Thomas Gould
Question:183. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the days that SouthDoc Blackpool has been closed or non-operational by day for the past two weeks, in tabular form. [44534/23]
View answerGeneral Practitioner Services
Questions (183, 184, 185, 186)
Thomas Gould
Question:184. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs employed in Cork, by facility, by SouthDoc in 2019 and currently, respectively, in tabular form. [44535/23]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:185. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of house calls made by the doctor in Blackpool on each of SouthDoc's opening days in the past three weeks. [44536/23]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:186. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors currently allocated to the SouthDoc Blackpool facility, the Kinsale road facility and where Southdoc vehicles are usually located. [44537/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 186, inclusive, together.
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. 184 answered with Question No. 183.
Question No. 185 answered with Question No. 183.
Question No. 186 answered with Question No. 183.
Health Service Executive
Questions (187)
Ivana Bacik
Question:187. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE-owned sites which are vacant or derelict; the locations of such sites; and the duration for which they have been vacant or derelict, in tabular form. [44546/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
Health Services
Questions (188)
Holly Cairns
Question:188. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the date he is working towards, to introduce legislation concerning safeguard proposals relating to deprivation of liberty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44559/23]
View answerWritten answers
Protection of Liberty Safeguards legislation will provide procedural safeguards to ensure that people who cannot consent to their care arrangements in relevant health and social care facilities, such as long term residential centres for older people and people with disabilities and hospitals, are not unlawfully deprived of their liberty. This legislation is required to meet our obligations under Article 40.4 of the Irish Constitution, Article 14 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It will also be an important complement to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, 2015 (as amended) and forthcoming mental health legislation.
The Department has established an Expert Advisory Group to support the development of policy and legislation in this area, comprising legal, clinical and advocacy experts. The Department expects to be in a position to publish a draft policy document later this year which will form the basis of stakeholder consultation.
The Department is conscious that there are many stakeholders who will have views in this area, including those who use our health and social care services. The Department is committed to undertaking a thorough process of stakeholder engagement. The responses to the consultation will then inform the development of legislation.
It should be noted that this is a complex area of law which will be informed by national and international legal obligations and case law. The development of legislation must also have due regard to other national legislation, in particular the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, 2015.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (189)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:189. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide more parking spaces in the health centre in Killarney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44568/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
Home Care Packages
Questions (190)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:190. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take following Budget 2024 to increase the provision of HSE homecare in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44593/23]
View answerWritten answers
The type and quantum of services to be provided next year by the HSE will be considered as part of the National Service Planning process.
The delivery of home support hours is increasing year on year. In 2024 we expect to deliver 22 million hours of home support. This is more than has ever been delivered before, with an additional €2.8 million being allocated to meet inflationary pressures.
In the Programme for Government we committed to establish ‘a commission to examine care and supports for older people’. On 3 October the Government approved the proposal put forward by the Minister for Health and I for the establishment of a Commission on Care for Older Persons.
The Commission will examine the provision of health and social care services and supports for older persons and make recommendations to the government for their strategic development. In addition, a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider and optimise the supports for positive ageing across the life course. I am pleased to say that over €1.2 million has been allocated in Budget 2024 to support the work of this important initiative, which will get underway early next year.
In addition, the minimum proportion of new home support hours allocated to people with dementia will increase from 15% in 2023 to 18% in 2024.
With regards to the specific issue concerning homecare in County Clare , this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive and I have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (191)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:191. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to carry out a review of the decision not to award a medical card to a person (details supplied). [44594/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (192)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for their hearing aid to be repaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44597/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (193)
Pearse Doherty
Question:193. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when orthodontic appointments will be issued to children (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44625/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (194)
Bríd Smith
Question:194. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that due to a lack of staff that the Limekiln Lane Health Centre in Dublin 12 has cancelled all two-year-old developmental checks; if he will acknowledge the upset and distress this has caused to parents (details supplied); the steps that are being taken to restore these checks; the timeframe for their resumption; if he will provide an alternative option for parents to access these important developmental checks during this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44627/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Grant Payments
Questions (195)
Pearse Doherty
Question:195. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal qualifies for the special rate of SUSI grant in their exceptional circumstances; if any outstanding documentation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44569/23]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my Department contacted your office in respect of this query and we will also follow up by direct letter to you.
Grant Payments
Questions (196)
Pearse Doherty
Question:196. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if SUSI will provide assistance to an applicant (details supplied) locked out of their account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44623/23]
View answerWritten answers
With regards to the student referred to by the Deputy, my officials have advised me that SUSI escalated this issue to their ICT unit, who advised that the applicant had an old account from 2012 on the application system. SUSI have removed the old account from the system and the applicant should now be able to register a new account and make an application. SUSI have apologised for the delay in resolving this issue for the applicant and steps are being taken to ensure it does not reoccur in the future.