Written Answers Nos. 518-535
518. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an initial appointment with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, in Cork, by waiting time, in tabular form. [46141/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
519. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the elective hospital in Cork. [46143/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the new Elective Hospital in Cork, to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the matters raised.
520. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the reopening of Keltoi. [46144/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
521. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the review into the Drug and Alcohol Taskforce Handbook. [46150/23]
View answerDrug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, ' Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery'. Action 50 of the strategy commits to ensuring that Task Forces have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the Chairperson, Members of Task Forces and for having proper procedures in place for addressing conflicts of interest.
The governance and operation of the task forces is set out in a handbook published in 2011. It defines the role of the task forces within the national and local framework required to address the existing and emerging threats from problem drug use.
A Governance and Performance framework for task forces is currently being developed. This framework will inform future work on the revision of the handbook.
522. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether correct procedure has been followed in standing down the existing board of the North-Inner City Taskforce, the timeline for this procedure; the reason this decision was taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46151/23]
View answerThe North Inner City task force ceased to function in 2021. This followed an impasse in the appointment of an independent chairperson and the resignation of the outgoing chairperson. Subsequently, the Department of Health engaged in a consultation process with members of the task force and other stakeholders on the next steps to re-establish the task force.
Following my consideration of a report on the governance of the task force, including the consultation with local stakeholders, I have decided to reconstitute the task force. The steps I have taken to reconstitute the task force are set out in my public announcement gov.ie - Minister Naughton announces the reconstitution of the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force (www.gov.ie). In addition, the Department has been in communication with local stakeholders on these steps.
Central to the reconstituted task force is a transparent selection process for the appointment of an independent chairperson who will bring experience, commitment, skill, and energy to the role. The HSE national recruitment service are leading on this selection process, in accordance with the code of practice for appointment to positions in the civil and public service. Anyone who was interested in the post could apply under this process by the closing date of 19 October. NRS14165 - Independent Chairperson - HSE.ie
The composition of the task force reflects the inter-agency partnership at the core of the national drugs strategy. It will be composed of 19 members, including an independent chairperson, six statutory members, four community members, two people with lived experience, two local councillors, two people representing voluntary services providers and two people from the local business sector.
The re-constituted task force will operate in line with the remit set out in the task force handbook and like other task forces. Its autonomy and local decision-making powers will continue as normal. It will develop a strategic plan for the provision of drug services, in conjunction with local service providers and government initiatives, including the North East Inner City Programme Implementation Board and the North Inner City Local Community Safety Partnership.
I value the contribution of community-based drug services to address the challenges faced by individuals, families, and communities, in the north inner city and elsewhere. I want to ensure that these services are delivered in an effective and inclusive way and that the task force has the leadership and expertise to oversee the public funding of €2.25m provided for this purpose.
My goal is to provide a fresh start for the task force and to end the impasse that has existed for the past two years.
523. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to Drug and Alcohol Taskforces in 2024 by Taskforce, in tabular form. [46152/23]
View answerThe latest available information on funding allocated to drug and alcohol task forces is outlined in the attached table. Allocations for task forces for 2024 have not been finalised.
Recently Minister Naughton announced €3.5 million in annual funding to maintain existing level of drugs and inclusion health services provided by community and voluntary organisations. This funding may benefit projects under the remit of task forces.
gov.ie - Minister Naughton announces additional annual funding of €3.5 million for drugs and inclusion health services (www.gov.ie)
524. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide further details in relation to the HSE recruitment freeze announced following the Budget 2024 allocation for his Department; the expected end date of the recruitment freeze; the roles and disciplines impacted; if the recruitment freeze applies to all services funded under Section 38 and Section 39, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46162/23]
View answerFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of all staff across the health service.
As the Deputy is aware, on 13 October 13, the HSE CEO announced a recruitment pause on all Grades that have grown beyond their recruitment targets for 2023. This is an extension of the pause on the recruitment of new and replacement staff in all grades in the Management and Administration category, announced a number of weeks ago.
The recruitment pause will include:
• Management and Administration posts
• Patient and client care (attendants/healthcare assistants/home help)
• Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors
• General Support
The recruitment pause is part of a suite of control measures, including an instruction to reduce expenditure on agency staff and management consultants across the HSE and Section 38 organisations.
Many areas of the HSE have been recruiting more staff than they are funded for. If this level of growth, in excess of budgeted targets, was allowed to continue uncontrolled, it would have significant financial implications for 2023 and following years, and adversely impact on the HSE’s ability to recruit essential patient facing staff next year.
This recruitment pause will exclude the following categories of staff, which have not exceeded their recruitment targets for 2023:
• Approved Consultant Posts and GP Training Posts
• Nursing and Midwifery
• Dentists & Orthodontists
• Health & Social Care Professionals
• National Ambulance Service Pre-Hospital Care
Apart from these above posts, and a certain number of posts in other categories which are at offer/contract stage, there will be no further growth in health sector workforce in 2023.
525. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46165/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
526. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 569 of 3 October 2023, if he will advise on communications from the national medical card unit which states that under the revised GP Contracts 2023 the HSE is no longer in a position to assign GPs to clients and that the onus will now be on individuals to find their own GP, ending the practice of three refusals and then a GP being assigned (details supplied); the provisions his Department has in place for medical card applicants in County Wexford who cannot provide a GP acceptance form due to the chronic shortage of GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46191/23]
View answerPatient choice of doctor is a bedrock principle of the GMS Scheme for medical card and GP visit card holders. For the vast majority of individuals concerned their choice of doctor is accommodated and they are registered with their GMS GP of choice. In 2022 (last full year data available) out of a total of about 348,000 individuals who were approved for either a GP Visit Card or Medical Card, 3,927 individuals were unable to secure placement with their doctor of choice, or 1.1% of the total. In addition, 3,701 existing GMS patients were reassigned following a change in their place of residence.
For the small number of individuals unable to locate a GP themselves, I can confirm that the long standing process whereby the HSE may assign an eligible person to a GP’s GMS panel remains in place, in accordance with the GMS contract. Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
The GP Agreement 2023, which provides for the expansion of GP care without charges to all children under 8 years and to those who earn up to the median household income, does contain arrangements in relation to the assignment of card holders/applicants to GP GMS panels. However, these arrangements do not prevent the assignment of patients and rather are in place to help the equitable distribution of assigned patients across the panels of participating GPs.
In addition, as per the Agreement, a joint HSE and Irish Medical Organisation working group is being established to review the operation of the patient assignment protocol with a view to ensuring that it is framed and operating in a fair, patient- and GP-centred manner.
527. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a service (details supplied) will be streamlined and made more efficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46203/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
528. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his plans to recognise underactive hyperthyroidism as a long-term illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46206/23]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
529. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his plans to recognise foetal alcohol spectrum disorder as a long-term illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46207/23]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
530. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46212/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
531. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive an appointment with an ophthalmologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46217/23]
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.
532. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health what efforts are being made to ensure that people working as healthcare assistants who have overseas nursing qualifications can register as nurses in Ireland in a streamlined process to address the current shortage of nurses in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46221/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, all nurses and midwives who practise in Ireland must be registered on the Register of Nurses and Midwives, maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The NMBI are the independent, statutory body which sets the standards for the education of nurses and midwives in Ireland and have a legislated function to protect the public.
In completing this function, rigorous evaluation of information and thorough regulatory checks are required when processing applications from those who want to register to practise in Ireland. There are a number of resources available to advise all applicants with the process and each step, including an Applicant Guide, which is available to download on the NMBI website.
As part of the registration process, all registration applicants must demonstrate to the NMBI that they have the necessary proficiency in English to communicate effectively and safely in their practise. For many overseas educated applicants, this means taking an English language test and submitting a certificate of test results, again there is a number of options for overseas applicants to support them.
Since the introduction of NMBI’s online registration portal “MyNMBI”, applicants are provided with their own credentials which allows them to upload documents to their own account and to review the progress of their application, which has assisted in streamlining the process.
l welcome registration applications from those that were educated overseas. I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution that overseas healthcare service employees provide. I am hugely committed to supporting the nursing and midwifery workforce and ensuring a stable and sustainable nursing and midwifery workforce is a priority for me. My Department engages with the NMBI regularly and the registration process is continually reviewed to ensure is remains straightforward and meets demand.
533. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure an appropriate inspection regime commences from the start of 2024, with regard to the contracts between the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and local authority veterinary inspectors, which are to terminate on 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46225/23]
View answerAt present, under service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), the 24 Local Authorities are responsible for food law enforcement including Local Authority Veterinary Services (LAVS) at some 500 food businesses, mainly micro-enterprises.
The future delivery of the Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS) is under discussion between the Department of Health (DoH), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the FSAI, the County and City Management Association (CCMA), and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). A Steering Group and a Working Group, comprising of representation from the above organisations have been established by my Department to explore the potential transfer of the LAVS to DAFM. There will be engagement with the Local Authority veterinary inspectors as part of this process.
A final decision on the potential transfer of the LAVS to DAFM cannot be made until DAFM has had an opportunity to carry out a Due Diligence exercise, which includes an examination of existing data and a number of site visits. After this, a Cost Benefit Analysis must be carried out.
Therefore, in the meantime, FSAI, CCMA and LGMA will discuss a new service contract under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998 with Local Authorities, to start from 1 January 2024 as the current service contracts expire at the end of 2023.
In June 2023, the FSAI proposed that a new, nationally managed three-year service contract be established with Local Authorities to deliver an improved system of official controls on food safety in the sector. This would replace the existing service contracts which have been extended without substantial change since they were agreed in 2016. The expectation is that the new service contracts would include provisions to deliver effective consumer protection, through a reformed service structure. A three-year term would allow the Local Authorities to plan and recruit staff with more certainty than is possible with short-term extensions. Given that a transfer of the service to DAFM is under consideration, the service contract would include a break clause if the proposed transfer can be agreed.
It is the intention of the relevant parties that the official controls will continue without disruption to the businesses and without any reduction in consumer protection.
534. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment under the NTPF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46232/23]
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.
535. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health what measures his Department and the HSE are putting in place due to the increase in outbreaks of head lice, scabies and bed bugs in people across the country; if he has investigated the reason for the increase in outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46238/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
