Seán Canney
Question:255. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when supports will be put in place for a child (details supplied). [8485/24]
View answerDisability Services
Questions (255)
Written answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
Family Resource Centres
Questions (256)
Brendan Smith
Question:256. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposals to provide a new service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8491/24]
View answerWritten answers
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. At present, Tusla has no plans to expand membership of the Programme.
Should membership of the FRC Programme be expanded in the future, Tusla has advised that a transparent process would be established to ensure all applications are treated fairly. This would include engagement with community organisations throughout the country that may wish to make expressions of interest. Service inadequacies and gaps in service provision are identified through Tusla's Commissioning process, which is carried out at local and national level on an ongoing basis.
Tusla has advised that any new process would involve examination of existing local commissioning plans to identify current and projected needs, informed by local demographics and current service provision. Tusla’s Area Managers engage in the commissioning process and participate in meetings and discussions with community and voluntary agencies. Tusla aims to utilise the total resources available in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way in order to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (257)
Niall Collins
Question:257. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can help a community project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8500/24]
View answerWritten answers
€69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the Early Learning Childcare and School Age Childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment across three pillars:
• Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
• Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
• Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Some €45 million has been set aside under Pillar 2 for projects over 2024 and 2025. On 7th December last, I announced details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme, to be operated over 2024 and 2025 which is aimed at addressing capacity gaps by expanding existing provision through internal renovations and extensions where most needed.
The Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme will open for applications shortly. The scheme will provide grants for the renovation or reconfiguration of existing ELC facilities.
I also hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming months. The scheme will provide grants for larger scale extensions to existing services.
The aim of these schemes is to tackle the estimated undersupply of full time and part time places, particularly within the 1-3-year-old (pre-ECCE) age cohort.
Both schemes are open to early learning and childcare services that are Tusla registered and are in contract with Core Funding at the time of application.
My Department does not have funding available in 2024 to fund the establishment of new build projects such as that proposed by the Deputy.
Disability Services
Questions (258)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:258. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether it is intended to provide extra funding to the HSE in Galway city and county to provide for extra respite services for young people and their parents who have serious intellectual disabilities or are autistic, or both, and where a clear need for these services has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8506/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
Passport Services
Questions (259)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:259. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of workers who have been moved from the location of work from the Tallaght passport office to accommodate asylum seekers. [8508/24]
View answerWritten answers
This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Asylum Seekers
Questions (260)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:260. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the nature of accommodation for asylum seekers, Ukrainians and residents in direct provision in Ireland in terms of previous usage, hospitality, nursing homes, State building and so on. [8509/24]
View answerWritten answers
The table below details a breakdown of the accommodation types that are currently in operation across the State to accommodate Beneficiaries Of Temporary Protection and International Protection applicants. These categories are for operational use only, which may be reviewed from time to time. Where a planning exemption is being relied on, documentation of compliance is mandatory.
|
IPAS Accommodation Type |
Number of Properties |
BOTP Accommodation Type |
Number of properties |
|
Apartments |
32 |
Apartments/ Houses |
129 |
|
Former College/ Care Setting |
11 |
Former care settings |
16 |
|
Guest House |
117 |
B&B/ Guest House/ Self Catering |
477 |
|
Hostel |
10 |
Hostel |
73 |
|
Hotel |
70 |
Hotel |
392 |
|
Reception Centre |
1 |
Former School buildings/ former College buildings/ Former Convents |
107 |
|
Tented |
3 |
Holiday Village |
54 |
|
Other |
28 |
Dormitory Accommodation |
42 |
|
Community Provided |
44 |
||
|
Rapid Build/ Modular units |
8 |
||
|
State/ Local Authority Provided |
18 |
||
|
Rest Centres |
23 |
||
|
Other |
8 |
||
|
Total |
272 |
Total |
1,391 |
Asylum Seekers
Questions (261)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:261. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what research is undertaken in relation to the cost to tourism of the use of hotels, guest houses, or bed and breakfasts to accommodate asylum seekers, Ukrainians and residents in direct provision for each of the past five years. [8510/24]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland is now accommodating over 102,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants.
Under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is legally required to provide accommodation to IP applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined.
Department officials are working to bring more bed spaces into use. For context, at the end of January 2022 IPAS had 8,300 bed spaces in use; it now has approximately 26,000 beds in use. This does not account for further beds that had been provided to IP applicants in the interim in hotels that have since returned these beds to tourism.
