Written Answers Nos. 180-199
180. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of funding allocated to domestic violence services in Donegal for each of the years from 2019 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46821/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have referred to the HSE for direct response.
181. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of funding allocated to drug addiction services in Donegal for each of the years from 2019 to 2024 on a per capita basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46822/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
182. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason laboratory services are unable to cope with important routine blood testing; and if phlebotomy services are temporarily closing in other hospitals (details supplied). [46823/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
183. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a change to the GMS payment for family practices (details supplied); if a new arrangement has been negotiated with the HSE and Revenue; and if the HSE has considered the ramifications. [46824/23]
View answerThe collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. However, I am aware of the concerns raised regarding new guidance to be issued shortly by the Revenue Commissioners regarding the tax treatment of GP's GMS income.
Officials from my Department and the HSE have engaged with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance to understand the context of the new guidance and to identify the potential operational issues which may arise following its publication.
Importantly, the guidance does not reflect a change in tax law, but clarifies how GPs’ GMS income should be treated for the purposes of tax under current tax law. To assist GPs and GP practices in complying with their obligations under tax legislation, Revenue will publish detailed guidance shortly. This will supplement the guidance issued to tax practitioners, through the Tax Administration Liaison Committee, in July of this year clarifying the correct tax treatment of GMS income. To allow GPs and GP practices time to make any necessary adjustments to their arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable tax policy and legislation, Revenue have implemented transitional arrangements up to the end of 2023.
My Department and the HSE are also engaged with the IMO and will remain engaged with them to address the potential operational issues raised.
The Strategic Review of General Practice, which is now underway, will examine the current contractual arrangements for the GMS, as well as other issues, and will propose measures necessary to modernise the contract.
184. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding a national register for the location of AEDs throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46825/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive commissioned an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy (OHCA) for Ireland. The OHCA Strategy Governance Implementation Group has a specific aim to implement a National Ambulance Service (NAS) AED Registry which is mapped to the NAS dispatch system, and a supporting application for dispatching first responders to the scene of an emergency.
The critical role of community response in improving cardiac arrest survival rates is wholly recognised in the National Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy (OHCA) – Putting Survival at the Heart of the Community (2019). It is the aim of the multi-agency OHCA Strategy Governance Implementation Group (which includes representation from Community First Responders (CFR) Ireland) that Ireland should achieve similar survival rates to our best-performing European neighbours, which are consistently around 10%. In 2022, percentage survival from OHCA rose to 7.8% with 206 people returning home to their families – an additional 28 people when compared with 2021 so Ireland is well on the way to achieving this aim.
A key recommendation of the OHCA Strategy was to develop a CFR application (CFR App) and a registry of publicly available automated external defibrillators (AED Registry) for the Republic of Ireland. These developments will provide the technological backbone needed to ensure community response in Ireland is optimised. In time, such projects have the potential to benefit everyone living on, working in or visiting the island of Ireland. This technology will enable publicly accessible defibrillators (AEDs) to be registered in a robust and systematic manner. In the event of a cardiac arrest call, location of AEDs will then be available to NAS call takers, who can in turn direct the caller to the nearest device. Ireland already has a network of over 2,000 volunteers who provide a community response to OHCA for the NAS. While the current text alert system works well, a Community First Responder (CFR) App will streamline the process for dispatching and monitoring CFRs as necessary. Most importantly, this technology is proven in international best practice to increase survival from OHCA.
The OHCA Strategy is a stated objective in the HSE Service Plan 2023, and the project is agreed by the multi-agency OHCA Governance Group as Priority Actions for 2023. The project aims firmly align with the principles of ensuring the right care is available to citizens in the right place at the right time.
185. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no scheme in place to reimburse the cost of the shingles vaccine (details supplied); and if he will administer a blanket vaccine, as with the over-60s flu and Covid vaccine, or bring in a form of reimbursement. [46826/23]
View answerThe 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.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. Further information is available here: www2.hse.ie/conditions/shingles/
It is open to any individual who is aged 50 years and older and who wishes to receive the vaccine to consult with their GP or pharmacist.
It may be of interest to note that the Health Information and Quality Authority are currently carrying out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.The outcome of the HTA, once it is complete, will inform future decision making on this matter in relation to whether or not any amendments are required to the National Immunisation Programme.
The Department understands that a pharmaceutical company is currently running an advertising campaign advising people over 50 to avail of the shingles vaccine.
186. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of a primary care centre in New Ross, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46829/23]
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.
187. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for surgery for a person (details supplied). [46841/23]
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.
188. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the spend on ambulance services across Sligo and Leitrim between 2017 and 2023, in tabular form. [46855/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, to make melatonin available to patients through the medical card GMS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46856/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
190. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get an appointment in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46858/23]
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.
191. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 and its proposal to legislate in respect of international surrogacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46862/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 was introduced to, and passed Second Stage in, the Dáil in March 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage. The focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices undertaken within the jurisdiction.
The Bill as published provided for domestic altruistic surrogacy but does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions. However, on foot of Government approval of a proposal from Minister McEntee, Minister O’Gorman and myself, the Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy was formally established in February 2022.
Following the publication of the Committee’s Final Report in July 2022, through a structured and collaborative engagement process, the three relevant Departments (Departments of Health, Justice, and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth) reviewed the Report’s recommendations along with other relevant matters. This project culminated with the approval by Cabinet in mid-December 2022 of a policy approach in respect of both the regulation of international surrogacy and the recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements (domestic and international) as well as outline draft legislative proposals.
The formal drafting process of these new surrogacy provisions by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC), in conjunction with the three relevant Departments, as appropriate, is at an advanced stage. This is notwithstanding the fact that drafting by the OPC on the AHR Bill was paused due to a diversion of OPC personnel to work on highly-prioritised, non-Department of Health legislation.
The new provisions will then need to be approved by Government following the completion of the formal drafting process. It is intended that the finalised approved legislative provisions will be added to the AHR Bill at Committee Stage, in tandem with the bringing of substantial proposed amendments to the 11 Parts and 134 pages of the published Bill.
I wish to reiterate my commitment to ensuring both that the goal of providing for a route to formal recognition by the State of past surrogacy arrangements or surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions is achieved and that a robust regulatory framework for AHR more broadly is put in place, as soon as possible.
192. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when the winter plan for hospitals will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46873/23]
View answerUrgent and Emergency Care pressures are no longer just experienced during winter periods and prolonged levels of high daily presentations and congestion are now being experienced throughout the year.
While significant investment has been driven through Winter Planning and National Service Plans over the past three years, a new approach to UEC planning in now required in response the changing demands. This approach is twofold:
• The delivery of an Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan for 2023, which was signed off by Government in July; and
• The delivery of a 3-year multi-annual UEC Strategy, which is expected to be submitted to Government in the Autumn.
The UEC Operational Plan 2023 will lead into year one of the multi-annual UEC Strategy and will align with the governance structure of the overarching multi-annual UEC Strategy. The Plan outlines the measures and initiatives which will be delivered to support UEC delivery and performance until year end 2023
193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if orthodontic treatment can be offered to a child (details supplied); what options are available in this case, whose case it appears cannot be dealt with under the schools programme, who required treatment during Covid and who had to go private for same due to the urgent nature of the treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46874/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
194. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46923/23]
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.
195. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to expedite a medical appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46926/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
196. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health to clarify if CORU's draft registrations plans will dilute standards from level 9 to level 8 criteria for training and remove vital elements of training such as personal therapy and supervision within training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46928/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and Registration Boards, collectively known as CORU, are responsible for protecting the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training, and competence amongst the professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act (2005). The Act is being implemented on a phased basis as registration boards and their registers are being established.
Regulations under SI No. 170 of 2018 were made by my predecessor in 2018 to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the 2005 Act and to establish one registration board for both professions. Members were appointed to the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board in February 2019 and they held their inaugural meeting in May 2019.
The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) includes consideration of the titles to be protected and the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the CPRB is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.
To date, the following progress has been made by the CPRB:
• Identification, verification and comprehensive assessment of legacy/historical qualifications to determine if they are appropriate for transitioning existing practitioners onto the respective registers (when open);
• Scoping and research on the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists internationally has been conducted;
• Drafting of separate and distinct Standards of Proficiency for counsellors and psychotherapists and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes has been finalised.
A public consultation on the draft Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes has been launched and will run until 5pm on Friday 1st December 2023. As part of this consultation, the CPRB welcomes feedback from stakeholders, including members of the professions, education providers, employers, professional and representative bodies, as well as members of the public.
In responding to the consultation, the Registration Board urged the professions to consider the differences articulated in the Standards of Proficiency and whether in their view the knowledge, skills and competences for each profession could be designed and delivered at a minimum of level 8 or above. The Registration Board will consider in detail the responses to the public consultation currently underway before it sets its Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for both professions.
Further information on the consultation process is available on the CORU website here: www.coru.ie/public-protection/public-consultations/current-consultations/public-consultation-psychotherapists-standards-of-proficiency-and-criteria-for-education-and-training-programmes-for-psychotherapists.html
197. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer patients who had their chemotherapy treatment delayed at Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [46930/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
198. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to confirm if the second permanent breast surgeon for Letterkenny University Hospital has been ratified and agreed. [46931/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1803 of 11 September 2023, the ongoing costs involved in this job in UHK (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46938/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
