Written Answers Nos. 523-533
523. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the clinical purpose of the National Gender Service having nine adults on GnRHa alone as referenced in a 2022 report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/24]
View answer524. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the National Gender Service's views on progesterone therapy and the medical literature which underpins this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3893/24]
View answer525. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the gender services whose assessment is considered sufficient to avoid having to repeat an initial assessment by the National Gender Service; the number of referrals to the National Gender Service which did not have to repeat an initial assessment in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3894/24]
View answer526. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the evidence to support a claim by the National Gender Service on a recent television programme (details supplied) that prior to the use of blockers, most gender non-conforming children through puberty became comfortable with their bodies and assigned gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3895/24]
View answer527. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the National Gender Service's views on the exploratory or questioning model of care, as referenced on a recent television programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3896/24]
View answer528. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the National Gender Service's views on the harms and benefits of monitoring the hormone concentrations of people accessing transgender services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3897/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 523, 524, 525, 526, 527 and 528 together.
As this is a service matter I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
529. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether the pandemic bonus scheme has been completed; and whether a payment is due in the circumstances of a person (details supplied). [3930/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer Parliamentary Questions 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.
530. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the items and the quantity of items and their value that were bought for in 2020, 2021 and 2022 to deal with the Covid crisis that are being stored by his Department all of the country; and if he will detail where these items are being stored. [3941/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
531. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if a centre (details supplied) is being used to store items bought to deal with the Covid crisis; if it is his intention to continue use of the centre for the purpose of storage; and when he will finally allow the centre to be used for a community purpose. [3942/24]
View answer532. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the budget for medical compensation for each year since 2010. [3943/24]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive (HSE). The table below sets out the budget allocations from the Health Vote to the HSE for payments to the SCA for each year since 2010 for the management and settlement of health related claims, including those relating to medical compensation.
|
Year |
Amount allocated under the Health Vote to the Health Service Executive for payments to the State Claims Agency (€000) |
|
2010 |
60,000 |
|
2011 |
81,204 |
|
2012 |
75,668 |
|
2013 |
133,000 |
|
2014 |
151,000 |
|
2015 |
189,000 |
|
2016 |
198,000 |
|
2017 |
274,000 |
|
2018 |
320,000 |
|
2019 |
370,000 |
|
2020 |
400,000 |
|
2021 |
410,000 |
|
2022 |
530,000 |
|
2023 |
510,000 |
Budget allocation for health related claims from the Health Vote to the HSE for payments to the State Claims Agency. The above figures include supplementary estimates provided, where relevant.
533. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when the planned 96 bed unit which is under construction at UHL will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3949/24]
View answerThis Government has invested significantly in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in recent years, including in major capital projects. In 2019, UHL had a Budget of €265m. The current closing budget for 2023 is €383m, representing a growth in budget of €118 million – or 45% - in just 4 years.
Work on a new 96-bed ward block at UHL commenced in October 2022. The construction phase will take at least two years to complete. It is currently envisaged that the construction phase will be complete by the first quarter of 2025.
Once handed over by the contractors, the new build will need to be equipped and commissioned and staff trained, following the completion of a recruitment campaign. The HSE anticipate that this much-needed additional bed capacity for the Midwest will become operational in mid-2025.
