Written Answers Nos. 550-562
552. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the report and survey by a group (details supplied) on pregnancy loss at the workplace will be published; and the reason for the delay in its publication. [3064/24]
View answerI recognise the enormous impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents, and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a loss.Work to examine the needs of bereaved working parents coping with pregnancy loss is being advanced at present. My Department has commissioned a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss. The study examines whether policy interventions are required at a national level to better to support these bereaved parents in the workplace.The study focuses on people who experience pregnancy loss prior to 24 weeks’ gestation, as people who have a pregnancy loss after 24 weeks’ gestation can avail of full maternity leave and paternity leave entitlements.The study has now concluded, and a report is being finalised which will be published this week. The recommendations that arise from this study will help to inform Government policy, including the development of legislation to address the issue of miscarriage leave if required.
553. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify whether the transfer of data and-or records from his Department, that is transferred to other Departments, State bodies and local authorities, is in aggregated form or on an individual basis; and the reason the data and-or records are provided. [3076/24]
View answerMy Department has a wide range of functions and shares personal data with other bodies in the course of the exercise of those functions or the provision of public services to individuals. Sharing of personal data may also take place in response to a valid lawful request from another public body such as An Garda Síochána.
My Department’s remit incorporates responsibility for child protection and welfare, prevention and early intervention, adoption, family supports, early learning and childcare, youth services and youth justice, legacy issues in relation to Mother and Baby Institutions, areas of equality, integration, international protection and disability policy, providing and co-ordinating the provision of emergency short-term accommodation and assistance for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.
Personal data is only shared by my Department where there is an appropriate legal basis to do so having regard to the circumstances of the data sharing.
Data sharing with other bodies can involve aggregated or individual-level personal information.
The sharing of personal data on an individual basis takes place with a range of entities for reasons and purposes including, but not limited to, the following -
Department of Foreign Affairs:
- to process visa waivers for beneficiaries of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.
Office of the Revenue Commissioners:
- to support eligibility checks for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme programme; and
- to receive confirmation that organisations in receipt of Departmental funding have a valid Tax Certificate number.
Local Authorities:
- for the provision of services relating to the transfer of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine to temporary accommodation in the context of the Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55 EC).
Ombudsman for Children:
- to support the National Childcare Scheme appeals process.
Pobal:
- to administer the Access and Inclusion Model scheme and host Better Start to support the delivery of the scheme.
National Council for Special Education:
- to facilitate the planning and to co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs pursuant to the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004.
Central Statistics Office:
- to the Central Statistics Office under the Statistics Act 1993 for the purposes of assisting the exercise of their functions.
Health Service Executive:
- to support a child with medically complex needs in accessing and participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme setting by providing nursing support in the setting.
Department of Education:
- to facilitate inspections to services providing the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme programme; and
- to facilitate a cross-referencing exercise with children enrolled in the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme programme and in doing so support the administration, supervision and control of the Early Start programme administered by the Department of Education.
Department of Social Protection:
- to determine eligibility for supports relating to the National Childcare Scheme;
- to assist in the provision of PPSNs and activating payments for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection upon request; and
- to facilitate post-arrival/resettlement of beneficiaries of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.
The sharing of aggregated data takes place with a range of entities for reasons and purposes including, but not limited to, the following –
Department of Education:
- to facilitate school place planning;
- to provide closure and new registration figures as part of keeping stakeholders informed of updates in the early year’s sector; and
- to provide Early Childhood Care and Education Programme enrolments data to feed into the “Education at a Glance” publication for the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (“OECD”).
My Department is cognisant of its responsibilities as a data controller including meeting the transparency requirements under the GDPR. The Department’s Data Protection Policy affirms the Department’s commitment to protect the rights and privacy of individuals and the sharing of personal data is notified to data subjects through individual Privacy Notices associated with the various data processing activities including the sharing of personal data with other bodies.
554. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to provide on update on the programme for Government commitment to ensure that older people who are at greater risk of fuel poverty and the respiratory illnesses associated with air pollution be prioritised in climate action and climate-mitigation plans, since the establishment of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2464/24]
View answerThere is compelling evidence that the drivers of fuel poverty (low income, poor energy efficiency and energy prices) are strongly linked to living at low temperatures, and that low temperatures are associated with a range of negative health outcomes.
