Wednesday, 4 Oct 2023

Written Answers Nos. 217-236

Health Services

Questions (217, 218, 219, 230, 231)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

217. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of funding allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit, in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study; the status of the recruitment of a programme manager and data analytics staff; if recruitment has been paused in view of the recruitment freeze; if so, if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting these new posts; if unused funding from Budget 2023 will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43072/23]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to report on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register; if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43073/23]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will request that the HSE immediately begin recruiting the project manager post for the diabetes register; to provide a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43086/23]

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

230. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress on the spending of a sum of money (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43157/23]

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

231. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress of a national paediatric diabetes audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43158/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 218, 219, 230 and 231 together.

Budget 2023 provided funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care, including commencing the development of a National Diabetes Registry and the commencement of a National Paediatric Audit of Type 1 Diabetes.

Any decisions with regard to future funding for Diabetes care in Budget 2024 will be subject to the annual Estimates process and will require Government approval.

As the advertisement, interview and recruitment process for posts related to these projects is an operational matter under the responsibility of the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputies directly in relation to the status of these recruitments and expenditure to date, as soon as possible.

Question No. 218 answered with Question No. 217.

Question No. 219 answered with Question No. 217.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (220)

Michael McNamara

Question:

220. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an urgent appointment in the oncology clinic at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43090/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (221)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

221. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take to address the serious underfunding in mental health, which has been exposed in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the extraordinary demands made on already overstretched services. [43095/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As you will be aware, as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People I take the Budget Estimates very seriously.

The 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. Over the last three Budgets I have remained firmly committed to Mental Health. I secured significant increases in the Mental Health Budget by €200m. 2023 saw a record budget of €1.2 billion which underscores this Government’s commitment to mental health supports.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. This includes full implementation of the specialist perinatal mental health network provided for as well as the on-going expansion of specialist mental health teams for Eating Disorders, ADHD in adults, and Dual Diagnosis.

Key achievements in 2023 have included:

• For the first time in the history of the State we now have a dedicated National Office for Youth Mental Health in the HSE. This is a very significant development and it will improve leadership, operational oversight, and management of all service delivery and improvements. A new HSE National Clinical Lead for Youth Mental Health and a new Assistant National Director for Child and Youth Mental Health have recently taken up post.

• The launch of the Model of Care for CAMHS Hubs has taken place, which provide intensive brief mental health interventions to support CAMHS Teams in delivering enhanced responses to children, young people and their families or carers, in times of acute mental health crisis. The HSE CAMHS Hubs have commenced implementation on a pilot basis.

• Further recruitment into teams associated with the National Clinical Programmes for Mental Health has continued. Progress has been made in recruiting staff to teams including ADHD in Adults teams, Early Intervention in Psychosis, Dual Diagnosis, Eating Disorders, Management of Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation. This includes recruitment at consultant level.

• The Model of Care for Crisis Resolution was launched in May; recruitment into the Crisis Resolution Teams and development of the Crisis Resolution cafes continues apace.

• The expansion of peer support and recovery services with more Family Peer Support Workers in place.

• The new initiative in training for Counselling Psychologists has been established, and the 10 students receiving financial support under the scheme for the academic year 2023/24 are enrolled in their courses. This support will continue in the following years.

• Enhanced provision of talk therapies including increased provision of online cognitive behavioural therapy through the SilverCloud programme.

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. Through our national mental health policy Sharing the Vision, all aspects of mental health services are being improved and developed, in the short to longer term. 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.

I look forward to announcing several new initiatives as part of Budget 2024 to support those with mental health difficulties including to improve access and enhanced signposting of services.

Health Services Staff

Questions (222)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

222. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can look into the fact that there is no sick leave or absence cover provided for home care workers; and to clarify the reason the HSE has to call the family of the person in receipt of the home care to have them step in when a home care worker is either sick or absent. [43096/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (223)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

223. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures being considered to address the recruitment and retention crisis being experienced in section 39-funded organisations, where lower pay levels are causing those in section 39 agencies to leave for jobs or grades in section 38 and HSE positions with more remuneration, where the section 39 agencies are still operating on a level of funding, which is now 40 cent less per hour of service than what was allocated in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43103/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with support from the Department of Health, the HSE and Tusla attended a number of engagements with trade unions under the auspices of the WRC over recent months.

That process culminated in an offer being made to unions. The offer was in line with those accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors. The offer to workers in this sector amounted to a 5% increase in funding for pay effective from November 2023, with 3% backdated to April 2023. A commitment to re-engage with trade union representatives following any further public sector pay agreement was also offered.

This combined offer was not accepted by trade union representatives, and it is disappointing that their members were not afforded the opportunity to vote on whether they wished to accept the 5% increase in pay funding.

The Unions have balloted for industrial action and have advised they intend to strike from the 17th of October (2023).

Any industrial action will impact negatively on service users and the Departments urge all parties to work on resolving any disputes through the appropriate forums, in the interests of users of these services. Government remains committed to working with the unions to resolve these matters.

While Government has engaged in this process, it is worth noting that Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are privately owned and operated, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in those organisations are ultimately between the employer and their employee. The Government is not the employer for any of these staff. As this is an ongoing Industrial relations matter it would be inappropriate to comment any further.

