Written Answers Nos. 664-677
665. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the number of personnel in his Department at Principal Officer level or above who, on retiring from that position, were subsequently appointed to a State or semi-State board over the past ten years. [34925/23]
View answerThe Department does not hold records of former members of staff appointed to State or semi-State boards.
666. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a consultant will be allocated and a date for surgery be given for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal who urgently requires scoliosis surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34938/23]
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.
667. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to clarify the policy position of his Department with respect to the allegedly carcinogenic impact of red meat consumption; if he agrees that the messaging and promotion of such research needs to be heavily qualified and balanced by stressing the clear health benefits of meat consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34245/23]
View answerThe Food Safety Promotion Board (safefood) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) both of which are under the aegis of my Department provide advice on the consumption of red meat as follows:
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland advise that lean red meat consumed in moderation can be a valuable part of a healthy diet, as it is a good source of protein, and a particularly good source of absorbable iron. Additionally, the Food Safety Promotion Board (safe food) advise that red meat is an important source of iron. They advise consumers to choose lean varieties, remove excess fat, have one serving (50–75g) 2 to 3 times a week and avoid adding extra fat when cooking.
This advice is based on an evaluation of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization. The evaluation advises consumers that they should avoid consuming large quantities of red meat, especially processed meat (high in fat and salt). In the evaluation red meat was classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans” while processed meat was classified as “carcinogenic to humans”. Limited evidence means that a positive association has been observed between exposure to the agent and cancer but that other explanations for the observations (technically termed chance, bias, or confounding) could not be ruled out.
The IARC caution that consumers should avoid eating large quantities of processed and cured red meat including ham, sausages, luncheon meats and salami, which are high in fat and salt. It is important that consumers exercise moderation which means avoiding large portion-sizes and choosing occasional alternatives such as fish, poultry or beans/lentils (vegetarian protein foods that provide fibre in the diet).
It is important that consumers are well informed about dietary choices, and I would particularly concur with the advice on moderation of intakes. I would encourage the maintenance of a well-balanced diet which includes vegetables and fruit. In line with the deliverables in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, Healthy Ireland in my Department have developed and published a suite of Healthy Eating Guidelines for different cohorts of the population. These include the Healthy Eating Guidelines for -
• children aged 1-4;
• older children and adults; and
• adults aged 65 and over.
A “Food Pyramid” for each of these age cohorts is included in all of these guidelines, as are food and meal plans to help people better understand their nutritional needs. The guidelines include information that highlights, for example, the importance of eating lean meat (including red meat), fish, beans and poultry (without skin) as part of a balanced diet.
For more detailed information on the best food choices the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has the following link: IARC Report: Red Meat, Processed Meat and Cancer | Food Safety Authority of Ireland (fsai.ie)
The link to information from the Food Safety Promotion Board (safefood) is as follows: www.safefood.net/healthy-eating/meats
668. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider leasing or purchasing a vacant commercial unit in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, for the provision of community-level healthcare in this populated centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34944/23]
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.
669. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if grants are available to help a GP set up a new practice facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34945/23]
View answer670. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if there is any funding stream by which a community can undertake capital works to facilitate the establishment of a GP practice in their locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34946/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 669 and 670 together.
GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services, and GP practices also receive a range of financial supports.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available. GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria will qualify for an annual rural support allowance, and contributions are also made towards locum costs for various GP leave arrangements.
Additional capacity supports are to be made available, as part of the recently announced agreement reached with the IMO to extend eligibility for GP visit cards to people who earn up to the median household income and to children aged 6 & 7, to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice.
Other than the practice supports provided under the GMS scheme financial supports specific to the establishment of practices are not provided.
671. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, his Department is taking to raise awareness amongst those in an agricultural setting with respect to the dangers posed by tick bites potentially leading to Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34675/23]
View answer672. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, his Department is taking to raise awareness amongst those in a forestry setting with respect to the dangers posed by tick bites potentially leading to Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34676/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
673. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Health how many HSE staff are currently suspended from work awaiting a fitness to practice review; the average time it takes for such reviews to be carried out; the total amount of salaries paid to suspended staff in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34952/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
674. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if his Department has investigated the reason that fewer young pharmacists appear to be going into community practice; if any studies are ongoing in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34958/23]
View answerThank you for your question. Firstly, I appreciate the value and importance of pharmacists and pharmacies in conserving, protecting and enhancing the health of our citizens. Pharmacists are experts in medicines, and are trained nationally to Masters level, undertaking an integrated training programme which is designed to enable future pharmacists to better meet the changing needs of the healthcare system in Ireland. The integrated training means all students have the opportunity to gain experience in community, hospital and industrial pharmacy, offering insights into various practice settings and enhanced career opportunities.
While the Department has not directly undertaken a review of the practice areas of registered pharmacist it is aware of certain pertinent ongoing work. The Emerging Risks to Pharmacy Workforce project, a multi-annual project commenced by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to assess emerging risks to the continued availability of a professional pharmacy workforce within community and hospital pharmacy in Ireland is relevant.
A working group was established as part of the project, involving Department of Health, HSE, PSI, academia and pharmacy representative organisations, in acknowledgement of the fact that strategic workforce planning for pharmacy can only be achieved if it has input and commitment from stakeholders from across the wider health system. Four meetings of the group were held over a six-month period.
Four project deliverables were delivered with support from Grant Thornton – literature review, workforce survey, focus groups, culminating in a Workforce Intelligence Report. This report was approved by the PSI Council at its June 2023 meeting. It is my understanding that this will be officially launched in the autumn and published on the PSI website.
I have been informed that the analysis conducted as part of the project did not indicate that fewer early career pharmacists are entering community pharmacy practice, with 73% of all pharmacists working in the community pharmacy setting (either as their sole role, or as one of multiple roles). Four out of five of the fifth year pharmacy students who responded to the survey indicated their intention to enter patient-facing practice upon registration (i.e., in either community or hospital practice). However, the data gathered as part of this project established a baseline view, and trends over time will need to be measured via future surveys to understand if the proportion of the register working in community pharmacy increases, decreases or remains static.
675. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of an application to provide a primary care facility for Ballyhale, County Kilkenny; if the land which is available for the project will be purchased by the HSE; if not, if the GPs concerned will be funded to complete the purchase; and If he will outline the plans in this regard. [34960/23]
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.
676. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for cataract surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34961/23]
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.
677. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the actions he is taking to ensure that the community space allocated through the planning process at Lakeside primary care facility will include representative groups from the immediate locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34966/23]
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.
