Written Answers Nos. 418-439
418. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if a product approved under the MCAP as listed on S.I. No. 5 of 2023 can be prescribed to the holder of a valid Ministerial licence and if the licence holder can purchase their prescribed products at a pharmacy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11435/24]
View answerA Ministerial Licence issued pursuant to Section 14 for the Misuse of Drugs entitles the clinician licencee to prescribe, import, supply , possess and administer a cannabis-based product containing Tetrahydrocannabinol.
The decision on what to prescribe is a clinical decision in which neither the Minister for Health nor the Department of Health has a role.
As the products are Schedule 1 controlled drugs in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 the necessary licences must be in place under the Misuse of Drugs Act, other than for the prescribing clinicians, for possession and supply of the prescribed cannabis-based products by other stakeholders such as wholesalers and pharmacists.
419. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the current status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11439/24]
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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
420. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the current status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11440/24]
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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
421. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 586 of 13 February 2024, if he is satisfied that there is no private surge capacity available to the UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11441/24]
View answerThere is no private inpatient capacity available to UHL. GPs can refer patients to the Medical Assessment Unit of the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee, and patients may be admitted if clinically appropriate. Future capacity in the Bons Secours Hospital Limerick is not expected to be open in 2024.
422. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of private beds, by unit, in tabular form, at University Hospital Limerick; if those private beds can be used by public patients as a surge capacity measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11442/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
423. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the full list of defined roles under the patient and client care heading of the HSE health service personnel census; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11443/24]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
424. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Lucan area; if developmental checks are being offered to newborns in the area for the appropriate month milestones; what options are available to parents if their children are not offered appointments due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11444/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
425. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Clondalkin area; if developmental checks are being offered to newborns in the area for the appropriate month milestones; what options are available to parents if their children are not to be offered appointments due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11445/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
426. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Rathcoole area; if developmental checks are being offered to newborns in the area for the appropriate month milestones; what options are available to parents if their children are not to be offered appointments due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11446/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Newcastle area; if developmental checks are being offered to newborns in the area for the appropriate month milestones; what options are available to parents if their children are not to be offered appointments due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11447/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
428. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Palmerstown area; if developmental checks are being offered to newborns in the area for the appropriate month milestones; what options are available to parents if their children are not to be offered appointments due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11448/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
429. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Brittas area; if developmental checks are being offered to newborns in the area for the appropriate month milestones; what options are available to parents if their children are not to be offered appointments due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11449/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
430. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Saggart area; if developmental checks are being offered to newborns in the area for the appropriate month milestones; what options are available to parents if their children are not be offered appointments due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11450/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
431. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health what measures are being taken to increase the number of GPs around the country, and Kilkenny in particular; and whether current GPs use waiting list systems.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11457/24]
View answerGeneral Practitioners are private practitioners. In an instance where a GP practice has a full list and cannot take on new patients, it is a matter for the GP practice concerned to decide to keep a waiting list of patients who wish to register with them if appropriate.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Under the terms of these contracts, the maximum number of medical card or GP visit card patients on a GP's patient panel may not exceed 2,000, or 2,200 if the GP also holds an under 8s contract, except in exceptional circumstances.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
It is a matter for individual GP practices to determine the number of private patients they can accept.
As private practitioners, GPs may also establish practices at a place of their own choosing. The State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. While recruitment is ongoing, the HSE put a locum or other suitable arrangement in place to provide continuity of care for the area concerned. As of the 6th of March, there are no GMS vacancies in Kilkenny.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and is working to ensure that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice was increased by €211.6m. This provided for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees for additional services and increased practice supports. The GP Agreement 2023 further increased GP capitation fees, increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a grant support for additional staff capacity as well a practice staff maternity leave support.
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.
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, of which 84 were in practice by the end of January. Following the programme’s success in 2023, funding has been made available for the planned recruitment of up to 250 more non-EU GPs this year.
Finally, 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. When completed, the review will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
432. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health for an update on the appointment of a new GP (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11466/24]
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, 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.
433. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason naloxone, a lifesaving medication, is only available on prescription and if he has any plans to make it available over the counter to help save lives. [11470/24]
View answerWhile Naloxone is a prescription required drug various measures have been put in place to ensure that as many people as are required have access to naloxone administration courses.
Currently the supply and administration of medicinal products in emergencies is done by persons engaged or employed by organisatons listed with the Health Products Regulatory Authority. The person supplying and administering the medicinal product must have been issued with a certificate stating that he or she has satisfactorily completed a course of training, approved by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC), the HSE or another body nominated by the Minister for that purpose, in the use of the specific medicinal product, relating to the administration of the medicinal product.
A legislative amendment was made in 2023, by Statutory Instrument 238/2023 Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2023 in order to give the HSE the same authority as PHECC to approve training courses and produce clinical practice guidelines.
Under the current Medicinal Products (Prescription Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (SI 540/2003) it is permitted that naloxone may be used without prescription under certain conditions by individuals who belong to listed organisations registered with the HPRA and who have undergone a training course approved by either the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) subject to PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines or the HSE subject to HSE Clinical Practice Guidelines.
434. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when speech and language therapy can be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11483/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
435. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if appropriate health and multi-disciplinary assistance including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy is available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11491/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that this is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
436. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a Leitrim based apprentice (details supplied) who trained under SOLAS are not recognising the time he spent working at an accredited company from July 2020 to May 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11373/24]
View answerI refer to the details provided by Deputy Feighan. Officials in my Department have made enquiries with SOLAS on behalf of the apprentice concerned. SOLAS have advised that this employer is not registered with SOLAS as an apprentice employer, and as such this period of employment cannot be included in the apprentice’s time served.
437. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his engagements with Irish institutes of higher education regarding their ongoing collaboration with counterparts in Israel; and if he has raised any concerns with University College Dublin related to their Israeli counterpart fundraising for student reservists that took part in the Israeli assault on Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11400/24]
View answerWithin the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018, higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland are autonomous bodies.
As such, these institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes including their academic collaborations and as Minister it would not be appropriate for me to intervene.
438. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, given the request of the Taoiseach that the European Commission urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, he has similarly sought review of Israel’s participation in Horizon Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11401/24]
View answerI am deeply concerned by the desperate situation of civilians in Gaza. This remains a central priority for the Government, including at EU level, where Ireland is consistently calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Horizon Europe - is the European Union’s largest research and innovation programme and encompasses all European Member States as well as 18 Associated Countries from around the world.
Israel became associated to Horizon Europe on the 6th of December 2021 by signing an agreement with the European Commission. This agreement references the EU-Israel Association Agreement established in 2000 as providing the underlying general principles for Israel’s participation.
In February, the Taoiseach and the Spanish Prime Minister sent a joint letter to the President of the European Commission, requesting a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. This comprehensive agreement establishes the basic principles of cooperation between the EU and Israel on a wide range of issues, including a framework for participation in European programmes.
Any adjustment in this association agreement may have possible implications for Israel’s participation in EU programmes such as Horizon Europe. We are waiting on a response from the Commission as to whether such a review will be conducted.
The negotiation process for incorporating Associated Countries to Horizon Europe is the sole competence of the European Commission. EU Member States and the European Parliament have no formal role in these negotiations and are not required to approve the agreements. Member States also have no legal capacity to suspend or alter these Association Agreements. The European Commission has made no indication they intend to change the status quo with regards to Israel’s participation in these programmes.
The Horizon Europe agreement signed with Israel includes Article 9.8 which limits participation to the areas within Israel’s pre-1967 borders, in line with general EU policy. Israel has been associated to every one of the EU's research and innovation framework programmes since 1996.
439. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report 2023 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11225/24]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts including licensing and enforcement.
My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information up to and including 2022, including numbers of dog licenses issued, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on gov.ie: (www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-control-statistics/). The 2023 dog control statistics have been requested from local authorities and will be published on gov.ie once available.