Hospital Staff

Questions (224)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

224. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in recruitment or advertisement of recruitment for the new genomic resource associate roles at the department of clinical genetics at CHI Crumlin, as specified as part of implementation of the national genetics and genomics strategy, despite the fact that he allocated €2.7 million to the implementation of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43115/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (225)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

225. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason that recruitment for new genomic resource associate roles at the department of clinical genetics at CHI Crumlin, as specified as part of implementation of the national genetics and genomics strategy, is being held up, in spite of the fact that he allocated €2.7 million to the implementation of the strategy. [43118/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Data Protection

Questions (226)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

226. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if any investigations will be considered in light of findings from the Data Protection Commissioner that officials in his Department kept dossiers in a manner that was unlawful and unnecessary, containing sensitive information on families of children with autism who had previously engaged in litigation with the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43122/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I thank the Deputy for their question. My Department cooperated fully with the Data Protection Commissioner during the course of their investigation into the allegations raised on RTE’s Prime Time programme. The Department at the time of the original programme in 2021 and in light of the recent programme, once more rejects the characterisation that it kept secret dossiers on children.

The Department was maintaining documentation for the purposes of managing ongoing legal cases. The DPC did not find an infringement of data protection law arising from the fact that the Department stored this information for the purposes of defending litigation.

The DPC investigation was only concerned with the manner in which the Department collected and processed personal data of members of the public who had historically taken litigation against the Department.

The Department of Health fully accepts the Data Protection Commission’s decision following their investigation and has accepted the corrective measures imposed by the DPC.

A report carried out into the matters by Senior Counsel found no evidence that the Department of Health was secretly compiling dossiers on children with autism involved in SEN litigation.

Parties to a legal case have lawful obligations to retain all potentially relevant documentation whether or not discovery has been agreed or ordered.

The DPC recognised that there are a number of obligations that require defendants to retain documents that relate to open litigation.

Parties’ respective obligations and entitlements are not diluted by the fact that the proceedings are dormant for a period of time. Dormant cases are not resolved or dismissed. They remain “live” proceedings, pending before the Courts.

The DPC did not find evidence on the 29 litigation files examined that the Department had proactively sought information from other government departments or co-defendants other than the HSE.

Sensitive personal data was historically, nonetheless, submitted to the Department of Health by other parties (such as the video referred to in the report which was submitted as an exhibit to an affidavit by the plaintiff’s representative).

The Department has acknowledged that historically, there were issues around the proper retention and data minimisation, transparency and security controls in Department of Health. These issues were highlighted by the DPC in the course of their investigation and the Department have taken the appropriate steps to resolve these issues.

In response to the DPC Decision, the Department accepts the position that, although the information it gathered and processed was in line with legal advice received previously, the application of GDPR meant the department could no longer rely upon those same legal bases for the gathering and storing information.

The Department accepts that under both European Union and Irish data protection legislation it was not proportionate nor necessary to retain such personal data.

The Department of Health is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with both European Union and Irish data protection legislation. The Department takes its responsibilities in relation to data protection very seriously.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (227)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

227. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive a date for an operation from Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43127/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services

Questions (228)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

228. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no respite available to an elderly gentleman (details supplied); the reason the public health nurse said that they would look for respite but would be unable to give a date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43133/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (229)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

229. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the budget available to an individual (details supplied) in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43156/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 230 answered with Question No. 217.

Question No. 231 answered with Question No. 217.

Health Services

Questions (232)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

232. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health his views on extending continuous glucose monitoring to all patients with type 1 diabetes who require it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43161/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 completed a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in respect of the provision of glucose monitoring systems to adults with Type I diabetes in Ireland. This was published on 29 September 2023 and will inform the HSE decision-making process. The HTA advises the HSE that a single managed access programme with clearly defined eligibility criteria would improve equity of access and could help to control costs.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Questions (233)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

233. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the approvals for a scheme (details supplied), by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43162/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Since commencement of the programme applications have been made and accepted for the treatment of 49 patients in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme. Given the number of patients involved and owing to the possible risk of patient identification by geographical breakdown of that number, for reasons of patient privacy and confidentiality it is not felt appropriate to further dilute this number.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (234)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

234. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person can expect an appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43184/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (235)

Denis Naughten

Question:

235. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a list of general schemes referred by his Department to an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 to date; the date each was referred; the date that the general scheme was published for the public to review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42951/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

A list of general schemes referred by my Department to an Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny, as requested by the Deputy, is shown below, from the time of this Department's establishment in July 2020 to date:

Date referred to Oireachtas Committee	Title	Date published for public review
17th April 2023	General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023	6th April 2023
10th May 2021	General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill	6th May 2021

Further and Higher Education

Questions (236)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

236. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to raise the PhD stipend level to €25,000 per year, as recommended in the National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers: First Report (May 2023); the details of any analysis carried out by his Department with regard to the implementation of this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42998/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

In November 2022, I appointed Dr Andrea Johnson and Mr David Cagney to undertake an independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. This reflects the objective, under the dedicated Talent Pillar of Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy, for a consistent research student experience across funders, institutions and research disciplines.

The Review Terms of Reference comprised examination of:

• Current financial supports for PhD researchers,

• The adequacy, consistency and equity of current arrangements,

• The status of PhD researchers (employee/ student) including a review of international comparators,

• Impact on the funding of research programmes of any adjustments to current supports,

• Graduate outcomes, including return on investment,

• Visa requirements and duration for non-EU students.

The Co-Chairs’ first review report was published on 26 June 2023 and is available on www.gov.ie . The first report addressed the issue of stipends in particular and recommended an increase to achieve a optimum level of €25,000, subject to the availability of funding, conscious of the potential implications of any stipend change on the public finances.

The Co-Chairs have now submitted their second and final report to the me and the totality of their recommendations - both financial and non-financial – are currently being considered by my officials and myself. Financial recommendations are being managed through the normal budgetary processes. A 12-18 month work programme to implement appropriate recommendations is under development.