Written Answers Nos. 500-514
500. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a scheduled appointment with their neurologist in Crumlin Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53200/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a response from the HSE.
501. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of CHO areas that have community neurorehabilitation teams in place, in tabular form; the date of establishment of the team; the WTE resources assigned for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53215/23]
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
502. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health when appointments will be made available for two children from the same family to be assessed for occupational therapy (details supplied); the procedure for them to receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53216/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th 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.
503. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE registrars in paediatric anaesthesiology at CHI Temple Street in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [53226/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th 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.
504. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to outline full breakdown of how the €15.7 million was spent by the HSE on cessation services in 2022. [53227/23]
View answerThe HSE provides stop smoking support services to people in Ireland. These services are evidence-based and provide behavioural support and stop smoking medications (nicotine replacement therapy) to clients.
The cost of providing stop smoking support by the HSE in 2022 is outlined below:
|
ITEM |
COST€ |
NOTE |
|
QUIT Mass Media Campaign including TV/VOD, Social Media Advertising |
2,153,992 |
Cost is inclusive of media spend and the development of a new TV ad and campaign for 2023 |
|
Stop Smoking Services (Staff and Associated Costs) |
3,179,160 |
This cost pertains to HSE Stop Smoking Advisors and is an average cost (mid-point of scale) |
|
National QUIT Line |
377,388 |
Demand led service, costs for 2023 are to be circa €400,000 due to increased staffing and activity |
|
Stop Smoking Medications to Medical Card Holders via Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme |
9,134,767 |
The PCRS costs for stop smoking medication for medical card holders is a demand led service |
|
Free Stop Smoking Medication (initial rollout to HSE staff and Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme) |
276,681 |
Cost for 2023 is projected to be circa €1,3000,000 due to the national expansion of the free medication programme |
|
We Can Quit Programme Delivery |
599,604 |
The We Can Quit Programme is a peer led, 7-12-week stop smoking group support programme for disadvantaged communities |
|
QuitManager IT System (patient management system) |
33,629 |
Annual license fee. Costs in 2023 will be greater due to ongoing development of the patient management system and integrations with other IT systems in the HSE to facilitate improved referrals |
|
TOTAL |
15,755,221 |
- |
505. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons day care centres funded by HSE that are currently based within primary care centres in CHO8 to date in 2023, in tabular form. [53228/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
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.
506. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health what resources are open to employees who were frontline workers and their employer received their bonuses, but the company is now closed and the employer did not pay over the money. [53233/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
507. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if an appointment with the consultant oncologist in University Hospital Kerry can be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53235/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
508. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 22 of 9 November 2023, which centre the two CT scanners and one MRI scanner are based in within the Cavan and Monaghan Hospital group; if a request has been made for additional MRI or CT scanners to be located at Monaghan Hospital; the status of any such request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53237/23]
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.
509. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny has stopped the roll-out of insulin pumps and sensors to monitor the blood sugars in the paediatric diabetes department within the hospital; if he is further aware that the chronic lack of staff has resulted in this centre of excellence for paediatric diabetes being unable to staff itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53248/23]
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.
510. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he has noted Sweden's smoking rate of 5.6%, which is lower than the EU average of 23%, while the country promotes alternatives to smoking such as vaping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53251/23]
View answer511. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the success of Sweden's approach to tobacco control, embracing alternatives to smoking like vaping, will be reflected in the plan for Tobacco Free Ireland 2025, instead of adopting the more restrictive and less successful approaches by countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, where the average smoking rate across the four countries is 24.75%, compared to Sweden's smoking rate of 5.6%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53252/23]
View answer512. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the efficacy of Ireland's tobacco reduction strategy, considering Ireland's smoking rate has been 18% since 2019, while Sweden's is currently at 5.6%, as an example; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53253/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 510, 511 and 512 together.
The unique context for the low smoking rate in Sweden is the traditional and continuing use of "snus", a form of smokeless tobacco, in addition to strong tobacco control measures. Daily snus consumption rates in Sweden increased to 14% in 2022 with the largest increases being among younger populations. Sweden's very low rate of smoking is an outlier as compared to other European countries with our own daily smoking rate of 14% being below the EU average daily rate of 19.7%
My current legislative priority is the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill which will introduce a new licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco products. The Bill will also ban the sale of tobacco products through self-service vending machines, from temporary or "pop up" shops and at events for children.
I have recently launched a public consultation which primarily focuses on the further regulation of nicotine inhaling products such as e-cigarettes. However the consultation also contains questions designed to elicit the public’s response to raising the legal age of sale of tobacco products to 21 or beyond. I am determined to examine all measures that can reduce the death and disease caused by smoking.
513. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the price of the licence and timeline of implementation of the licensing system contained in the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53255/23]
View answerIn relation to the licensing system to be introduced under the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, the primary factor affecting the timeline will be the development of the necessary software to underpin the licensing system. The intention is that the system will be simple to use with a minimal administrative burden on retailers wishing to apply for or renew a licence. Retailers will be given ample warning time in advance of the introduction of the system.
In relation to the fee amount, I have not yet determined the level at which the annual fees will be set but it is my view that the fee amount should reflect the serious nature of the products being sold.
I note that fee amounts vary considerably in other jurisdictions, ranging from the equivalent of 163 euro to 784 euro in different Australian states. A tobacco retailer annual licence costs 680 euro equivalent in Ottawa and 880 euro equivalent in Oregon. In Finland the model is a licence fee of 100 to 180 euro, plus an annual supervision fee of a maximum of 500 euro for tobacco and a maximum of 1,000 euro for tobacco and nicotine liquids combined. Within our own jurisdiction there is currently a 500 euro annual fee per category of alcohol product to be sold, so a retailer that wishes to sell wine, beer, spirits and cider will pay 2,000 euro per year. I will take these various approaches into consideration when determining the fee amount.
514. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if there has been no policy change regarding transgender women receiving breast augmentation as essential surgery (details supplied); the reason they have lost access to healthcare abroad under the Cross Border Directive; and the reason he and the HSE, specifically under the Cross Border Directive have allowed this blanket policy regarding breast augmentation for transgender women to be adopted. [53261/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
