Written Answers Nos. 588-608
588. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if an injection (details supplied) which lessens the chances of contracting shingles is covered under the GMS; if not the reason it is not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41542/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE does not supply vaccines or provide reimbursement support for vaccines through community pharmacies under the statutory drug schemes. When the public health imperative to support particular vaccines to defined cohorts becomes national policy, vaccines are directly procured by the HSE and supplied through the national vaccine distribution arrangements to GPs for eligible cohorts.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time. Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme.
However, it is open to an individual to source a vaccine from a GP or pharmacy, where available, outside of the national immunisation programme on the basis of a private arrangement.
589. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a pension payslip would be sent to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, previously employed by the HSE, in hard copy form by post. [41543/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
590. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to expedite a HSE Covid payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41564/23]
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.
591. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of Bills prepared by his Department in the 33rd Dáil to date; the number and title of those Bills that included a Regulatory Impact Assessment; the title of the RIAs published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41592/23]
View answerFollowing an exercise to canvass all areas of the Department to respond to the Deputy's query, my Officials have drafted the attached table. This table includes the number of Bills prepared by my Department in the 33rd Dáil to date; the number and title of those Bills that included a Regulatory Impact Assessment, and the titles of the RIAs published by my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, RIAs are not required in relation to all legislation.
|
Title of Bill |
Number of Bill |
Title of the RIAs |
Publication status of RIA |
|
Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 |
No 54/2023 |
Regulatory Impact Analysis Termination of Pregnancy Safe Access Zones |
Not published |
|
Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023 |
No 48/2023 |
Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill |
Published on website – 4th April 2019 |
|
Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 |
No 20/2023 |
Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Abolition of Acute Public Inpatient Charges: Updated Regulatory Impact Analysis |
Not published |
|
Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 |
No 29/2022 |
Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority |
Not published |
|
Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022 |
No 121/2022 |
Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination, and Public Display) Bill Regulatory Impact Analysis |
Not published |
|
Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022 |
No 109/2022 |
Not required |
|
|
Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022 |
No 80/2022 |
Not required |
|
|
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2022 |
No 68/2022 |
General Scheme to Provide for the Abolition of Acute Public In-patient Charges for Children Less than 16: Regulatory Impact Analysis |
Not published |
|
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 |
No 16/2022 |
Not required |
|
|
Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021 |
No 155/2021 |
Not required |
|
|
Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021 |
No 154/2021 |
Not required |
|
|
Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 |
No 153/2021 |
Not required |
|
|
Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 |
No 100/2021 |
Not required |
|
|
Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021 |
No 78/2021 |
Not required |
|
|
Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021 |
No 76/2021 |
Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill, 2021 |
Published on website – 24th September 2021 |
|
Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 |
No 23/2021 |
Not required |
|
|
Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020 |
No 70/2020 |
Not required |
|
|
Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020 |
No 60/2020 |
Not required |
|
|
Health (Amendment) Bill 2020 |
No 42/2020 |
Not required |
|
|
Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 |
No 7/2020 |
Not required |
|
|
Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 |
No 4/2020 |
Not required |
|
|
Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020 |
No 3/2020 |
Not required |
592. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to expedite a hospital appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41604/23]
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.
593. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the rapid HTA, undertaken by HIQA in November 2022, reviewing the evidence of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of continuous (including the Dexcom, Medtronic and GlucoRx CGMs) and intermittent (Freestyle Libre) glucose monitoring systems for people with type 1 diabetes, will be published; if it recommends the widening of access to these devices, if funding will be provided to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41624/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including clinical efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. I, as the Minister for Health, have no role in these decisions.The Health Information and Quality Authority have undertaken a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in respect of the provision of glucose monitoring devices to adults with Type I diabetes. It is expected that this will be published soon. This HTA will inform the HSE decision-making process.While preparations in respect of Budget 2024 are ongoing, any health measures introduced will be in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and the funding available to progress healthcare priorities.
594. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres open in each of the Dublin hospitals respectively, by day, for the past 60 days, in tabular form. [41635/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
595. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgery cancellations, by week, in each of the Dublin hospitals respectively, since 1 August 2023 to date, in tabular form, by reason for cancellation. [41636/23]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.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.
596. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatre closures in each of the Dublin hospitals respectively by week since 1 August 2023 to date, in tabular form, by reason for closure. [41637/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
597. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the spending on pest control in hospitals, by week, since 1 August 2023 to date, in tabular form, by hospital. [41638/23]
View answerAs this question relates to expenditure at an operational level, I have referred it to the HSE for direct response.
598. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health for an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin. [41639/23]
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.
599. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the engagements that he has had with the HSE CEO regarding the recent testimony by a safeguarding expert that they were instructed by senior HSE managers to halt an investigation into the possible sexual abuse of residents in a nursing-home associated with the 'Emily' case; what actions are being taken on foot of this testimony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41640/23]
View answerIn July this year, the CEO of the Health Service Executive appointed an independent safeguarding expert from another jurisdiction, Jackie McIlroy, to undertake a review in relation to the 'Emily' case - a serious sexual assault on a resident (pseudonym Emily) by a HSE staff member known as Mr Z at a HSE community nursing unit in April 2020.
Ms McIlroy was commissioned to review the reports of the two previous review processes that had been undertaken in the aftermath of this serious incident - the report of the National Independent Review Panel and the report of the safeguarding review. The CEO requested Ms McIlroy undertake this review in order to advise him if a further examination of individual records was required to identify past harm. As part of her work, Ms McIlroy met with families and staff.
Ms McIlroy's report was published on 22 September. The report notes that the previous safeguarding review process was undertaken on a phased basis. An initial decision was taken to review a group of 79 resident files, the outcome of which would inform possible further file review. It was determined by the Serious Incident Management Team at that time, that it was a priority to complete the review of this first group of 79 resident files by November 2021. The HSE has advised that to meet that timeframe, the safeguarding team reviewed the files of 32 residents in this group, reviewing those files where concerns had been previously identified by staff or families. As outlined in the Safeguarding Report which was published in July 2023, a referral to An Garda Síochána outlining safeguarding concerns was made in the case of 21 of these 32 residents’ files.
Ms McIlroy finds that the decision not to review the remaining files of the group of 79 residents was a missed opportunity and she has recommended that a further examination of individual records is warranted to cover the period of Mr Z’s employment.
The HSE has accepted the advice and recommendations in Ms McIlroy's report and has confirmed that it is currently developing a process to undertake this further review, which will involve engagement with the families of all residents at this unit during the period of Mr Z’s employment. The HSE has also emphasised that it recognises how difficult and distressing this process will be for families and it has committed to undertaking this process as sensitively and compassionately as possible, fully respecting the wishes of individual families.
This is a truly horrific case and I am thinking of Emily’s family and all the other families who will be affected by the issues raised in this report and by the forthcoming examination of files. I have previously welcomed the HSE’s unequivocal apology for the failures in Emily’s care and the decision the CEO took to appoint an independent safeguarding expert to examine the case further. I welcome the fact that Ms McIlroy's report was published quickly and that the HSE has accepted her findings and are taking action now to implement her recommendations. My Department will continue to engage with the HSE as this further review is undertaken.
600. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41644/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
601. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a fair deal application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41654/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
602. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health to consider additional investment in the mental health budget to provide more supports and measures in Donegal and across the country to ensure that people are provided with the vital and adequate services that are necessary to sustain and grow their mental well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41655/23]
View answerThe Department of Health is currently engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the HSE in relation to the 2024 Estimates. Until these discussions are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter. However, I am committed to ensuring the continued enhancement of mental health services through the allocation of additional funding for mental health in 2024.
