Written Answers Nos. 1740-1753
1740. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the current status and work of the Public Health Alcohol Research Group; when a report will issue from the group; if he intends to publish the group’s report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1636/24]
View answer1741. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the mechanisms in place for the monitoring and evaluation of outcomes of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1637/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1740 and 1741 together.
The Public Health Alcohol Research Group (PHARG) was established in 2019. The purpose of the Group is to ensure that the measures implemented under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 are comprehensively evaluated to assess their effectiveness in meeting the policy objectives of the legislation. The PHARG’s activity during 2020-2022 focussed on developing logic models, reviewing key outcomes and indicators, identifying potential data requirements and overarching evidence needs. The result of this scoping work provides important baseline data for effective monitoring and evaluation of the main provisions of the Act. The scoping work was continued and completed despite the severe disruption to the Group caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PHARG has completed its report: Monitoring and Evaluating the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018: A report from the Public Health Alcohol Research Group 2020-2022. The Report remains under review and I will take it into consideration when deciding on future work.
1742. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health how much has been paid since 2021 by SouthDoc or the HSE for the rental of the SouthDoc premises in Listowel. [1639/24]
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.
1743. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1909 of 11 September 2023, if there is any further development in the provision of a pathway for a person to claim compensation for what they believe to be illegal nursing home charges paid between 1977 and 1979, who has not as of yet made any claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1640/24]
View answerThe Health Repayment Scheme was a statutory scheme established under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 to repay specified pre-2005 charges for in-patient services imposed on certain persons with full medical card eligibility in public long stay facilities, including public nursing homes. As the Scheme closed to new applications on 31 December 2007 in accordance with the provisions of the Act, no new applications can be made under the Scheme.
To date, the HSE has processed almost 35,500 claims under the Scheme and has issued repayments of approximately €453 million to over 20,300 claimants.
Upon the raising of issues in early 2023 about how the State has approached legal challenges taken against it in relation to pre-2005 legacy nursing home charges, the Government moved quickly to establish the facts surrounding these issues, which go back many decades, by requesting the Attorney General to prepare a Report on the litigation management strategy. This comprehensive Report was published on 7 February 2023 and may be accessed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/22adc-attorney-generals-report-on-nursing-home-charges-and-disabled-persons-maintenance-allowance/.
As committed at that time, I am considering the Attorney General’s report and briefing prepared by the Department further and I hope to revert to Government shortly.
1744. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to adding motor neurone disease (MND) and Kennedy's disease, which is rare but very similar to MND, to the list of medical conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1642/24]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1745. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the National Service Plan 2024; if the HSE has submitted the NSP to him for approval; the timeline he is working towards in approving the NSP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1643/24]
View answerThe Letter of Determination which included my priority areas for the National Service Plan 2024 issued to the Health Service Executive (HSE) on 28th November 2023. Subsequently the National Service Plan was submitted for my approval by the HSE Chairperson on 20th December 2023.
The Plan is currently the subject of detailed discussions between the HSE, my Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with a view to approving the Plan as soon as possible.
In line with legislation, the NSP, when approved, will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days. After this the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
1746. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if, given the reduction in services provided by SouthDoc, the contract for the service with the HSE has been altered, or if the amount being paid to SouthDoc has reduced in any way. [1652/24]
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.
1747. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if a person on the drugs payment scheme gets two sets of 28-day medication in the one calendar month, if they are obliged to the pay the €80 a second time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1662/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1748. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm what adult dental treatment is offered by the HSE to adults in County Wexford in need of dental treatment, caused by medications/medical treatments for other conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1665/24]
View answerAs 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.
1749. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a home care package will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1712/24]
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
1750. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of call-outs by the National Ambulance Service to patients located in County Monaghan during 2023, in tabular form; the number therein whereby an ambulance arrived 1)within 10 minutes 2) between 10 and 20 minutes 3) within 20 and 30 minutes 4) within 30 and 40 minutes 5) within 40 and 50 minutes 6) within 50 minutes and 1 hour 7) within 1 to 1.5 hours 8) within 1.5 to 2 hours 9) within 2 and 3 hours 10) within 3 and four hours 11) over four hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1720/24]
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.
1751. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the public hospitals that currently provide wi-fi access for patients and visitors and his proposals to ensure that all public hospitals offer this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1724/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1752. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that wi-fi access is provided for patients and visitors attending Monaghan Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1725/24]
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.
1753. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that wi-fi access is provided for patients and visitors attending Cavan Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1726/24]
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.
