Written Answers Nos. 307-324
307. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns expressed in relation to assessment processes undertaken by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54266/23]
View answerAs this question relates to an operational matter of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.
308. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the criteria for the pandemic special recognition payment; and the grounds on which a distinction between home and residential care assistants in an organisation (details supplied) can be made. [54262/23]
View answerFirstly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Last year the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.
Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following a significant consideration and consultation process. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Only those staff who met all the above eligibility criteria were covered for this payment. I appreciate that many other workers, volunteers, and other citizens provided very important services during the pandemic.
The Government appreciates that those organisations and staff who are 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 front-line workers faced. Undoubtedly Immense efforts have been made by all healthcare staff since the onset of the pandemic which has not gone unrecognised.
309. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland from non-EU applicants, by country of training and in tabular for each year from 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54267/23]
View answer310. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of decision letters issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland to non-EU applicants, by country of training and in tabular form for each year from 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54268/23]
View answer311. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of non-EU applicants who were registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland by country of training and in tabular form, for each year 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54269/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 309 to 311, inclusive, together.
As these questions relate to an operational matter of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.
312. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to milage subsistence for those providing palliative care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54270/23]
View answerMotor travel rates are set centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) for all employees across all civil and public sectors. The current DPENDPR circular in respect of rates applicable was introduced in the health sector via attached Circular 5/2022. Changes in respect of these rates are a matter for my colleague Minister Donohoe.
313. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54272/23]
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, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
314. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can have treatment at the ophthalmology clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54275/23]
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.
315. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can have treatment at the ophthalmology clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54276/23]
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.
316. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether his Department has articulated a policy on the roll-out of pulmonary rehabilitation for those patients suffering with lung fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54307/23]
View answerAs instructed by the CMO, this PQ to be referred to Colm Henry's Office (CCO's office in the HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
317. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the public consultation by CORU on its proposed standards of proficiency and criteria for training and the training of psychotherapists that closed on 1 December 2023; whether there was sufficient, in-depth consultation with the professional bodies in reaching the CORU proposals; the process of engagement that took place with the professional bodies to ensure public safety and appropriate quality of training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54308/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will 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).
Each profession designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act has its own independent registration board with statutory responsibility for:
• Establishing and maintaining the register of members for that profession;
• Recognising qualifications gained outside the State;
• Approving and monitoring education and training programmes for entry to the register;
• Setting the code of professional conduct and ethics giving guidance to professionals on Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in February 2019. Its membership comprises practitioners, representatives from education and training, and lay members, which ensures there is a broad range of voices and perspectives shaping the design of standards and criteria. The work of the 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.
The CPRB undertakes an extensive research process which informs the drafting of standards and criteria. This includes a review of contemporary evidence-informed academic literature, an examination of comparator international professional standards, and understanding the contemporary practice of the profession in Ireland. Key stakeholders, including the public (through a public consultation process), are also part of the drafting process.
Throughout the course of 2022 and 2023, the CPRB drafted threshold level standards of knowledge, skills and professional behaviour – its Standards of Proficiency – and the systems and processes that education providers must have in place to ensure consistent and effective delivery of graduates who have achieved the Standards of Proficiency ¬– its Criteria for Education and Training Programmes. Two sets of these requirements were drafted: one for counsellors and one for psychotherapists representing the first attempt to establish distinct standards for each profession in Ireland and the first effort to standardise threshold level education and training requirements for entry to each profession.
The public consultation on the draft Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes ran for 12 weeks from 4 September until Friday 1st December 2023. As part of this consultation, the CPRB encouraged feedback from all stakeholders, including members of the professions, education providers, employers, professional and representative bodies, as well as members of the public. The public consultation is the mechanism through which professional bodies, as well as other stakeholders, are given an opportunity to provide their views on the draft standards.
I am informed that the CPRB will consider all submissions very carefully in formalising Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for the psychotherapy profession. CORU, on behalf of the CPRB, will brief my Department on the outcome of the public consultation in due course.
318. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of a new paramedic training facility in Cork which was projected to open to trainees in January 2024; the current projected opening date for the facility; and the cost of the facility. [54312/23]
View answer319. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if the delayed opening of a new paramedic training facility in Cork is related to budgetary constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54313/23]
View answer320. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of paramedic trainees who had been issued contracts to train in a new facility in Cork; whether these trainees will be accommodated in other training centres; what assistance is available to trainees who may be asked to change training locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54314/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 318 to 320, inclusive, together.
