Written Answers Nos. 662-675
664. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1740 of 17 January 2024, when he will publish ‘Monitoring and Evaluating the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018: A report from the Public Health Alcohol Research Group 2020-2022’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3001/24]
View answerThe Report ‘Monitoring and Evaluating the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018: A report from the Public Health Alcohol Research Group 2020-2022’, is currently under consideration in my Department. Decisions with regard to next actions including publication will be taken once this process has been completed.
665. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health to provide a current policy document or procedure outlining the HSE’s stance on feeding in the community with regard to an elderly individual in receipt of home support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3015/24]
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.
666. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if feeding is required by a service user in the community home help system, the expected waiting time for a service user to be assessed; what this assessment comprises; if it includes speech and language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3016/24]
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.
667. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to setting up a diabetes task force composed of healthcare professionals, researchers and patient advocates for the purposes of developing a ten-year diabetes strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3040/24]
View answerDiabetes is a complex condition that can require management across the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery, including self-management support as well as care delivered through general practice, community specialist care and hospital inpatient specialist care.
The inclusion of diabetes as one of four chronic diseases in respect of which GMS patients receive ongoing, planned care from their GP through the Chronic Disease Management Programme also represents a major step forward in assisting those living with diabetes to manage their condition. As part of the GP Agreement of 2023, agreement was secured to include all women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia since January 2023 in the CDM Preventative Progamme.
Guidelines for Diabetes prevention and management include the Model of Integrated Care for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, the Model of Care for the Diabetic Foot (2021) and the National Clinical Guideline for the Management of Adult Type 1 Diabetes. Guidelines are reviewed and amended in line with the most up to date evidence to support best clinical practice and standardisation of care for diabetes patients.
In 2020, the Health Service Executive published The National Framework for the Integrated Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease (2020-2025) which adopted a whole system approach to integrated care for people with Chronic Diseases. It sets out a national framework for an integrated approach to the prevention and management of chronic disease in Ireland over the coming years. This framework was developed in relation to four major chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The framework builds on the existing policies and guidelines, with a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, disease management and rehabilitation services that are coordinated across different healthcare providers and healthcare settings.
I am aware of the needs of the diabetes community and the challenges faced by those living with the condition. Officials in my Department are engaging with the HSE Diabetes clinical team in consideration of the future development of diabetes related services.
668. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ringfence dedicated funding to widen access to continuous glucose monitoring for people with Type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3041/24]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including clinical efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a Health Technology Assessment of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus on 29th September 2023. In line with the advice from HIQA and due to the budget impact associated with these products, the HSE has established a single reimbursement application system for all CGM sensors on the Reimbursement List. This reimbursement application system will apply to all current and any future CGM sensors reimbursed under the community drug schemes. This single reimbursement application can be used by any person with type 1 diabetes, regardless of age.
Patients treated with insulin who have recently accessed a CGM sensor under community drug schemes will continue to have reimbursement support; a new application will not be required where approval is in place.
As of 1st December 2023, all patients initiating on CGM sensors must receive prior approval for reimbursement support. Hospital clinicians responsible for the initiation of CGM systems (i.e., clinicians in diabetes clinics) can apply for reimbursement approval for suitable patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. All applications will be reviewed by the HSE Medicines Management Programme.
669. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if it is the policy of the National Oral Health Office that funding provided for orthodontic treatment for under-18s categorised at the highest category 5 level is being used instead to treat in the private sector under-18s who are categorised in the 4 category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3048/24]
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.
670. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the number of new medicines reimbursed in 2023; the number of extended uses of existing medicines in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3049/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
671. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the newly reimbursed medicines and new uses of existing medicines in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3050/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
672. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health for an update on the roll-out of fertility treatment; what is the waiting time for an appointment; how many people are on the waiting list for an appointment; whether the regional hubs are operational; whether any IVF treatments have been performed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3059/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
673. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health 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. [3084/24]
View answerMy Department shares data with other Departments and state bodies to deliver official functions and meet obligations provided for in various legislation. This data sharing can involve aggregated and/or individual-level information.
Data protection law covers situations in which personal data of an individual is processed. Personal data is only shared or an aggregate or individual level where it is relevant, essential, and necessary to provide a service or function. In such instances, my Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of data subjects and adhering to obligations under data protection legislation.
Further, the Department of Health makes available Research Microdata Files (RMF) for the annual Healthy Ireland survey to researchers (which may include researchers working for state bodies). These RMFs do not contain any personal data (such as names or addresses) on the survey respondents but contain individual level responses to the survey. Researchers must apply to the Department with detailed information on the purpose of the research they are conducting, why access to the Healthy Ireland RMF is required, how the research will be of public benefit, previous experience working with microdata, their approach to statistical disclosure control and full details of the IT security that will be employed to secure the microdata. If a researcher application is approved, RMF files are then securely transferred to the approved researchers who commit to only holding the data on computers with no internet access.
674. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the need to review his Department’s policies in relation to animal-free research and testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/24]
View answerThe Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), a state body under the aegis of the Department of Health, is the competent authority in respect of the use of animals for scientific purposes within Ireland. Any project on animals conducted in Ireland must be evaluated by the HPRA in accordance with Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The latter Directive seeks to replace the use of live animals for scientific and educational purposes as soon as it is possible to do so. This legislation applies throughout the European Union and is transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 543 of 2012). Projects must be justified from a scientific point of view or required by law, and must be conducted in the most humane and environmentally sensitive manner possible.
Further information in relation to this Directive, and concerning the scope and remit of the HPRA, can be obtained via the Department of Health. In terms of research institutions which are responsible for ensuring the planning and implementation of research which may involve the use of animals, these are individually liable for ensuring all such research is in accordance with all relevant regulations and legislation. I would, or course, expect research agencies to comply with all relevant legislation when framing their policies.
675. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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. [2645/24]
View answerA tabular statement of the Minister's official trips is attached.