Conversely, energy efficiency measures can support good physical and mental health primarily by creating healthy indoor living environments with healthy air temperatures, humidity levels, noise levels, and improved air quality. The potential benefits of energy efficiency measures include improved physical health such as reduced symptoms of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, rheumatism, arthritis and allergies, as well as fewer injuries. In cold climates, energy efficiency improvements can lower rates of excess winter mortality.
Recent evidence shows that chronic thermal discomfort and fuel poverty also have negative mental health impacts (anxiety, stress, and depression). Energy efficiency improvements targeting fuel poverty can therefore improve mental, as well as physical well-being.
In December 2022, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan which sets out the range of measures implemented to meet high energy costs, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford these increased energy costs are supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes.
My Department is represented on the cross-Departmental Steering Group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which is tasked with the implementation of this Action Plan. The Steering Group meets periodically to review progress towards the objectives outlined in the Energy Poverty Action Plan, including short and long-term actions to support people to meet the cost of energy.
As part of the work of the Steering Group, the inaugural Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum was held on 7 July 2023. The Forum seeks to improve and accelerate the implementation of the plan, by fostering dialogue and cooperation among NGOs, industry representatives, and public bodies. It provided a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, assess progress on objectives from across the action plan, and share new ideas to combat energy poverty. A report on the recommendations and outcomes of the Forum is available on gov.ie.
Ultimately, the best way to combat energy poverty in the long-term will be by continuing to make investments to improve the energy efficiency of homes, boost renewable energy adoption, and deepen interconnection with Europe. Improving home energy efficiency and cutting our dependence on fossil fuels will ensure a cleaner, cheaper energy future.
As part of the work of the Steering Group, an Annual Report on actions completed during 2023 and a revised Energy Poverty Action Plan will be brought to Government and published during Q1 2024.
555. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric endocrinologists at University Hospital Waterford in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2360/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
556. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if the HSE now charges public patients a fee for an MRI scan following a referral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2361/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
557. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if the HSE provides assistance or free transportation to older persons without transport options who need to attend hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2362/24]
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.
558. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan, the framework for progressing help and assistance for breastfeeding in Ireland; if there is a policy for the protection of infant and young child feeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2363/24]
View answerEncouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health and for the Health Service Executive (HSE). National health policy, which includes the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, all emphasise the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed, as well as the overall aim of increasing breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
Since 2016, through the Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan (Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland), progress has been realised in supports available for breastfeeding in Ireland. Access to education and training for all healthcare staff has improved to provide evidence-based care to expecting and new parents. The HSE has established the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group to progress a range of actions, across a number of divisions, to provide the supports that mothers require at all stages of the breastfeeding continuum.
Resources have been made widely available in healthcare settings, which highlight the benefits of breastfeeding while also providing practical information on developing the skill of breastfeeding in those first few weeks and months. The HSE mychild.ie website, is a one stop point of information for parents of infants and young children, to promote healthy eating in the first one thousand days of life. Peer support groups and the establishment of the “We’re breastfeeding friendly” initiatives are welcome supports promoted by the Healthy Ireland framework to encourage new mothers to feel at ease breastfeeding their infants on demand, when out and about socialising with friends and family. Access to education and training for all healthcare staff has improved due to availability of blended learning options, such as HSELanD, which has enabled healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based care to expecting and new parents.
In 2021, Minister Donnelly announced additional funding to the HSE of €1.58 million to fund 24 additional lactation consultants to support more new mothers in maternity and primary care settings to breastfeed their infants. There are currently 58.1 WTE dedicated lactation posts employed in the HSE, with 35.5 WTE working in maternity services and 22.6 WTE in primary care.
The capacity to support infant feeding as part of core child health services and supports will be increased significantly with investment in a dedicated child health workforce as recommended within First 5 strategy and Sláintecare actions.
The vision of the Healthy Ireland framework is that everyone can reach physical and mental health and well-being to their full potential and promoting breastfeeding is positive step towards that goal. Government support and promotion of breastfeeding is evident in the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Report (WBTI) report that was published in late 2023. The report sets out clear objectives for further development, which can be used to benchmark future breastfeeding initiatives The Government remains committed to improving the breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
559. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the average ambulance turnaround time at the emergency department of St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, in each month of 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2364/24]
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.
560. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a report can be made available to a person urgently (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2385/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
561. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeline for delivery of each of the six surgical hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2386/24]
View answerI have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of each of the six surgical hubs to respond directly to the Deputy on the matters raised.
562. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the aftercare provided to people who received the incorrect formulation of a vaccine (details supplied); the information provided to those impacted; if any adverse effects were reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2387/24]
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.
