Written Answers Nos. 302-319
302. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health what options are available for a patient to apply for HSE transportation from Wexford to Dublin for non-emergency hospital appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6731/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
303. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he has considered providing the MMR vaccine to children aged 6-12 months in cases of outbreak or foreign travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6741/24]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the primary childhood immunisation schedule are chosen by NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against disease.
Measles vaccine in Ireland is given as part of the combined Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are included in the childhood immunisation schedule in Ireland:
• Dose 1, given at 12 month of age in general practice;
• Dose 2, given at 4-5 years of age in junior infants in Primary Schools, by HSE school immunisation teams.
The HSE launched an MMR catch-up programme in November 2023 which is being offered through GPs. Those eligible for MMR vaccination under the programme are children aged between 14 months and 10 years old inclusive who did not receive the MMR vaccine when they were 12 months old, and/or age 4-5 years old in junior infants.
304. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure that organisations, including State bodies under the aegis of his Department as well as non-governmental organisations and charities that are in receipt of funding from his Department, do not use any portion of such funding to campaign or promote a position in favour or against any outcome of the forthcoming referenda on Articles 41.1.1, 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the Constitution, thereby breaching the McKenna principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6763/24]
View answerAll State bodies under the aegis of my Department which receive funding from the Department must comply with financial obligations under Circular 06/2023 – Public Spending Code, Circular 13/2014 – Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds and also with the requirements in the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform’s Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
State bodies are reminded of their obligations each year in their Letter of Determination which confirms their funding for that year. State bodies must also confirm to my Department that they have complied with the requirements in the Code of Practice on an annual basis.
My Department has issued guidance to all bodies under the aegis of my Department on the forthcoming referenda on the 39th and 40th amendments to the Constitution regarding their obligation to uphold the McKenna principles. This includes organisations funded by these bodies.
305. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that a proposed agreement on pay parity for medical scientists with their clinical biochemist colleagues excludes retired medical scientists from the agreement; and if so, if he agrees that this would be very unfair on retired medical scientists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6772/24]
View answerFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of all Medical Scientists throughout the country.
I am very conscious of the MLSA's long-standing claim for pay parity with Clinical Biochemists. Following productive talks at the Workplace Relations Commission back in May and June of 2022, agreement was reached to conduct an independent assessment of the role, responsibilities and pay of medical laboratory scientist grades. This assessment was undertaken by an independent assessor and the final report issued in January 2023.
Following the issuing of this report, my officials in the Department of Health, along with colleagues in the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, continued to engage with the MLSA on this matter.
There is provision in the new Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 for the implementation of pay parity from 1 January 2024 for existing Medical Scientists. However, it must be noted that the Agreement is not yet ratified. I understand that ICTU unions have begun the process of voting on the Agreement.
306. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide a response regarding an appointment for treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6773/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
307. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if complaints regarding the care of a person (details supplied) will be fully investigated and concluded at an early date; and if a meeting of all those involved will be arranged forthwith. [6787/24]
View answerAs this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
308. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health for an update regarding a request for a motorised wheelchair (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6797/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
309. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the receipt by his Department of the evaluation of the 2018 sugar sweetened drinks tax; the timeline for publication of the evaluation; when meetings may begin with the Department of Finance on the results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6803/24]
View answerA Healthy Weight for Ireland, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Well-being 2013-2025). It was developed in recognition of the growing need for a coordinated policy response to the increasing problem of obesity in Ireland and the increasing burden placed on individuals and society.
OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications, and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. It recognises that obesity is a complex, multifaceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. Childhood obesity is a key priority under OPAP, as is reducing the inequalities seen in obesity rates, where children (and adults) from lower socioeconomic groups have higher levels of obesity. OPAP is well aligned with the World Health Organisation in terms of the breadth of policy measures that have been introduced or are being considered in order to address the obesity epidemic.
Under OPAP, commitment was given to “develop proposals for a levy on sugar-sweetened drinks”, and “review the evidence…for fiscal measures on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt.”
Following a proposal developed by this Department in consultation with stakeholders, the Department of Finance introduced the Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax (SSDT) in 2018. The SSDT has now been in operation for more than five years. Initial indications are that the tax has had a positive impact, particularly in terms of encouraging drinks producers to reduce the sugar content in their products.
In August 2023 the Department issued a request for tender for an external evaluation of the SSDT with the outcomes of interest to include anyone, or all, of the following:
- the extent to which the tax was successful in realizing the objectives as stated in the original policy document and set out below:
(1) that individuals reduce consumption of sugar sweetened drinks by reducing the amount consumed or switching to healthier choices.
(2) that industry reformulates products to reduce (not necessarily remove) levels of added sugar in the drinks products.
- other impacts that the tax may have on public health as identified by recent studies, such as evaluations of dental outcomes and also the measurement of the impact on metabolic markers;
- subgroup analysis focusing on the effect on groups such as those overweight/obese, children, lower income individuals/families.
A contract for the evaluation was awarded in September 2023. The evaluation is ongoing, and we expect it to be complete in April 2024. The Department intends to publish it in a timely manner.
The Department of Finance has been consulted as part of the evaluation. The Department will be engaging with the Department of Finance in considering the findings of the evaluation.
310. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 523 of 30 January 2024, the risks and benefits of GnRHa alone for adults, and what sort of patients would choose this treatment from the National Gender Services. [6843/24]
View answer311. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 525 of 30 January 2024, how many referrals the National Gender Service's referral process triaged as "New Gender Clinic" in 2023. [6844/24]
View answer312. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 526 of 30 January 2024, if the National Gender Service believes the that use of GnRHa makes cisgender children transgender. [6845/24]
View answer313. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 526 of 30 January 2024, which clinical studies show that gender non-conforming children largely turn out to be cisgender in adolescence, and if the National Gender Service believe this represents the current best evidence for the outcomes for pre-pubertal transgender children. [6846/24]
View answer314. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 528 of 30 January 2024, the reason the National Gender Service's endocrine guidelines emphasise that high hormone concentrations elevate the risks of thromboembolic and liver disease. [6847/24]
View answer315. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 528 of 30 January 2024, why the National Gender Service requires regular hormone concentration blood tests for its own patients given that it listed no harms or benefits for them, and if these could be cut as a cost saving measure. [6848/24]
View answer316. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 528 of 30 January 2024, if the National Gender Service is aware that under EU Directive 2011/24, there is no requirement for EU telehealth services to be regulated in Ireland as they are considered to be provided, and thus regulated in the doctor's country. [6849/24]
View answer317. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a recent report (details supplied) that the National Gender Service's waiting list now exceeds a decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6850/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 310 to 317, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
318. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a planning application for a change of use to a medical centre in Skerries Point; if he can confirm the involvement of the HSE in this project; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the facilities and services that will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6853/24]
View answerI am given to understand that the planning application for a change of use of Skerries Point is a private initiative. The HSE has no involvement in this application, and is not currently involved in the development.
319. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if no current or future residents of the SRU unit, Old Convent Road, Carndonagh, County Donegal will be forced to move against their and their family’s will and that day services at the unit will be reinstated; and if he will ensure that the meeting requested of HSE officials, local public representatives and affected families is facilitated at the earliest opportunity. [6895/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
