Tuesday, 23 Jan 2024

Written Answers Nos. 607-622

Health Services

Questions (607)

Marian Harkin

Question:

607. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health who the notified body is for medical devices in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2612/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Notified Bodies (NB’s) assess the conformity of products to applicable requirements before manufacturers place them on the EU market.

For some high-risk devices, NBs assess their conformity to the requirements of the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR).

If a device conforms to applicable requirements, a NB issues a CE certificate to the manufacturer. This allows the manufacturer to place their product on the EU market.

NBs can be identified on a device label with a unique 4-digit number.

Manufacturers can apply to any suitable EU NB. The full list of notified bodies based in Ireland and the associated Directives/Regulations may be found on the European Commission website.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) are responsible for NBs under the MDR and IVDR in Ireland.

After designation, they monitor and reassess NBs to ensure they continue to comply with requirements. This reassessment is similar to the designation process.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has been approved for designation to the new Medical Device Regulations (MDR) 2017/745. The NSAI were the 11th notified body in the world to be designated to the new medical device regulation. Since February 2023, NSAI has also achieved designation under the in vitro Diagnostic Regulation 2017/746. For more information please visit their website here, NSAI - NSAI | National Standards Authority of Ireland

General Practitioner Services

Questions (608)

Frankie Feighan

Question:

608. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if it is a requirement for a doctor who is seeking to be issued with a GMS registration that he/she must agree to an allocation of (public) patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2619/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

GPs are self-employed practitioners.

The purpose of the GMS contract is to ensure the provision of general practice medical care to individuals who hold either a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card. General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for those services through the terms of the contract. Remuneration is provided through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services.

Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available.

Under the terms of the General Medical Services and GP Visit Card contracts, the maximum number of medical card or GP visit card patients on a GP's patient panel may not exceed 2,000, or 2,200 if the GP also holds an under 8s contract, except in exceptional circumstances. There is no minimum number of patients specified for a panel. Where a patient who holds either a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card is unable to find a GP to accept them on their panel, the HSE can allocate them to a GP who, subject to certain limitations, is obliged to accept the patient.

Mental Health Services

Questions (609)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

609. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if funding is available for families who have to go private to see a psychologist when no services are available to them with CAHMS (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2622/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Health Services

Questions (610)

Michael Creed

Question:

610. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive treatment for their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2628/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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 2023. 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.

Official Travel

Questions (611)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

611. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of official flights and costs of same taken by him in 2023; if a schedule will be provided of all hotels he stayed in in 2023, including hotel name and cost per night while on official State business; and if the same information will be provided in respect of all accompanying staff and advisors. [2646/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

It is the policy of my Department to seek best value for money in terms of flight costs. Those travelling are consistently reminded to make arrangements as early as possible to secure the best available price. All travel is booked at economy/standard class unless there are specific circumstances requiring a different class of travel.