The Government’s clear commitment to enhancing mental health services is shown by significant mental health funding increases in recent years. I would note that 2023 saw a record budget for mental health of €1.2bn. Budget 2023 delivered almost €58m in additional funding, and a further €10m in once-off funding for much needed minor capital works across the mental health system.
Funding allocated to mental health services in recent years has allowed for the continued investment in the mental health national clinical programmes and models of care, which has led to significant service improvements, including the full implementation of specialist perinatal mental health network provided for and the on-going expansion of specialist mental health teams for eating disorders, ADHD in adults, and dual diagnosis.
Importantly, as budgets increase, we need to ensure that we have plans and strategies in place so that those resources are used effectively and efficiently to the benefit of people using our mental health services. All aspects of mental health services are being improved and developed in the short to longer term through our national mental health policy Sharing the Vision. Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.
As part of this question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
603. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the total provision to date made in the HSE budget in respect of its liability for unpaid Report 42 pay awards and arrears which were approved by the Government of the day with effect from 14 September 2007, sixteen years ago; the specific Department that is preventing the payment being made, his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; what actions he has taken or intends to take to expedite payment and deal with this obvious injustice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41663/23]
View answerThis matter is currently the subject of a live Industrial relations claim and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.
604. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures and policies his Department has in place to promote gender balance in apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40971/23]
View answerOne of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is "Apprenticeship for All". That is, ensuring that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. As of end-August 2023, there were 1,982 female apprentices, representing 8% of the overall apprentice population. This compares to 1,321 in April 2021, almost 7% of the overall apprentice population at the time.
While this increase is mainly due to the expansion of apprenticeship into new areas, it is also important to note that female representation in craft apprenticeship has almost tripled in the last 4 years. 125 females were participating in craft apprenticeships in 2019 and 372 females were participating in craft apprenticeships as of August of 2023. Participation in industry areas such as manufacturing and engineering is also increasing. Women also feature more strongly in the apprenticeships in the hospitality, healthcare, property, sales, biopharma and ICT sectors.
The actions set out in the Plan build on the outcomes of the 2018 Review of Pathways to Participation in Apprenticeship . This has already resulted in a significant widening of measures to support increased visibility of apprenticeships.
In 2022, I announced a new gender-based bursary for apprenticeship employers. The bursary, worth €2,666, is available to employers who employ apprentices in the minority gender on any national apprenticeship programme with greater than 80% representation of a single gender. Currently there are more than 40 programmes eligible for the bursary.
This bursary is in addition to the Government supports that apprenticeship employers receive via the craft training allowance and the employer grant.
Information on apprenticeship was included on the CAO website for the first time for CAO 2022. This shows the range of learning and qualification options for school leavers. As part of this landmark change, a freephone helpline was introduced for learners, parents and guidance counsellors to provide information on apprenticeship, including how to find an employer. The helpline supplements the existing guidance counsellor service at post-primary and further education and training levels.
There has also been a specific focus on female participation as part of the Generation Apprenticeship national promotional campaign. For example, this year an initiative by the National Apprenticeship Office called 'Facts, Faces, Features' was launched to coincide with International Women’s Day 2023. The purpose of the initiative is to communicate the growing participation and leadership of women and girls in careers available through apprenticeship. The campaign also aims to ensure that students in girls’ schools around the country are aware of the apprenticeship programmes now available. Many of these lead to degree-level awards, in industries that include finance, biopharma, property services, tech and engineering. We want to ensure that young women in Ireland have a front row seat in that transformation at a time when the opportunities for women through apprenticeship have never been stronger.
The details of its 3 components are as follows:
• Facts: Apprenticeship is packed with diverse role models and women's success stories, and growing numbers of women apprentices and graduates of the apprenticeship route
• Faces: They are employers, chefs, craftspeople, cyber security specialists, international financial analysts, creators, team members, leaders!
• Futures: More and more girls in school can take inspiration from these role models, seeing what they can be and shaping their future careers
The general push towards women in STEM roles under the STEM Education Strategy and the ICT Skills Action Plan should also feed through to the apprenticeship intakes.
