at present, IPAS may not be in a position to facilitate specific location requests.
231. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his view on a recent HIQA report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34764/23]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for raising the question.
As Minister of State with responsibility for Disabilities, my primary concern is the safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of our disability residential services and I take any issues regarding their care most seriously.
Camphill Community, Mountshannon is a Section 39 organisation operating in County Clare and funded by the HSE to provide residential services and day care services for individuals.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent Authority established to drive continuous improvement in Ireland’s health and personal social care services, monitor the safety and quality of these services, and promote person-centred care for the benefit of the public. Residential services (including residential respite services) which fall under the definition of registered centres as set out in the Health Act 2007 are registered with HIQA, which conducts periodic inspections for compliance with the relevant Regulations
My Department is aware the of the unannounced inspection on the 16th of March 2023 at Camphill Community, Mountshannon which highlighted areas for improvement under the regulations on infection prevention and control, premises, governance and management.
I am advised that upon completion of the inspection, a compliance plan was agreed upon between HIQA and the Provider, and that work is progressing on implementing the plan to ensure that the issues of non-compliance are rectified.
HIQA will continue to engage with the Provider during this process, and a further inspection report will issue in due course.
232. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists in Wexford; the number of unfilled positions for speech and language therapists in Wexford; the steps his Department is taking to improve this situation and to increase the number of speech and language therapists in Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34409/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
233. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to outline the specific services being considered for upstream interventions in the area of youth mental health services in the community and voluntary sector; the specific ways in which it is intended to enhance services for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties who do not need access to specialist mental health services; the level of investment concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34406/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
234. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health to detail the outcome of discussions with the European Commission following the latter's contact with the Irish authorities regarding Ireland's implementation of the Cross-Border Directive in light of the recent review by the Irish Ombudsman of the administration of the Cross-Border Healthcare Scheme established in Ireland under Directive 2011/24/EU, and the Treatment Abroad Scheme established under Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 and operated under Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 which found numerous barriers to access for Irish patients to both schemes, as well as problems with their administration by the Irish Health Service Executive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34410/23]
View answerI acknowledge the publication of a Report by the Ombudsman on 18 April which provides findings and recommendations in relation to treatment abroad schemes administered by the HSE. It is important to acknowledge the important role these schemes play in facilitating patients in Ireland to access necessary medical treatment abroad. Uptake by patients in Ireland of care under the Cross Border Directive has increased significantly over recent years. As acknowledged in the Ombudsman’s report, in the main these schemes work well.
However, some issues have been raised by individual patients with the Ombudsman. The HSE accepts the recommendations of the report and has mandated senior HSE staff to put in place a process to systematically address the issues raised by the Ombudsman and to implement any required changes. In this context, I welcome the HSE’s commitment to implementing the recommendations in the report and to ensuring that all patients accessing medical treatment abroad under these schemes receive the highest standard of public service.
Ireland is committed to cooperation with the Commission to improve the effective application of the directive for the benefit of patients.
235. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health in terms of the procurement process for the HSE, what efforts are being made to ensure best value for money where potential suppliers can demonstrate that alternative products can meet the technical requirements; the process for examining alternative solutions which can demonstrate adherence to the technical requirements; how product specification is determined; who creates the technical product data requirements for the HSE; where a company was rejected on technical points which were contradictory or hold no technical credibility, what avenue is available to have the technical requirements examined to ensure best value for money is being met and the technical requirements hold weight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34422/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
236. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the HSE’s plans to conduct research on the prevalence and use of cannabinoids in vapes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34427/23]
View answerThe National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, ‘A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025’, sets out a health-led approach to drug use. The strategy supports high quality monitoring, evaluation, and research to ensure evidence-informed policies and practice.
Ireland has good information on substance misuse. Routine monitoring provides information on the nature, extent and consequences of substance misuse needed to formulate evidence-informed policy, plan services and measure the effectiveness of the responses to this problem. In fulfilment of both European and national requirements, Ireland’s monitoring system collects and analyses data on drug use in the general and school-going population, treatment demand, high-risk drug use and the consequences, such as infectious diseases, deaths, and overdose.
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) was first identified in Europe in May 2022 and was put under intensive monitoring at the end of 2022 by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA ). It is the first semi-synthetic cannabinoid reported in the EU and has been monitored as a New Psychoactive Substance by the EU Early Warning System since October 2022.
