Written Answers Nos. 578-600
578. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline what is currently being done to address discrimination against autistic children in mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49855/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to better support the needs of autistic people in Ireland. In answer to the Deputy’s question, treatment for ASD falls under Disability Services, however CAMHS can provide input and support Disability Services if there are mental health issues associated with the ASD. There are no plans for CAMHS to take on ASD cases where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health disorder present.
When deciding if a child or adolescent needs to attend CAMHS, a number of factors are considered by the CAMHS Team. These include consideration of the child or adolescent’s clinical presentation, their level of social and family support and the availability of resources and treatment options at primary care level or within community networks. It is the role of the CAMHS team to decide if the child or adolescent reaches the threshold for community CAMHS.
The Autism Innovation Strategy which is currently in development, will provide for a holistic and agile approach which can effectively respond to our evolving understanding of autism and the wider policy context. The HSE is also working to bring about further improvements for people presenting with or living with autism. Following the commissioning and publication of the Review of the Irish Health Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (the Review), the HSE commenced implementation of a Service Improvement Programme for the Autistic Community based on the recommendations of the Review. A National Autism Programme Board was established with the responsibility for leading the implementation of the Review report recommendations.
In relation to mental health services for children and adults with autism, Recommendation 20 of Sharing the Vision highlights the need for further development of early intervention and assessment services in the primary care sector for children with ADHD and autism to include comprehensive multi-disciplinary and paediatric assessment and mental health consultation with the relevant community mental health team where necessary. This policy recommendation has been developed specifically to ensure that services are aligned so that children and their families can access the most appropriate care and supports, from the correct care providers, as soon as possible.
The implementation of this recommendation is in process. Phase 1 of the piloting of an autism assessment and intervention protocol is complete. This programme requires integration across all services, including mental health, and work is underway to develop a pathway to address recommendations arising from phase 1 and ensure pilot site buy in for phase 2 across all CHOs. It is important to note that mental health services are available to all children in this country, whether or not they have a diagnosis of an ASD or any other condition.
Access to CAMHS for children with ASD is specified in the CAMHS clinical operational guideline (COG), which was published in 2019 and sets out the core functions and remit of CAMHS. As such, any child with a moderate to severe mental health need, who also has a diagnosis of autism, can access CAMHS. There are some children and adolescents who may present with complex needs, including autism, and a moderate to severe mental disorder at the same time. Where the child or adolescent presents with a moderate to severe mental disorder, it is the role of CAMHS to provide appropriate multidisciplinary mental health assessment and treatment for the mental disorder. This may involve joint working or shared care with other agencies, including HSE Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams and other agencies supporting children and adolescents.
In conclusion there are there are no plans for CAMHS to take on ASD cases where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health disorder present.
579. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm if the current approach to launching the CAMHS hubs pilot be amended so that autistic children with a moderate to severe mental health issue will also have access on a par with their neurotypical peers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49856/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
580. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to the implementation of the Mental Health Commission’s 49 recommendations and take immediate action to address the discrimination against neurodivergent children and lack of service for children with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49857/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to better support the needs of neurodivergent people and people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. In answer to the Deputy’s question, CAMHS can provide input and support Disability Services if there are mental health issues associated with the disability. However, there are no plans for CAMHS to take on cases for children with disabilities where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health disorder present.
When deciding if a child or adolescent needs to attend CAMHS, a number of factors are considered by the CAMHS Team. These include consideration of the child or adolescent’s clinical presentation, their level of social and family support and the availability of resources and treatment options at primary care level or within community networks. It is the role of the CAMHS team to decide if the child or adolescent reaches the threshold for community CAMHS.
CAMHS is not suitable for children or adolescents where their difficulties are related to learning problems, social problems, behavioural problems or mild to moderate mental health problems. There are many services available to respond to these issues for children and adolescents, for example HSE Primary Care Services, HSE Disability Services, TUSLA, Jigsaw, National Educational Psychology Services (NEPS) and local Family Resource Centres.
CAMHS does not accept the following children or adolescents where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health difficulty present:
• Those with an intellectual disability. Their needs are best met in HSE Social Care/HSE Disability Services for the diagnosis and treatment of intellectual disability. However those children or adolescents with a mild intellectual disability with moderate to severe mental disorder are appropriate to be seen by CAMHS.