I am satisfied that these measures and the implementation process for the Action Plan for Apprenticeship overall will have a significant impact in ensuring greater diversity in the apprenticeship population as a whole.
605. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has contemplated exploring alternative measures to the one-time €1,000 tuition fee reduction that was introduced in 2022; and if, in the event that he decides to proceed with the €1,000 fee reduction, he is considering directing these funds solely toward recipients of the full SUSI grant, who would derive the greatest benefit from such a measure. [40972/23]
View answerI have been clear that I want to see the student's contribution towards tuition fees in higher education reduce in a meaningful way over the course of the annual budget process. In this regard I was pleased to secure Government agreement to the introduction of a permanent new rate of student contribution support through SUSI from September 2023.
For students whose families have incomes between €62,000 and €100,000, a new grant of €500 towards the undergraduate student contribution for free fees students is now available. I also increased the income limit for students to avail of the 50% student contribution grant. Information on the new €500 student contribution grant and other student supports are available on SUSI.ie.
In advance of Budget 2024, and as I did last year, I published an options paper setting out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options in respect of providing additional tuition fee supports; student contribution changes or supports for SUSI eligible students; when making proposals in the context of budget discussions in advance of the annual Budget.
606. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the plans he has in improving pay and conditions for personal assistants working in further education settings and to provide an update on the development of the FE disability framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41028/23]
View answerWithin the FET Sector, the Fund for Students with a Disability (FSD) is currently available to students pursuing PLC courses. The recently published the 2023 Annual Options Paper on the cost of higher education includes an option to extend the FSD across the Further Education and Training Sector. A costing of €5m has been estimated for this proposal which would be complemented by the current roll out of universal design learning principles and practice across FET.
Any potential pay increase for Personal Assistants will be considered as part of the resources available for the roll out of the FSD across all of FET provision. As the Deputy will appreciate the estimates process is ongoing and I cannot at this point pre-empt the outcome of the budgetary process.
There are no immediate plans in place to develop a Further Education Disability Framework, however SOLAS has advised my Department that it is carrying out an internal review of learner supports and associated guidelines and my Department has requested SOLAS to examine the provision of personal assistant services under the FSD as part of its review.
607. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will make a statement on the exclusion of graduates of medicine in Northern Ireland from working in hospitals here by reason of the Health Service Executive requiring a transcript from their higher education institution at an earlier date than is possible to arrange; and if he will report on his representations to the Minister for Health on the matter. [41045/23]
View answerMy Department and the Department of Health are aware of the challenges being encountered for Northern Ireland Medical School graduates meeting deadlines for Internship in Republic of Ireland. I am informed that there has been ongoing engagement with the HSE, Medical Council and Northern Ireland universities to address these issues.
I understand from the Department of Health that the Internship recruitment process is managed through a single national annual recruitment campaign. A central matching process allocates candidates to one of their preselected, preferred Intern posts by order of merit using their centile score. A key dependency for this process is the receipt of centiles from medical schools by late May each year. This deadline is to ensure that after post offer, there is sufficient time for candidates to meet all employment and regulatory requirements before commencing Internship.
Interns start employment with the HSE in the last week of June each year. This allows a week of induction plus one week of shadowing existing interns. These two weeks are vital to support new interns and in the interest of patient safety.
I am informed by the Department of Health that the HSE has engaged with Ulster University on this issue and further engagement is planned.
608. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are any procedures being put in place to ensure that the SUSI grant applications involving temporarily laid-off workers from Tara Mines can be appropriately assessed given the fact those workers cannot get a letter of job cessation from Revenue; if he will provide an update on these procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41061/23]
View answerSUSI are currently reviewing applications relating to this issue and should be in contact with applicants shortly for further information. If any applicant does not hear from SUSI in this respect I would advise them to contact SUSI either via email: support@susi.ie or by phone 0818 888 777 and ask for a review of their application.