Early warning in Ireland is co-ordinated by the EMCDDA National Focal Point and the Early Warning, Emerging Trends (EWET) working group chaired by the Department of Health. EWET continues to monitor the emergence and use of this substance in Ireland. At present, there is limited information on the availability and use of HHC in Europe.
According to a small number of laboratory studies, HHC appears to have broadly similar effects to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive substance in cannabis. The pharmacological and behavioural effects of HHC in humans have not been studied, although recent anecdotal reports from consumers indicate that its effects might be similar to that of cannabis. The EMCDDA has responded to the potential public health and social risks from this new substance with a range of actions, including the production of a technical report in April 2023.
The HSE will add content about HHC to its website Drugs.ie but this information will be limited to the information available from the EMCDDA. The core messaging relating to HHC should highlight that there is limited available information and very little known about the risks associated with this substance and the extent of its use in Ireland.
There was no evidence of use of HHC, during recent nighttime economy drug monitoring initiatives at festival settings. The HSE will continue to liaise with the EMCDDA, and the Early Warning and Emerging Trends (EWET) group chaired by the Department of Health for further direction on this substance.
With regard to synthetic cannabinoids, the HSE has comprehensive harm reduction information about the substances available on drugs.ie, which is available at www.drugs.ie/synthetic_cannabinoids_in_ireland_hse_update_october_2021/. The HSE also issued an alert regarding cannabis edibles contaminated with synthetic cannabinoids earlier this year, which can be found at www.drugs.ie/news/article/hse_drug_trend_risk_communication_on_cannabis_jellies_adulterated_with_synt. The HSE is not currently conducting research on cannabinoids in vapes.
237. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the average waiting period for any genetic test in the public health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34449/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
238. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a support worker (details supplied) who worked in a healthcare facility during the pandemic can expect their pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34451/23]
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.
239. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the health infrastructure projects currently underway in CHO 1; the projects completed since June 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34454/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
240. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the health infrastructure projects currently underway in CHO 7; the projects completed since June 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34455/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
241. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason no dental surgeries have taken place in Cork since March; and to identify the numbers of surgeries delayed for dental work and the age profile of those impacted. [34459/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
242. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the north inner city drug and alcohol task force consultation report; the reasons for not providing the task force members with a copy of the completed report; and when he will re-establish the taskforce. [34462/23]
View answerThe Department of Health provides €2.249m per annum to community-based drug and alcohol services under the remit of the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force.
In November 2021, the task force has informed local services that it is no longer in a position to function. This follows an impasse in the selection of an independent chairperson.
The Department has engaged with stakeholders in the north inner city to establish effective, inclusive, and transparent governance of the task force and of the funding that it allocates.
The Department has concluded a consultation process with members of the task force and other stakeholders on the next steps to re-establish the task force. This involved a series of meetings with public representatives, statutory and non-statutory members of the task force, frontline community and alcohol projects funded under the ambit of the task force, community and service user representatives, staff employed by the task force company and other stakeholders in the north inner city. I am committed to establishing effective, inclusive and transparent governance of the task force, informed by a review of developments to-date and the consultation process.
243. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the amount paid by his Department in 2022 and to date in 2023 on outside or third-party reports of a technical nature or qualitative and quantitative nature, by payee, in tabular form. [34472/23]
View answer244. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he has been made aware of proposed changes to SouthDoc out-of-hours GP services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34481/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
245. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of ENT consultants in Dublin; how many patients these consultants currently cover; are their plans to hire additional ENT consultants for Dublin; if so, if a timeframe is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34499/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
246. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of ENT consultants in Cork and Kerry; how many patients these consultants currently cover; are their plans to hire additional ENT consultants for Cork and Kerry; if so, if a timeframe is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34500/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
247. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the introduction of a text messaging reminder service for HSE appointments; if he will agree that the degree of missed appointments is posing a strain to HSE services and resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34503/23]
View answerText messaging for reminding patients of upcoming appointments is already quite widely used across the health system and was, as the Deputy correctly point out, introduced as a mechanism to try and reduce missed appointments (DNA's / Did Not Attends). Deployment of text reminders has typically been driven by individual hospitals in areas where they felt it had the greatest potential. The HSE has also deployed a solution from Swiftqueue whereby people can book (within certain parameters) appointment dates and times that they know will work for them - again in an effort to modernise the health system and reduce the likelihood of a missed appointment. The HSE can provide more detail on what sites have deployed text reminders.
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if rehabilitation will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in the National Rehabilitation Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34506/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
249. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when they can expect an appointment in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34507/23]
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.