This is a nationwide urgent situation and emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. The accommodation of International Protection (IP) applicants is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously. The Department is presently utilising a wide range of accommodation options to provide shelter to record numbers of IP applicants, over 200 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties.
In relation to procuring accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP), frequent meetings take place between DCEDIY officials and the Department of Tourism and Fáilte Ireland officials to share learnings and discuss issues as we continue to respond to the challenge of procuring accommodation for BOTP and IP applicants.
The Government is focused on how to continue the sustained support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, including those already here, as well as those likely to be further displaced by the ongoing conflict. As part of this, the Government agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach is appropriate, including through a reduced reliance on serviced accommodation, along with the development of other sources of accommodation such as refurbished properties, rapid builds and modular accommodation as part of the all of Government response to this humanitarian crisis, and the unprecedented numbers of people seeking asylum and refuge in Ireland.
The Development of a revised approach for the provision of additional accommodation for IP applicants is at a very advanced stage. Discussions are continuing between the Government parties with a view to bringing a final plan to Cabinet within weeks. Additionally, Department officials are engaging across Government via the interdepartmental Accommodation Working Group, led by the Department of An Taoiseach on this issue and it is hoped that this approach will, over time, help to reduce the reliance on tourism accommodation.
Asylum Seekers
Questions (262)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:262. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average rate being paid to accommodate asylum seekers, Ukrainians and residents in direct provision in hospitality and separately in other accommodation venues in Ireland currently; the highest rate being paid in each of these location types; and the total spend to accommodate asylum seekers in Ireland for each of the past five years. [8511/24]
View answerWritten answers
As at 11th February 2024, there are over 27,000 International Protection (IP) applicant’s accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation system as a whole.
The average cost of accommodating an IP applicant in IPAS accommodation is currently €76.80 per night.
Please see, in tabular format, the total spend of IPAS accommodation, for the last five years respectively.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
Residents in IPAS Accommodation at year end |
Average yearly cost per resident |
|
2018 |
€77,993,000 |
6,106 |
€12,773 |
|
2019 |
€129,408,000 |
7,683 |
€16,843 |
|
2020 |
€183,215,000 |
6,997 |
€26,185 |
|
2021 |
€190,856,000 |
7,244 |
€26,347 |
|
2022 |
€356,554,000 |
19,202 |
€18,569 |
|
2023 |
€640,064,470 |
26,279 |
€24,356 |
I am advised by my officials that in respect of Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs), the average cost of accommodation across all commercially contracted settings, whether catered or self-catering, is estimated at €44.73 per person per night. I am further advised that the highest average cost per person per night is €88.29.
The total spend to date for BOTPs from the outset of the crisis in 2022 to 19th February 2024 is €2,156,406,683.67. This figure is provisional and subject to final confirmation. The cost includes all accommodation and related costs, including transport, facilities management and other related expenditure.
Disability Services
Questions (263)
Seán Canney
Question:263. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on disability services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8567/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is not currently in receipt of EU funding in relation to disability services. I am conscious of the opportunities provided via EU funding streams and my Department is mindful of available funding streams as we look to coordinate action across government and develop and progress the next National Disability Strategy.
In that context, it is worth noting that EU funding streams have been used by other departments who have more direct responsibility for employment issues, such as the Work Ability programme administered by the Department of Social Protection.
The National Disability Inclusion Strategy which served as Ireland's implementation plan for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) lapsed at the end of 2022. Officials in my Department are developing, together with the input of people with disabilities and their representative organisations, the next National Disability Strategy to be delivered later this year. The new National Disability Strategy will provide a blueprint, developed in partnership with disabled people, for an ambitious programme of work to coordinate continued implementation of the UNCRPD in Ireland and to further support the rights and inclusion of disabled people.
I very much look forward to launching this strategy later this year and working with colleagues in the EU to examine potential EU funding for disability projects which can be availed of by people with disabilities in Ireland.
Direct Provision System
Questions (264)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:264. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department started to write to people with status or leave to remain in direct provision centres giving them dates by which they would have to leave the direct provision centre or be moved to another centre; the number of such letters issued to date; the criteria for issuing such letters; the rationale for this policy; the number of people who have been moved on foot of these letters; and a breakdown of these moves, including information on, from where; and the location to which they have been moved. [8618/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community.
All those with International Protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised they must now seek alternative accommodation. They are also advised that the supports of the Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT)/ Depaul are available to them.
Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation. In the past 12 months, over 2000 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community. This process began in September 2022.
IPAS has a specific Transition team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the PMVT, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to exit IPAS accommodation and access other housing options.
Those with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish Citizens and are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, to avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation. In addition, those with status have the same social welfare entitlements as Irish Citizens.
As the Deputy will be aware, despite tireless efforts of my Department, there is currently an accommodation shortfall for arriving international protection applicants. This shortfall is currently in respect to adult males but my Department is now experiencing increasing pressure in its efforts to secure accommodation for arriving families, including those with children.
Given this and Irelands legal obligation to provide accommodation to international protection applicants, those who have held a permission to remain in Ireland for a considerable length of time may be transferred to alternative emergency. This policy is in place to help ensure accommodation in non-emergency settings is available to newly arrived persons seeking international protection.
To date, 1,256 households have been written to and advised of this transfer to alternative emergency accommodation. Of this number 745 have left IPAS accommodation, 96 availed of the offer of emergency accommodation and 415 households are still in the process. Those over the age of 65 or with significant medical or welfare needs are not transferred.
Please see, in tabular format, the counties in which those written to were accommodated.
|
Cavan |
8 |
|
Clare |
72 |
|
Cork |
171 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Dublin |
168 |
|
Galway |
60 |
|
Kerry |
98 |
|
Kildare |
58 |
|
Laois |
69 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Limerick |
55 |
|
Longford |
11 |
|
Louth |
66 |
|
Mayo |
9 |
|
Meath |
43 |
|
Monaghan |
54 |
|
Offaly |
45 |
|
Sligo |
44 |
|
Tipperary |
28 |
|
Waterford |
62 |
|
Westmeath |
51 |
|
Wexford |
28 |
|
Wicklow |
54 |
|
Total Letters |
1,256 |
To date emergency accommodation offered has been at:
• Knockalisheen accommodation, Co. Clare
• Treacys Hotel , Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
• Kilbride Army Camp, Co. Wicklow
• Breaffy Woods, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
• Sailors Rest, Buncrana, Co. Donegal
• Lakelands, Scariff, Co. Clare
Public Sector Pensions
Questions (265)
John McGuinness
Question:265. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a retirement lump sum and pension entitlement has issued to a person (details supplied). [8429/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
Personal Injury Claims
Questions (266)
Carol Nolan
Question:266. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total cost of defending medical negligence litigation against the HSE and Department of Health in each year from 2010 to date, including awards made in the courts or settlements made out of court to resolve disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8462/24]
View answerWritten answers
The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive.
Accordingly, the SCA has provided me with the information set out below in response to the Deputy's question. I have been informed by the SCA that this information has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the criteria and definitions set out below.
Criteria used
• Relates to payments made in Healthcare under the Clinical Indemnity Scheme.
• HSE claims relate to claims against the HSE locations, i.e. Acute and Community settings, Section 38 service providers and the National Services and Disability sector locations. It does not contain any private scheme locations.
• The amount paid includes damages, agency and plaintiff legal costs (including VAT) and expert costs for the period 2010-2024 YTD.
• This report is correct as of 19/02/2024.
Payments in Healthcare under the Clinical Indemnity Scheme 2010-2024 YTD
|
Transaction Reporting Year |
Amount paid |
|
2010 |
€74,000,864 |
|
2011 |
€87,856,071 |
|
2012 |
€78,305,472 |
|
2013 |
€116,281,707 |
|
2014 |
€101,718,721 |
|
2015 |
€190,265,065 |
|
2016 |
€189,094,645 |
|
2017 |
€242,024,417 |
|
2018 |
€262,308,969 |
|
2019 |
€313,455,916 |
|
2020 |
€319,774,952 |
|
2021 |
€353,798,356 |
|
2022 |
€359,608,434 |
|
2023 |
€352,360,476 |
|
2024 YTD |
€37,635,973 |
|
Grand Total |
€3,078,490,039 |
Table 1: Total paid under Clinical Indemnity Scheme 2010 – 2024 YTD as of 19/02/2024.
Definitions:
National Incident Management System (NIMS): Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”, hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA). An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint. NIMS is the system used by the delegated authorities to fulfil their statutory requirement to report incidents to the State Claims Agency and for their own incident and risk management purposes.