• Those with a moderate to severe intellectual disability and moderate to severe mental disorder. Their needs are best met by CAMHS Mental Health Intellectual Disability (MHID) teams, if present.
• Those whose presentation is a developmental disorder (examples of these could include Dyslexia or Developmental Coordination Disorder). Their needs are best met in HSE Primary Care services and/or Children’s Network Disability Teams.
• Those who require assessments or interventions relating to educational needs. These needs are best met in services such as Children’s Network Disability Teams or the National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS).
• Those who present with child protection or welfare issues, where there is no moderate to severe mental difficulty present. These needs are best met by Tusla.
Additionally, CAMHS does not accept children or adolescents with a diagnosis of autism where there is no evidence of a moderate to severe mental health disorder present. The diagnosis and treatment of autism remains the remit of HSE Primary Care and Children’s Network Disability Teams.
Access to CAMHS for children with ASD is specified in the CAMHS clinical operational guideline (COG), which was published in 2019 and sets out the core functions and remit of CAMHS. As such, any child with a moderate to severe mental health need, who also has a diagnosis of autism, can access CAMHS. There are some children and adolescents who may present with complex needs, and a moderate to severe mental disorder at the same time. Where the child or adolescent presents with a moderate to severe mental disorder, it is the role of CAMHS to provide appropriate multidisciplinary mental health assessment and treatment for the mental disorder. This may involve joint working or shared care with other agencies, including HSE Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams and other agencies supporting children and adolescents.
The Programme for Government commits to improving all aspects of CAMHS in line with Sharing the Vision, our national mental health policy and Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide.
The Mental Health Commission plays an important, independent role in supporting and assisting in the development and improvement of mental health services. CAMHS teams have worked closely with the Mental Health Commission over the last year to develop and implement improvement plans as needed following their Interim and Final Reports on CAMHS across the country. In addition, the HSE continues to progress three national audits in relation to CAMHS arising from the Maskey Report on South Kerry, namely the recently published national review of CAMHS prescribing practice; the national audit of compliance with the CAMHS Operational Guidelines; and a qualitative review of service user experiences being undertaken by UCC. The outcomes of all HSE audits will help to help inform next steps regarding CAMHS.
In terms of the final, full report, the HSE have provided the Department of Health with a full analysis of all 49 recommendations, which sets out the work that has been undertaken, is being undertaken, and will be undertaken to address the issues raised. The HSE responses to the issues raised by the Commission in their report have provided assurances to both Minister Butler and the Department of Health.
The Department of Health notes that the vast majority of recommendations in the report are already being progressed by the HSE under the implementation of Sharing the Vision, Connecting for Life, and the audits and reviews arising from the Maskey Report.
581. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title, currently working in the Mater Smithfield rapid injury unit; and the number of vacancies, by job title, currently in the rapid injury unit. [49862/23]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible
582. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to ringfencing 10% of the health budget for mental health to bring the State into line with international standards, in view of the fact that the United Kingdom spends almost 15% and France over 14% in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49867/23]
View answerThe total allocation for mental health services in 2024 is approximately €1.3 billion, which is the fourth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased. This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. This year’s budget allocation builds on the investment this Government has made over the last number of years to deliver the policy priorities of Sharing the Vision through the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enabling us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2024.
As part of the funding allocated to mental health services, new development funding has been secured to advance initiatives on youth mental health, and around priority groups identified within our national suicide prevention strategy Connecting for Life. This new development funding will be focused on increased CAMHS staffing, a new Youth Mental Health app, a referral pilot for children's community services including CAMHS (piloting an approach to service referrals known as ‘No Wrong Door’), the expansion of Suicide Bereavement Liaison Services, and expanding the Traveller Counselling Service to achieve national coverage for the first time.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions will now take place with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2024, including that for Mental Health.
It should be noted that funding for mental health supports is dispersed across many areas of Government, and there is no single headline funding figure which captures this important figure. For example, the figure of approximately €1.3bn above does not include funding for other parts of the health service that provide mental health services and supports, such as psychotropic medicines funded by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, liaison mental health services in acute hospitals, some dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health) services, and mental health and well-being promotion.
