Written Answers Nos. 157-179
157. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1797 of 18 April 2023, the progress of the vaccine injury compensation scheme for the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8182/24]
View answerWork is ongoing to design a proposed model for a vaccine damage scheme and my officials are currently working through related policy matters. When the model is ready, it will then be considered at cabinet.
158. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will invest in appropriate communication technologies to ensure that hospital e-discharges are delivered using Healthmail to support a standardised national approach to electronic discharges, such a change would dramatically improve patient care and improve efficiency both within hospitals and community settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8194/24]
View answerThe introduction of a standardised national approach to electronic discharges would certainly improve the timeliness and quality of discharges from one care setting to another. Indeed, electronic discharges are already deployed at a number of our larger acute hospitals. The communication technology is already well established with discharge information being issued as a structured message via Healthlink, meaning it can be ingested into downstream systems, most GP practice systems. The use of Healthmail instead of Healthlink, whilst speeding up the process of issuing discharge summaries by avoiding the need to use post, would not help to standardise the process for preparation or indeed the content of discharge summaries. The fact that we have different processes and systems within existing hospitals - where discharge information must be collated from in order to produce the discharge summary - is the real challenge here. My department has engaged with the HSE on this subject before because of the obvious potential to improve patient care and improve efficiency both within hospitals and community settings. I can assure the deputy the we will continue to support opportunities with the HSE to adopt electronic discharge capabilities across the health system, including information on medications, which is critical to safe patient care. Indeed, there is already funding provided within the national service plan for 2024 to support hospital sites that can implement electronic discharge capabilities, leveraging the existing Healthlink communications technology. Structured data from electronic discharges will also form an important part of the national shared care record, the technology for which the HSE is going to market for this year.
159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to provide funding and support to assist younger GPs to establish practices by providing purpose-built GP premises, thereby avoiding substantial capital expenditure on 'bricks and mortar' (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8195/24]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services. Practices also receive a range of financial supports.
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. GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria will qualify for an annual rural support allowance, and contributions are also made towards locum costs for various GP leave arrangements.
The 2019 GP Agreement increased the practice support package for rural GP practices by 10% and introduced a €2 million support for GP practices in disadvantaged urban areas. Practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking. Last year's GP Agreement 2023 increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a new grant support for additional practice staff capacity as well as a practice staff maternity leave support.
A financial support specific for the establishment of practices is not provided under the GMS scheme.
My Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future. Under this review, consideration is to be given to the development of the support model necessary to underpin the provision of sustainable GP services in the context of the Sláintecare vision of universal GP access.
It is worth noting that some GP practices operate from HSE Primary Care Centres (PCCs). PCCs are modern, purpose-designed buildings that provide a single location for a primary care team to work from. As of the end of last year there are 174 PCCs operational with 7 more due to open this year.
160. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will commission research to determine innovative ways to attract GPs into general practice to replace those GPs rapidly approaching retirement (details supplied), including the use of video consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/24]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Most GPs hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently, there are 2,524 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme and only 23 GMS vacancies as of the start of the year.
The Government has undertaken measures in recent years to increase the number of GPs practising in the State and thereby improve access to GP services across the country.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for. In addition, the preexisting enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was increased by 10%.
The GP Agreement 2023, which provided for the expansions of GP care without charges to those who earn up to the median household income and to children aged 6 & 7, includes additional capacity supports to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice. It includes additional supports for GP Out of Hours services also.
These measures help make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country. Figures released by the ICGP show that 1,311 medical graduates applied for GP training in 2024, a notable increase on the previous year and higher than any other year.
The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased significantly in recent years, with 286 new entrants in 2023 and 350 places planned for new entrants for this year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% from 2015 to 2023, and the number of new entrant places to be available this year is a 22% increase on last year's intake alone.
Furthermore, GP recruitment is ongoing under the joint non-EU GP Training Programme between the HSE and ICGP. 112 non-EU GPs were recruited last year under the training programme and it is planned to recruit up to 250 more non-EU GPs to Ireland this year.
My Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and when completed will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future. In particular this will include consideration of mechanisms to attract GPs to rural and urban deprived areas.
161. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies for the purposes of increasing the number of general practice nurses from the current figure of approximately 2,000 to 4,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/24]
View answerGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Practice staff, including practice nurses, are not employees of the HSE but are privately employed by general practitioners. As private practitioners GPs manage their own practices and may employ practice staff as they see fit and as suitable to the particular needs of their practice.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice administrator. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or administrator. A practice manager subsidy is also available. GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria receive an annual rural support allowance and attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies.
Last year's GP Agreement 2023 significantly increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a new grant support of up to €15,000 for additional practice staff capacity as well as a support for practice staff maternity leave.
My Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from relevant stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice. Capacity in general practice, the expansion and support of the GP team, and consideration for the development of other roles that would improve service delivery, are areas to be examined under the review.
162. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct drug harm-reduction campaigns aimed at people attending Irish music festivals this summer; his plans to roll out the use of ‘back of house’ drug checking through the use of surrender bins, which was piloted last summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8207/24]
View answer163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is having issues with hearing aids can get an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8229/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
164. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a date will be given to a person (details supplied) for an eye operation given that the person has been waiting an inordinate length of time to be called to either WUH or Whitfield, and if the matter can be expedited. [8230/24]
View answerUnder 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.
165. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if free HPV vaccine is available for first-year students only; if funding for this measure ended in December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8236/24]
View answerHuman papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines work by preventing infections prior to exposure to the HPV virus. Thus, the vaccines are more effective at a younger age prior to exposure to the HPV virus. The HSE offers a single dose of HPV vaccine to all first-year boys and girls in secondary school as part of the routine HPV vaccination programme. A vaccine uptake of 90% in girls by the age of 15 is one of the targets required to achieve the goal of cervical cancer elimination by 2040. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked every country to put measures in place to reach this target, and the HSE is working to increase the vaccine uptake in the routine HPV programme from the current uptake of just under 80%.
166. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to the issues raised in the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs report: Taking Stock (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8238/24]
View answerI would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to supporting positive ageing across the lifecourse as well as to ensuring that older people can continue to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible. This commitment is enshrined in the National Positive Ageing Strategy, which provides a blueprint for promoting older people’s engagement in economic, social, cultural and community life and for fostering inter-generational solidarity. Recognising the need for a whole-of-society approach to supporting positive ageing, the Strategy’s implementation is a whole-of-government endeavour. This has been advanced through a wide range of initiatives developed and delivered in partnership with the community and voluntary sector.
We recognise the challenges we will face in a range of areas in the coming years as our population ages. It is within this context that we are currently in the process of establishing an independent Commission on Care for Older People.
The Commission will examine the provision of health and social care services and supports for older persons and make recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. It will be cognisant of the national policy landscape within which they are being delivered and developed. Accordingly, there will be recognition that there are already a range of initiatives in train which promise to have a significant impact on the status quo in respect of the provision of care to the older age cohort. These include the development of the statutory home support scheme; the national roll-out of community specialist teams for older persons and for chronic disease management; the introduction of a standardised care needs assessment across the continuum of care; the regulatory reform of long-term residential care; the development of policies in the areas of palliative care and adult safeguarding; Housing Options for our Ageing Population joint policy statement and more broadly the implementation of the recommendations of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel and the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants.
Subsequently a Cross-Departmental Group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports. Stakeholder engagement will be a central component of the work of the Commission. The Commission will be an independent commission, the members of which will be appointed by Minister Donnelly and I. On 14 December 2023 Minister Donnelly and I announced the appointment of Professor Alan Barrett, Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Institute, as Chairperson of the Commission. The other members of the Commission are currently being appointed.
167. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 31 January 2024, for a breakdown of the number of dentists who left the dental treatment services scheme, by year of leaving the scheme and by geographical area in Galway, where they had been providing dental care to medical card patients in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8254/24]
View answer168. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of dentist vacancies in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8255/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
169. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of dental nurse vacancies in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
170. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the numbers of patients seen in the Cashel minor injury unit each year for the past three years; the number of staff available at the unit; the reason the public is never recommended to use Cashel minor injury unit when local hospitals are experiencing overcrowding; the efforts taken to advertise and increase the use of this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8260/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it is intended to facilitate the family of a person (details supplied) in respect of fair deal scheme charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8261/24]
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
172. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will support the provision of melatonin on the list of drugs available under the medical card scheme for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8262/24]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The HSE advise that Melatonin (Circadin) has never been available under the Community Drug Schemes. Melatonin (Circadin) underwent a review in 2008 and reimbursement was not recommended by the NCPE (see www.ncpe.ie/drugs/melatonin-circadin/).