As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
321. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the timeline on the recruitment of a coordinator for the Cabra Finglas Drugs and Alcohol Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54330/23]
View answer322. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the recruitment of a new coordinator for the Cabra Finglas Drugs and Alcohol Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54331/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.
As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. 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.
323. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the rationale of the proposed educational level requirement for registration of psychotherapy and counselling through CORU; for an update on the registration process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54333/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will 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).
Each profession designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act has its own independent registration board with statutory responsibility for:
• Establishing and maintaining the register of members for that profession;
• Recognising qualifications gained outside the State;
• Approving and monitoring education and training programmes for entry to the register;
• Setting the code of professional conduct and ethics giving guidance to professionals on Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in February 2019. Its membership comprises practitioners, representatives from education and training, and lay members, which ensures there is a broad range of voices and perspectives shaping the design of standards and criteria. The work of the 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.
The CPRB undertakes an extensive research process which informs the drafting of standards and criteria. This includes a review of contemporary evidence-informed academic literature, an examination of comparator international professional standards, and understanding the contemporary practice of the profession in Ireland. Key stakeholders, including the public (through a public consultation process), are also part of the drafting process.
Throughout the course of 2022 and 2023, the CPRB drafted threshold level standards of knowledge, skills and professional behaviour – its Standards of Proficiency – and the systems and processes that education providers must have in place to ensure consistent and effective delivery of graduates who have achieved the Standards of Proficiency – its Criteria for Education and Training Programmes. Two sets of these requirements were drafted: one for counsellors and one for psychotherapists representing the first attempt to establish distinct standards for each profession in Ireland and the first effort to standardise threshold level education and training requirements for entry to each profession.
The public consultation on the draft Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes ran for 12 weeks from 4 September until 1st December 2023. As part of this consultation, the CPRB encouraged feedback from all stakeholders, including members of the professions, education providers, employers, professional and representative bodies, as well as members of the public. The public consultation is the mechanism through which professional bodies, as well as other stakeholders, are given an opportunity to provide their views on the draft standards.
I am informed that the CPRB will consider all submissions very carefully in formalising Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for the psychotherapy profession. CORU, on behalf of the CPRB, will brief my Department on the outcome of the public consultation in due course.
324. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the process for pregnant women to obtain the medication cariban under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54346/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Good s) Act 2013. Only licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) can be added to the formal reimbursement list.
Cariban® is an Exempt Medicinal Product (EMP), i.e., it is not licensed in Ireland and, therefore, cannot be added to the formal reimbursement list.
However, following the recommendations of the HSE Medicines Management Programme, and to address the unmet need of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, reimbursement support for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine), an unlicensed Exempt Medicinal Product, has now been made available under an exceptional arrangement for specific patients who meet the criteria and where Consultant Obstetrician initiated.
Under the community drug schemes, Exempt Medicinal Products must be Consultant initiated. The HSE advise that it has been a long-standing governance practice of such exceptional arrangements that unlicensed medicines are consultant initiated.
However, whilst the original prescriber of Cariban® must be a consultant and specialist in the relevant field, the HSE will accept a GP prescription subsequent to the initial hospital prescription for approved patients.
The relevant HSE circular regarding the exceptional arrangement for Cariban® is available at:
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/circulars/pharmacy/pharmacy-circular-001-23-cariban.pdf.
In order to obtain reimbursement support for Cariban® under this exceptional arrangement, the prescribing consultant must confirm whether the following apply:
• The individual has nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) which requires systemic treatment.
• The individual has been assessed using the pregnancy unique quantification of emesis and nausea (PUQE) assessment tool and the appropriate treatment algorithm has been followed.
• The individual has not responded to conservative management.
The consultant must also make an Unlicensed Product Declaration and submit the completed application form by email to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS).
Once reviewed by the PCRS, the prescriber and dispensing pharmacy are emailed (via secure email) with the reimbursement decision. The community pharmacy then dispenses the product under the specific patient’s community drug schemes eligibility and submits the claim using the relevant administrative code in their monthly submission to PCRS.
While reimbursement support is offered on the basis of the patient’s eligibility under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme or the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), Cariban® is not on the formal reimbursement list.
This exceptional arrangement has been put in place to ensure that those patients suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum have access to Cariban®. The dedicated funding that has been allocated is based on 1% of the pregnant population requiring treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum. The number of approved applications to date is in line with expectations and indicates that the budget allocated will be used in 2023.
Finally, the HSE provides general advice on treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum at:
www2.hse.ie/conditions/hyperemesis-gravidarum/treatment/