It also does not include spending by other departments on services that incorporate psychological or mental health supports, such as the Prison and Probation Services, Social Protection, Defence Forces, or the Department of Education.
583. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will reinstate the position of National Lead for Mental Health within the HSE to ensure oversight and improvement in mental services across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49868/23]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
584. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside funding for the provision of an independent advocacy service for children and adults dealing with mental health difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49869/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
585. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside dedicated funding to secure multi-annual funding for the support of the community and voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49870/23]
View answerThere currently exist a range of legislative barriers to the introduction of multi annual funding on the basis that the Oireachtas only votes current expenditure to individual Government departments for a single year at a time. This in turn translates into the legislative provisions under the Health Act 2004 (as amended) where the Department confirms the funding determination to the HSE each year, post Budget, to inform the development of the HSE's National Service Plan. This funding allocation and service planning process only occurs on a planning horizon of a single year at a time.
I will shortly be issuing a Letter of Determination to the HSE outlining my priorities and funding levels for 2024 including funding for the Community and Voluntary Sectors. This will be the basis on which the HSE will draw up its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024.
586. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside funding to address the impact of and prevailing mental crisis arising from COVID; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49871/23]
View answerThe total allocation for mental health services in 2024 is approximately €1.3 billion, which is the fourth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased. This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. This year’s budget allocation builds on the investment this Government has made over the last number of years to deliver the policy priorities of Sharing the Vision through the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enabling us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2024.
As part of the funding allocated to mental health services, new development funding has been secured to advance initiatives on youth mental health, and around priority groups identified within our national suicide prevention strategy Connecting for Life. This new development funding will be focused on increased CAMHS staffing, a new Youth Mental Health app, a referral pilot for children's community services including CAMHS (piloting an approach to service referrals known as ‘No Wrong Door’), the expansion of Suicide Bereavement Liaison Services, and expanding the Traveller Counselling Service to achieve national coverage for the first time.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions will now take place with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2024, including that for Mental Health.
587. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what steps he has taken to date/will take to improve mental health services for priority groups such as individuals in ethnic minority communities, the Traveller Community, people in prison and LGBTI communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49872/23]
View answerBoth Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide and Sharing the Vision – Ireland's Mental Health Policy recognise that there are distinct factors affecting the mental health of priority groups. Priority groups are identified by the World Health Organization as individuals or groups who may have a higher risk of experiencing mental health difficulties related to situations and environments that they experience, which results in increased vulnerability and marginalisation within society.
Work is ongoing to ensure that priority groups remain central to the ongoing work of policy implementation and in ensuring that priority groups are further prioritised in the forthcoming Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2024-2027. In this regard, the HSE's social inclusion workstream provides regular updates to the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) and the Reference Group (stakeholders and user representatives) of Sharing the Vision.
Recommendations in relation to the forthcoming Mental Health Promotion Plan provides for specific initiatives to incorporate targeted mental health promotion and prevention actions in recognition of the distinct needs of priority groups.
Further recommendations recognise the specific needs of the mental health model of care required by the prison population that is recovery-oriented and based on integrated coproduced recovery care plans supported by advocacy services as required.
In relation to the Traveller community, the Traveller Health Action Plan was launched in November 2022. The Department of Health and the HSE are committed to developing priorities, strategies and actions on Traveller mental health within the framework of the National Traveller Health Action Plan. These are intended to respond to the crisis in Traveller mental health and address the social determinants of Traveller mental health through targeted and mainstreaming measures.
As a first step, the Traveller Health Action Plan contains six actions on Traveller mental health. These will be delivered through the HSE national service plan for 2023, supported by an additional ring-fenced budget of €300,000. The actions reflect the priority status of Travellers in the Government mental health policies, and will be reported upon as part of the Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2022 - 2024. Progress will also be monitored under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy.The Department and the HSE will also engage with the Traveller mental health network to develop and expand the actions as part of a mental health priority plan, within the framework of the Traveller health action plan. The newly established HSE steering group on Traveller mental health will consult with the Traveller mental health network on this task. Traveller representatives have been invited to be part of the group.
588. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the steps that he will take to address the growing numbers on waiting lists within the CAMHS services, considering that there was an almost 60% increase in waiting list numbers between 2020-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49873/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
589. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to ensure that additional resources are put in place to facilitate the changes that will be brought about by the upcoming reform of the Mental Health Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49874/23]
View answerA Mental Health Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to replace the existing Mental Health Acts 2001 – 2018 and overhaul our approach to mental health legislation. While the Department expects many of the proposed changes in the new Bill to be dealt with generally within existing resources, some of the planned changes are expected to carry additional costs, such as the enhanced role for Authorised Officers in the involuntary admission process and the expansion of the Mental Health Commission’s regulatory remit to include community residences and services.
More broadly, mental health services are moving towards more community-based care for people accessing mental health services, and away from prolonged care in inpatient mental health settings where possible, in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and Sláintecare. Continued investment in mental health services at all levels, including community and inpatient services, will be needed to ensure the continued efficacy and improvement of services and to continue to uphold the rights of people accessing services.
Priority drafting was granted to the Bill for the spring, summer and autumn legislative sessions. Discussions are ongoing between the Department and key stakeholders such as the Mental Health Commission and the HSE to ensure appropriate resources are in place ahead of the commencement of the new legislation.
590. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to give due consideration to set aside dedicated funding for National Clinical Programmes in relation to Women’s Mental Health, Eating Disorders, and Dual Diagnosis (self-harm/suicide and homelessness). [49875/23]
View answerThe National Clinical Programmes (NCPs) are part of the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) in the HSE. The Mental Health Clinical Programmes are a joint initiative between this office, HSE Mental Health Services, and the College of Psychiatry of Ireland. The overarching aim of the NCPs is to standardise quality evidence based practice across the Mental Health Services. The NCPs for mental health are:
Self-harm and suicide related ideation
Eating Disorders Service
Early Intervention in Psychosis
ADHD in adults
Dual Diagnosis (concurrent mental health disorder and a substance use disorder)
There are also specialist mental health services covering the areas of Older People, Intellectual Disability, and Perinatal Mental Health.
To note, there is no NCP in relation to women's mental health or homelessness as referenced in the Parliamentary Question.
The total allocation for mental health services in 2024 is approximately €1.3 billion, which is the fourth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased. This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. This year’s budget allocation builds on the investment this Government has made over the last number of years to deliver the policy priorities of Sharing the Vision through the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enabling us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2024.
As part of the funding allocated to mental health services, new development funding has been secured to advance initiatives on youth mental health, and around priority groups identified within our national suicide prevention strategy Connecting for Life. This new development funding will be focused on increased CAMHS staffing, a new Youth Mental Health app, a referral pilot for children's community services including CAMHS (piloting an approach to service referrals known as ‘No Wrong Door’), the expansion of Suicide Bereavement Liaison Services, and expanding the Traveller Counselling Service to achieve national coverage for the first time.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions will now take place with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2024, including that for Mental Health.
591. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the correct procedure to be followed to renew a discretionary GP card in the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49880/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
592. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the length of time people in Galway are waiting to access dialectical behaviour therapy; if work is being done to expand access to this therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49882/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
594. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will assign a GP to a person (details supplied) where all local GPs are fully subscribed. [49907/23]
View answerGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of health services. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
For GMS patients unable to locate a GP themselves, the HSE may assign an eligible person to be included on a medical practitioner's GMS list where that person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in their area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area), in accordance with the GMS contract.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private practitioners, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Neither my Department nor the HSE have any role in assigning patients who do not hold a medical card or a GP visit card to a GP's patient list.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and is working to ensure that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for. In addition, the enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was increased by 10%.
The recent GP Agreement 2023 announced in July, which provides for the expansions of GP care without charges to those who earn up to the median household income and to children aged 6 & 7, includes additional capacity supports to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice. It includes additional supports for GP Out of Hours services also.
These measures help make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country. Figures recently released by the ICGP show that 1,311 medical graduates have applied for GP training in 2024, a notable increase on last year and higher than any previous years.
The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased in recent years, with 286 new entrants for this year and 350 places for new entrants planned for next year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% since 2015. Furthermore, the joint HSE and ICGP programme underway to bring up to 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023 will help to quickly improve access to GP services, particularly in areas with limited access. It is planned to bring to Ireland up to 250 more non-EU GPs by the end of 2024.
Lastly, my Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
595. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will provide an update on this payment. [49915/23]
View answerFirstly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their diligent efforts during the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Last year the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.
Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation. I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:
• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and
• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and
• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and
• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The Government appreciates that those organisations and staff who were not encompassed for this particular payment may feel disappointed. It was a hard task to set out the eligibility criteria for this payment but the Government based its decision on certain aspects of all the different roles within the Healthcare sector and certain risks which eligible frontline workers faced. Undoubtedly Immense efforts have been made by all healthcare staff since the onset of the pandemic which has not gone unrecognised.
If any eligible staff of covered employers are yet to receive the payment, I would advise that they get in touch with the relevant HR contacts to find out about that employer’s implementation of the payment. Covered non-public sector employers who have queries about the application process may contact the helpdesk using the details included in the application pack they will have received from KOSI Corporation and the HSE.
596. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health whether spinal muscular atrophy will be added to the national heelprick test; and if so, if he would provide a timeframe for its implementation. [49917/23]
View answerExpansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme remains a priority for me as Minister for Health and I am pleased to note that the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) continues to make progress in this regard, as noted by the Deputy.
NSAC is an independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms. As the Deputy will appreciate, these are lengthy and complex processes.
I am glad to note that significant progress has been made on expansion over the past 18 months. Since May 2022, babies have been screened for nine conditions following a recommendation from the NSAC to add ADA-SCID to the Programme.
Building on this, in January 2023, I approved a further recommendation from the Committee for the addition of T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC)-based screening for all types of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) to the NBS programme which will increase the number of conditions screened as part of the screening programme to ten. The Committee made its recommendation to me based on their consideration of a comprehensive Health Technology Assessment (HTA) report from HIQA. HTAs collect and summarises detailed information about new technologies over a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues.
Regarding the Deputy’s question on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The HTA on the addition of SMA as an eleventh condition to the NBS programme was discussed in detail at the most recent NSAC meeting on 20 October and I expect to receive a report from this meeting in the near future.
Since assuming office in 2020, I have received regular correspondence from advocates calling for the extension of the NBS programme to cover additional conditions, including SMA. I have read their stories and am conscious of how important this matter is to the children and families affected. I will carefully consider the recommendations from NSAC and issue my decision without delay.
It is important to note that should a decision be made to approve SMA for inclusion in the NBS programme, there will be number of additional steps that need to be followed before we are in a position to formally introduce screening for SMA. My officials will work closely with colleges in the HSE once this process is ready to commence.
597. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health to provide a timeframe for the construction of the new renal dialysis unit in Sligo university unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49930/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
598. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 24 October 2023, if by year-end he intends to implement any interim measures to address the concerns of GPs following the determination of the Tax Appeals Commission regarding GMS income; if he intends to await the outcome of the Strategic Review of General Practice, which is not due to be completed this year, before making an intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49939/23]
View answerThe collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. New guidance regarding the tax treatment of GP's GMS income has now been issued by the Revenue Commissions.
Officials from my Department and the HSE engaged with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance prior to publication to understand the context of the new guidance and to identify the potential operational issues which may arise following its publication. 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 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.
The Minister for Finance has announced his intention to bring forward an amendment at Report Stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023 to provide that where individual General Practitioners (GPs) enter into contracts with the HSE to provide certain medical professional services, and provide those services in the conduct of a partnership profession with other individual GPs, the income from those professional services can be treated for income tax purposes as income of the partnership.
My Department and the HSE continue to engage with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance, as well as with the IMO, on this matter.
The current contractual arrangements for the GMS, as well as other issues, will be examined under the Strategic Review of General Practice, which will propose measures necessary to modernise the contract.
600. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if will provide details on when he expects the Saffron and Blue GP Practice (with a GMS contract of over 800 patients) to relocate and reopen at its new premises at Carrigoran, Newmarket-on-Fergus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49972/23]
View answer601. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he has been given assurances that the Saffron and Blue GP Practice, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare (with a GMS contract of over 800 patients), will continue to operate from its current premises and fulfil all the requirements of its GMS contract to the HSE, until such time as it relocates to its new premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49973/23]
View answer602. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if will provide details of the operational hours and conditions that his Department and the HSE have ascribed to the GMS contract awarded to the Saffron and Blue GP Practice, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49974/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 600, 601 and 602 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