However, the HSE advise that an application for Melatonin can be made on an exceptional basis under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements for medical card holders. This is in accordance with Section 23 of the 2013 Act, which provides for the supply of items not on the reimbursement List. All applications under these arrangements are reviewed on an individual patient basis. The HSE must be satisfied that the patient requires the item for clinical reasons, and that there is no item on the reimbursement list which is a suitable alternative for that patient.
173. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied). [8263/24]
View answerIn the context of a protected disclosure made in 2020 my Department commissioned an Independent review into the matters raised and a report was published in 2021.
174. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 662 to 664, inclusive, of 15 February 2022, 378 of 10 March 2022 and 796 of 22 March 2022, the number of vacant, derelict or otherwise unused properties owned by the HSE, in tabular form; the number of vacant assets under review; the number of vacant assets in disposal; the number of retained vacant assets and the reason for retention; the name and location of each site; the purpose or former purpose of each site; the care services division of the HSE under which the site is registered; the previous use of the site and the year in which the site became disused; the year in which the site came into the HSE’s possession and the HSE’s interest in the site whether freehold, leasehold, and if leasehold, the type of and length of lease; and the value of the site, where applicable. [8291/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
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.
175. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the operational and planned primary care centres, by county; the stage at which each planned centre is at and the timeframe for delivery. [8292/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
176. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a treatment plan for a medical condition at Galway University Hospital or another public hospital in this State will be put in place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8301/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a service is restored to its former level at an early date (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8344/24]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Where a GP GMS vacancy is set to arise in a practice, the HSE is notified in advance and becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with an update on GMS GP vacancy in Swanlinbar 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.
178. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has made any progress on allowing researchers at technological universities access to the single pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8116/24]
View answerI remain strongly of the view that research staff in all higher education institutions across the sector should be able to access a public service pension scheme. As outlined in previous responses, my officials have submitted a business case to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan and Reform to support access to the single public service pension scheme for those researchers who are not currently able to join the scheme. The business case remains under review, and DFHERIS will only be able to progress this matter further once a response is received. The Deputy may wish to note that my officials agreed with staff and management representatives to refer this matter to the national Public Sector Agreement Group established under Building Momentum prior to the expiration of that agreement. In the event that the proposed new Public Service Agreement is ratified by trade unions, it would be the intention to refer this issue to the new Joint Implementation Committee for their consideration.
179. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a college fee waiver will be given to a person (details supplied) in order that they can continue their studies; if not, how their college fees can be covered for the remainder of their course, given they are an international protection applicant; if they will be eligible for the international protection student scheme for FE and HE students for future semesters; and if there is a way for them to access student accommodation now. [8171/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies; responsible for assessing student applications and determining the tuition fee payable by individual students. In this regard, as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for my Department to offer guidance on the fee arrangements that may apply for individual students, such as those that may apply in the case raised by the Deputy, or to intervene in the fee policy of the institution.
Notwithstanding the above, I would encourage institutions to have a responsive approach to student needs wherever possible. Where a student encounters a change in personal circumstances, students can contact the Student Services & Support team for advice on the wide range of services which are available to support them to continue on their course. The Higher Education Institution attended can offer guidance on any changes to fee arrangements that may be available, financial supports, bursaries or other supports appropriate to a student’s individual circumstances. Advice and support may also be available in respect of accommodation matters.
In relation to the International Protection Student Scheme (for FE/HE Students), the position is that the scheme provides financial grants for eligible students who are in the protection system or at the leave to remain (but not deportation order) stage. Details of the 2023/2024 eligibility criteria, including residency requirements are available at: www.gov.ie/en/service/e786a-student-support-scheme-for-asylum-seekers/
It is important to acknowledge that HEIs have shown enormous willingness to be responsive in numerous ways to student needs. I would encourage all students to engage with their institution to discuss any issues in relation to their course, including fees.
