Written Answers Nos. 766-778
766. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if the HSE owns properties or sites which are vacant or derelict; if so, the number and addresses of such properties; if they are recorded on the vacancy or dereliction registers; and the reason for which they are not in use, in tabular form. [54558/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
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.
769. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to having nitrous oxide categorised as an illegal drug and unlawful to possess, given the recent warning from a leading neurologist regarding the dangers associated with the use of nitrous oxide among young people, with up to ten patients a month presenting to one Dublin hospital with some patients requiring inpatient rehabilitation due to the injuries sustained from inhaling this drug with many streets and public open spaces littered with these canisters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54578/23]
View answerThe HSE continues to monitor the use of nitrous oxide and to tailor appropriate and targeted messages. Targeted ads are shared every few weeks on the topic of nitrous oxide with audiences over the age of 18, as well as messages which aim to create awareness of long-term use, which can cause vitamin B12 deficiency in some individuals, and signs of concern which people can look out for.
The European drugs agency (EMCDDA) recently conducted an EU wide review of nitrous oxide and highlighted a number of key issues regarding the prevention of use including the role of youth workers, the targeted distribution of messaging, and the role of parents. In line with EMCDDA recommendations, the HSE continues to provide a targeted approach to address the use of nitrous oxide, working together with Drug and Alcohol Task Forces around the country.
Parents are offered information on nitrous oxide in various formats by the HSE. An important goal is to ensure that parents are well-informed about nitrous oxide, and specific information is available on drugs.ie and through a bespoke parent fact sheet. To complement this new content, a series of webinars on substance use and prevention and education for parents was provided during in 2023.
The HSE has developed a harm reduction fact sheet on use of nitrous oxide including the risks, effects and harm reduction advice. The fact sheet has been disseminated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, student unions, and at festivals and third level institutions.
Drugs.ie and social media channels provide nitrous oxide content that is informative, helpful and shareable. The HSE social media team respond directly to people’s questions about substances including nitrous oxide through direct messages on all channels. HSE social media posts drive traffic to its dedicated nitrous oxide web content on drugs.ie.
Strengthening the prevention of drug and alcohol use among children and young people is a strategic priority under the national drugs strategy. I have allocated €1.5 million for a three-year drug and alcohol prevention and education programme, which aims to strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use, and related harm among children and young people.
Nitrous oxide falls under the definition of a psychoactive substance and a solvent. Section 3 of the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances Act) 2010 states that a person who sells a psychoactive substance knowing or being reckless as to whether that substance is being acquired or supplied for human consumption shall be guilty of an offence.
Section 74 of the Child Care Act 1991 states that it shall be an offence for a person to sell, offer or make available a substance to a person under the age of eighteen years or to a person acting on behalf of that person if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the substance is, or its fumes are, likely to be inhaled by the person under the age of eighteen years for the purpose of causing intoxication.
Responsibility for these Acts lays with the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, respectively.
770. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if an urgent appointment can be granted to a person (details supplied). [54579/23]
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 reply from the HSE.
771. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health in relation to career path progression for consultants, what training schemes must be completed by doctors that rise to the level of consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54602/23]
View answerDoctors are generally required to be on, or eligible to be registered onto, the specialist division of the medical practitioners register maintained by the Medical Council of Ireland to be eligible to apply for consultant posts, although there may be additional requirements.
The Medical Council website outlines three pathways for doctors to be registered as a specialist on the Medical Council Division of the Register website www.medicalcouncil.ie/registration-applications/first-time-applicants/specialist-registration.html.
772. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can get another appointment with any peritonium consultant within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54610/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
773. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be provided to meals on wheels providers (details supplied) to cover increases to minimum wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54614/23]
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.
774. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if, similar to the UK, the breast cancer treatment anastrozole will be licensed as an option for preventing the disease in high-risk women in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54619/23]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
775. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the steps he proposes to take on foot of correspondence received (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54622/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising this correspondence, which I have received.
As the matters raised relate to operational service provision, I have forwarded the correspondence to the HSE as a matter of urgency for direct reply.
I have also asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, on this matter.
776. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the policies in place for conscientious objectors at all public hospitals providing abortions services; what protections are afforded to staff who wish to exercise their right to conscientious objection in performing or assisting with the provision of abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54625/23]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service matters, it has been referred to the HSE for answer.
777. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) can get an appointment with CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54627/23]
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.
778. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm the reason that a person (details supplied) who has a diagnosis of paranoid schizoaffective disorder, dementia and several other physical health difficulties including a visual impairment, COPD, hypertension and arthritis and has been a patient of St. Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview, Dublin for the past two-and-a-half years, who has had their funding request for placement with a nursing home (details supplied) approved, will be transferred to this facility; the reason for the delay in transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54639/23]
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.