Damages: The compensation paid to a claimant in personal injury claims for the pain and suffering arising from a physical and/or mental injury ( known as General Damages). The compensation paid to a claimant for out of pocket expenses incurred such as loss of earnings, vehicle damage, etc. (known as Special Damages).
Agency Legal Costs: Fees paid to solicitors and barristers engaged by the SCA.
Plaintiff Legal Costs: Legal Costs incurred by the Plaintiff and paid by the SCA.
Expert Costs: Fees paid to experts engaged by the SCA e.g. medical experts, private investigators etc.
Transaction Reporting Year: This refers to the year that payments were issued.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (267, 268)
Gino Kenny
Question:267. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the work and current status of the Public Health Alcohol Research Group; and if he intends to publish the report of the group. [8414/24]
View answerGino Kenny
Question:268. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health what plans he has in relation to monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, and the impact of any changes to licensing laws as proposed by the Minister for Justice through the Sale of Alcohol Bill. [8415/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.
The Public Health Alcohol Research Group (PHARG) was established in 2019. The purpose of the Group is to ensure that the measures implemented under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 are comprehensively evaluated to assess their effectiveness in meeting the policy objectives of the legislation. The PHARG has completed its report: Monitoring and Evaluating the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018: A report from the Public Health Alcohol Research Group 2020-2022. This Report is currently under consideration. Decisions with regard to next actions, including publication, will be taken once this process has been completed.
The development of the Sale of Alcohol Bill is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Justice.
Question No. 268 answered with Question No. 267.
Nursing Homes
Questions (269)
Cathal Crowe
Question:269. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will revise the national treatment purchase fund calculation mechanism for funding fair deal stays in not-for-profit charitable nursing homes, such as Cahercalla Community Hospital in Ennis and Carrigoran Nursing Home, Newmarket-on-Fergus, to reflect rising costs in providing healthcare, along with incidental costs often arising from HIQA inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8419/24]
View answerWritten answers
I recognise the important role that voluntary nursing homes play in the care and welfare of older people in Ireland, and the important contributions nursing home operators and staff make to local communities
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are the body designated, under Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009, to negotiate with persons carrying on the business of a private and voluntary nursing home, for the purposes of reaching an agreement on the maximum prices to be charged for nursing home care, and are based on the NTPF’s cost criteria. These criteria include costs reasonably incurred by the nursing home, local market prices, historic prices and overall budgetary capacity.
The NTPF carry out this role independently under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. The NTPF has statutory independence, and there is no role for Ministers or the Department of Health in these negotiations which are conducted and agreed between individual nursing home providers and the NTPF.
There is no other mechanism for funding from the public purse for nursing home residents outside the Nursing Home Support Scheme. It is imperative that private and voluntary providers continue to engage in the process as set out in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009.
The Department of Health published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021 and continues to work on bringing forward the recommendations that emerged from this review. A steering group has been established to oversee the delivery of the recommendations; this group has met on a regular basis since publication of the review. The group made four recommendations:
• Recommendation 1: Formal assessment of using a formulaic approach in the pricing system as set out in Section 4 of the Report.
• Recommendation 2: Formal assessment of amending the approach to the assessment of “Local Market Price” to reflect prices within other nursing homes within a certain distance of the nursing home rather than within the same county.
• Recommendation 3: NTPF to engage with nursing homes and their representatives in relation to enhancing the internal NTPF Review process.
• Recommendation 4: Amending the process for allowing for high dependency residents when the necessary systems are in place.
The delivery of recommendations 1-3 primarily sit with the NTPF. As per the recommendations of the review, the NTPF is reporting periodically to the steering group on progress in implementing the recommendations. It is recognised, however, that recommendation 4 has dependencies going well beyond the scope of the pricing review. This recommendation is therefore being addressed within the broader context of the reform of older persons' services, with appropriate links established between the pricing review steering group (including shared membership) to ensure that appropriate links are made between this recommendation and the others.
On 19 December 2023, I announced a new €10 million scheme to improve infection prevention and fire safety in private and voluntary nursing homes. The Nursing Home Resident Safety Improvement (RSI) Scheme will provide funding towards structural works carried out in compliance with standards published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) under Regulation 27 (Protection against infection) and Regulation 28 (Fire precautions).
Up to €25,000 will be available to each qualifying nursing home for eligible works under this scheme. Nursing homes may also claim retrospectively for works covered by this scheme if they were carried out since 1 January 2020. The commencement date for the RSI scheme is 1 January 2024 and the closing date for receipt of applications is 15 November 2024.