Trip
	Flight	Reason	Flight Cost	Hotel	No of Nights	Hotel Cost per night
Minister Donnelly	Toronto & Ottawa	St.Patrick's Day	€1,706.05	Fairmont Chateau Laurier Ottawa	4	€198.63	Hotel for 1 x night in Ottawa not booked by DoH
Advisor			€1,706.05		4	€198.63
Staff			€1,676.05		4	€198.63
	Flight	Reason	Cost	Hotel	No of Nights	Hotel Cost per night
Minister Donnelly	Geneva	World Health Assembly	€867.78	Hilton Geneva Hotel	2	€572.05
Advisor			€1,133.78	Hilton Geneva Hotel	2	€572.05
Staff			€394.63	Hilton Geneva Hotel	2	€572.05
Staff			€755.56	Cornavin Hotel & Ibis Centre Lac	6	€454.24
Staff			€474.68	Cornavin Hotel	5	€572.37
	Flight	Reason	Cost	Hotel	No of Nights	Hotel Cost per night
Minister Donnelly	Luxembourg	EPSCO	€145.07	Not booked by Department
Staff			€111.52
Staff			€145.09
Staff			€111.58
Staff			€111.61
	Flight	Reason	Cost	Hotel	No of Nights	Hotel Cost per night
Minister Donnelly	Gran Canaria	Informal Health EPSCO	€932.27	Not booked by Department
Staff			€892.29
	Flight to	Reason	Cost	Hotel	No of Nights	Hotel Cost per night
Minister Donnelly	New York	UN General Assembly	€811.87	Fitzpatrick's Manhattan Hotel	3	€525.42
Special advisor			€711.89		3	€516.36
Staff			€711.89		3	€537.40
Staff			€711.89		3	€507.26
Minister Donnelly	Sligo	Visiting 3 Primary Care Centres		Radisson Hotel	1	€134.10
Staff					1	€134.10
Staff					1	€134.10
Minister Donnelly	Killarney	INMO Conference		Cahernane House Hotel	1	€214.00
Advisor						€214.00
Staff						€214.00
Minister Donnelly	Cork City	Visiting Health Care Centre		River Lee Hotel	1	€170.00
Staff					1	€170.00
Minister Donnelly	Bantry	Visiting Hospitals and Primary Care Centres		The Maritime Hotel	1	€225.57
Staff					1	€225.57
Staff					1	€225.57
Minister Donnelly	Ennis	Visiting Primary Care Centres and Acute Hospitals in Clare and Limerick		Hotel Woodstock Ennis	1	€163.00
Staff					1	€163.00
Staff					1	€163.00
Minister Donnelly	Letterkenny	Sod turning ceremony			1	€120.00
Advisor					1	€120.00
Staff					1	€120.00

Health Service Executive

Questions (612)

Robert Troy

Question:

612. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the possible acquisition of a parcel of land (owned by the HSE) adjacent to a location (details supplied). [2658/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I understand that there has been engagement between the LWETB and the HSE on this matter over the course of 2023.

In all cases requirements of the HSE are that if a property is identified as surplus to health requirements and to be disposed of they must follow procedures set out in the HSE Property Protocol.

The HSE Property Protocol fully reflects the requirements of DPER Circulars on the disposal of surplus property.

The HSE Property Protocol satisfies the obligations of Section 53 of the LDA Act 2021.

The HSE process for the disposal of surplus property can be summarised as follows:

• Surplus properties to be disposed of are initially offered to the Land Development Agency (LDA) in accordance with the LDA Act 2021.

• Should the LDA have no requirement for an offered property, the property is then offered via the State Property Register to other State entities and the Local Authority in the area.

• Finally, if there is no interest expressed by other State entities the property is placed on the open market.

Where a property is not taken up by the LDA, or another State entity, at the relevant stages of the disposal process, the HSE reserve the right to re-evaluate the property for suitability in addressing health sector requirements (present and future). This may result in the property either being retained by the HSE or being disposed of.

These procedures must be applied by the HSE in all instances where properties are identified as surplus to health requirements and are to be disposed of.

Animal Welfare

Questions (613)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

613. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health what progress is being made to introduce animal testing replacements in favour of non-animal methods; what transparency exists in animal testing under the Health Products Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2659/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

This question relating to animals used for scientific purposes is more appropriate to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Please send your question to [e-mail] and the HPRA will reply to you directly.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (614)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health with regard to a person (details supplied) who is waiting for a hospital bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2663/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (615, 616)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

615. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the expected uptake for the GP visit cards after the increase in income limits and the actual uptake as of January 2024; his plans to promote the uptake of GP visit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2671/24]

Richard Bruton

Question:

616. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the number of families who are in receipt of GP cards now and how that compares to the level before the means limit was increased to the median wage; if he will indicate how this increase compares to his estimate of how many extra families would become eligible as a result of the change in the means test, and if he considers that a large number may be failing to claim their entitlement. [2695/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

As provided for by Budget 2023 and under the GP Agreement 2023, GP visit card eligibility was extended to all those who earn up to the median household income fully from the 13th of November, following the first phase of extension from the 11th of September 2023. GP visit card eligibility was also extended to all children under the age of 8 from the 11th of August 2023.