This scheme is a vouched scheme which is open to all operational voluntary and private nursing homes registered with HIQA and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) as of 1 January 2024 and in receipt of payment under the national Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) for the provision of long-term residential care services.
The HSE will administer the scheme and make payments to the nursing homes. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) will administer the application process and provide support and advice to the HSE. Nursing homes whose applications are approved will have their payments processed and released on a quarterly basis by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
All funding through this scheme should be used to fund works in line with the nursing home's compliance plan outlined to HIQA as part of their inspection process.
Further details of scheme rules, eligibility criteria and the application process are available on the HSE website at: www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/nursing-home-resident-safety-improvement-scheme/, and also on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/rsi.htm#:~:text=About%20the%20scheme,28%20(Fire%20precautions)%20of%20S.I
Substance Misuse
Questions (270)
Paul Donnelly
Question:270. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health for an update on legislation pertaining to the use and supply of products containing hexahydrocannabinol, which has psychoactive effects upon consumption by humans. [8425/24]
View answerWritten answers
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I would like to open with an explanation as to what HHC is and its current legal position.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, is a Schedule 1 controlled drug in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and is subject to the strictest of controls.
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a derivative of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but it is not a Schedule 1 controlled drug. It is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that has rarely been identified as a trace component in Cannabis Sativa, but can also be produced synthetically by hydrogenation of cannabis extracts.
HHC was first identified in Europe in May 2022 and was put under intensive monitoring at the end of 2022 by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA ).
It is the first semi-synthetic cannabinoid reported in the EU and has been monitored as a New Psychoactive Substance by the EU Early Warning System since October 2022.
Early warning in Ireland is co-ordinated by the EMCDDA National Focal Point and the Early Warning, Emerging Trends (EWET) working group chaired by the Department of Health. EWET continues to monitor the emergence and use of this substance in Ireland.
HHC has been reported as a drug of concern by HSE and adolescent service providers. HHC can be contained in vaping products. There is growing concern on the potential impact of using this substance on young people’s mental health including the possible link with psychosis. Young people report adverse effects such as loss of consciousness after use.
The HSE will add content about HHC to its website, drugs.ie. Evidence in relation to harms associated with HHC will be carefully monitored and appropriate responses will be considered. The HSE will continue to liaise with the EMCDDA, and the Early Warning and Emerging Trends (EWET) group for further direction on this substance.
This is an area currently being monitored by the HSE and the EU Drug Agency as there is limited information on the health impact of this substance.
With regard to synthetic cannabinoids, the HSE has comprehensive harm reduction information about the substances available on drugs.ie.
The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 is an act to prevent the misuse of dangerous or otherwise harmful psychoactive substances and to provide for offences relating to the sale, importation, exportation or advertisement of those substances.
Under Section 3 of the Act it 3.—
(1) A person who sells a psychoactive substance knowing or being reckless as to whether that substance is being acquired or supplied for human consumption shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A person who imports or exports a psychoactive substance knowing or being reckless as to whether that substance is being acquired or supplied for human consumption shall be guilty of an offence.
Protections are currently in place. Anybody who sells a HHC vape, which one would assume is for human consumption, is guilty of an offence under the 2010 Act.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (271)
Brian Leddin
Question:271. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health if financial assistance is available for those who need to rent or buy medical equipment such as scalp cooling or cold cap machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8433/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Social Protection administer the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme and the Fuel Allowance, which may assist individuals in meeting the costs associated with operating medical devices. Further information on these can be found, respectively, at:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/d5554-supplementary-welfare-allowance/
www.gov.ie/en/service/00aa38-fuel-allowance/
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, free of charge to eligible persons following assessment by a relevant health professional.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means.
In certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines/medical items. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines who are not eligible for a medical card.
As the provision of specific aids and appliances to meet a medical need is a service matter, I am also referring the PQ to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Service Executive
Questions (272)
Michael Ring
Question:272. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has introduced a central processing system for the payment of invoices from suppliers; if so, when this system was introduced; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8443/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Mental Health Services
Questions (273)
Mark Ward
Question:273. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number on the waiting list for CAMHS for the month of January, by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8444/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Questions (274)
Mark Ward
Question:274. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of filled posts, by job description, within the community mental health services in Clondalkin; the number of vacancies per post; the steps being taken to fill these vacant positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8449/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.