As of August 1st last, prior to the commencement of either expansion, there were 1,602,093 medical card holders and 552,904 GP visit card holders. As of the first of January, there are now 1,611,187 medical card holders and 630,475 GP visit card holders. It was estimated that approximately 430,000 persons would become eligible for a GP visit card under the median income expansion.

Approximately 15,000 GP visit cards have been issued under the income-based expansion as of the 11th of January. While the eligibility expansion to the median household income was only fully rolled out from mid November, and it is to be expected that eligible persons will take time to complete the process, I recognise that the number of cards issued to date is not on the scale that might have been anticipated.

The expansion was accompanied by an extensive and wide-ranging public information campaign to encourage eligible persons to take up the cards; this campaign was adjusted to provide additional clarity around those who could be eligible from mid-December, and remains underway.  The HSE are currently undertaking research to seek to ascertain why potentiallly eligible individuals have not applied for GP Visit Cards on the scale anticipated and future actions to encourage uptake will be informed by the outcome of that research.

Nursing Homes

Questions (617)

Richard Bruton

Question:

617. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the date from which the rental earnings on the home of a person receiving support under fair deal will cease to be assessed for the resident’s contribution to the cost of nursing home care, and the estimated cost that is being budgeted for this change in the method of assessment. [2696/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I wish to acknowledge the insertion of Section 45D of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 as amended, the commencement of which will increase the amount of rental income that nursing home residents can retain under the Fair Deal from 60% to 100%.

Prior to 1 November 2022 participants in the Fair Deal scheme were able to rent out their homes or other assets, however rental income was subject to assessment at 80% like all other income (such as pension income).

Recognising that this may act as a disincentive against renting out a property, the Government approved a policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, 'Fair Deal', to remove a disincentive for applicants to the Scheme to rent out their principal residence after they have entered long term residential care. The rate of assessment for rental income from a principal residence, effective from 1 November 2022, was reduced from 80% to 40%. This means that for someone renting out their principal residence, they retained 60% of the income accrued from that rental and 40% is assessed under Fair Deal.

This policy change addresses the commitments made under Housing For All Action 19.8. The change was made through a Committee-Stage amendment to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 and became operational as of 1 November.

Following a review period, as per the conditions of the amended legislation, this latest amendment will permit nursing home residents to retain 100% of the income accrued from renting the principal private residence. This change is implemented as from 1 February 2024.

It should be noted that this provision will only apply to income generated from rental of the principal private residence; any rental income received from a property which is not from a principal residence will continue to be treated as general income and assessed at 80%.

The current level of rental income from Principal Private Residence (PPR) is approximately €447,000 per year. The full extent of costs incurred cannot be determined until the amended scheme has been in operation for a period of time.

To monitor the impact of this amendment, enhanced processes have been implemented with appropriate checks in place regarding NHSS applications, with the intention of developing robust reporting models to assess the impacts of the financial assessment of applicants.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (618)

Michael Collins

Question:

618. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the amount of money reimbursed to GPs under the PCRS for performance of abortions in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under Section 20(3) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, the Minister for Health is required to prepare a report on the notifications of terminations of pregnancy received during the immediately preceding year, and lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas not later than 30 June. Material published on information contained in notifications is restricted in order to limit the risk of identification in what is a private, confidential matter between patients and their doctors.

The annual report on the notifications of terminations of pregnancy received during the period 1 January and 31 December 2023 will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by end-June 2024. In light of this statutory requirement, it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the annual report by publishing data, the effect of which may be to place in the public domain information of a type intended by the Oireachtas to be addressed in the annual report.

Abortion Services

Questions (619)

Michael Collins

Question:

619. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent on abortion provision in 2023, broken down by category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2713/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this PQ relates to a service area, I have referred to the HSE for response.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (620)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

620. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Cork who was referred on 22 December 2022 will have a date for cataract surgery assigned to their (details supplied). [2717/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (621)

Michael McNamara

Question:

621. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for rehab; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2782/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (622)

Mark Ward

Question:

622. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the model of care for dual diagnosis; the funding given to the model of care; the rollout plan for the model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2847/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.