Written Answers Nos. 1215-1236
1215. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the method used to determine the ratio of therapists to children needing access to a specific therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11547/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1216. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the locations that have the greatest deficits for therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11549/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1217. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the decision by the HSE to withdraw funding for the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme (UMAAP) in 2024 and if his Department has plans for the continuation of this program; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11552/24]
View answerADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
It can cause many issues in areas such as personal and social relations, education and occupation, managing money and organising life in general, there is also an increased risk of having other mental health difficulties with it such as anxiety and depression.
Children can access ADHD assessments through the National Educational Psychological Service. In addition to this, as per the CAMHS Operational Guidelines, CAMHS take referrals for children and adolescents up to age 18 with moderate to severe ADHD.
I am aware that prior to the inception of the National Clinical Programme for Adults with ADHD which I launched in 2021, there were no specific ADHD public services available for Adults in Ireland.
The NCP for ADHD is delivered as part of the HSE’s mental health service provision to ensure an integrated, person-centred response to adults with ADHD. The programme includes both assessment and treatment of the disorder and works collaboratively with voluntary agencies. It envisages a national service of ADHD teams, with each Team comprised of Consultant Psychiatrist, Senior Psychologist, Senior Occupational Therapist, Clinical Nurse Specialist Mental Health, and an administrator.
Enhancement of specialist mental health services such as ADHD is a key priority for myself as a Minister, the Government as a whole and the HSE. Since 2021, over €3 million has been made available for funding ADHD posts from Programme for Government funding. This has enabled the set-up of 5 ADHD Teams with recruitment of over 25 posts, and two more teams are currently in development with posts funded for them.
In addition, as part of the National Clinical Programme adults funding of €150,000 was allocated to facilitate a collaboration with ADHD Ireland and the UCD School of Psychology to develop an ADHD app and the UMAAP Programme (Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme). Both the ADHD App and the UMAAP Programme have proven to be two very positive resources for people with ADHD.
The UMAAP Programme is delivered as a 5-week workshop, and its aim is to provide education and tools for adults on how to manage ADHD.
I am pleased to confirm that further to recent discussions between the Department of Health and the HSE to finalise 2024 mental health funding, ADHD Ireland will be provided with funding for provision of the UMAAP Programme in 2024 and beyond. I look forward to launching the UMAAP Programme in April as agreed with ADHD Ireland.
1218. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the admission criteria for Linn Dara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11554/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1219. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of young people that were admitted to Linn Dara from 2020 to present; the percentage of these who were from outside the catchment area, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11555/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible
1220. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if funding for private hospital care is available to persons with eating disorders who are not accepted to public facilities for care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11556/24]
View answer1221. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the eating disorder services model of care is to be updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11557/24]
View answer1222. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who were admitted to hospitals for eating disorders since 2020; the average length of hospitalisation for eating disorders during this time period; if readmissions occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11558/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1220 to 1222, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1223. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the mental health treatments available to eating disorder patients who are reliant on a nasogastric tube; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11559/24]
View answer1224. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels of specialist eating disorder teams by CHO area; the steps being taken to improve retention and recruitment within eating disorder teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11560/24]
View answer1225. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the rollout of eating disorder teams; the funding allocated to the rollout for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11573/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1223 to 1225, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána due to verbal, written (including electronically) or physical threats being addressed to staff or Ministers, at any level, working within the Department during the period 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11597/24]
View answerMy Department assesses situations as they occur and contact An Garda Síochána where deemed necessary. No incidents have related to physical threats to Ministers or staff.
There are departmental procedures in place to address such issues through the Health & Safety team, and to escalate to An Garda Síochána, who investigate and taken any appropriate action.
1227. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive a date for surgery (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11611/24]
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.
1228. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11615/24]
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.
1229. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health whether the requirements to become a HSE international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) could be widened to reflect the pathways to become qualified, including the heath professional route, mentorship or a voluntary group before taking the IBCLC exam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11624/24]
View answerThank you for your query on the education pathway to becoming a qualified lactation consultant.
The Department of Health national health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan and the National Cancer Strategy, emphasises the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
Since 2016, through the Health Service Executive (HSE) Breastfeeding Action Plan (Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland 2016-2021), supports available for breastfeeding in Ireland have improved. The HSE has established the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group to progress a range of actions, across a number of divisions, to provide the supports that mothers require at all stages of the breastfeeding continuum.
In May 2021 Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, announced additional funding of €1.58m, to fund twenty-four additional HSE Lactation Consultants, thereby providing support to every maternity unit in the country. There is currently 59.1 WTE dedicated lactation posts employed in the HSE, with 35.5 WTE working in maternity services and 23.6 WTE in primary care.
Education and Training for Healthcare Professionals (HCP’s) is one of the five themes in the 2016-2021 Breastfeeding Strategy and Action Plan. Further training for HCPs in breastfeeding and enhanced staffing and resources for breastfeeding support within maternity services and primary care is a priority in the strategy.
Education and training for HCP’s is provided through undergraduate, postgraduate and voluntary avenues. Currently the HSE administers a breastfeeding course on HSELanD that is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) which is available to all midwives, PHN’s and other HCPs. This updated National Infant Feeding Education Programme (NIFEP) focuses on standardising the delivery of breastfeeding education and skills training, maximising blended learning, and ensuring health care staff are up to date with emerging evidence. To date, five thousand staff have enrolled on the course.
Training is provided in health specific undergraduate courses such as medicine, nutrition and dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy (SALT). Other postgraduate certificate courses are available specifically for Infant Feeding, such as the Breastfeeding & Lactation postgraduate certificate course in UCD. The International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant training (IBCLC) is another qualification that can be undertaken voluntarily through the IBCLC commission. However, the IBCLC qualification is not recognised by the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) but it is currently the most popular qualification for infant feeding/lactation post holders working in dedicated roles. It is not a compulsory requirement in national job specifications. Staff working in lactation posts in the maternity hospitals, primary care and Children's Health Ireland (CHI) are employed in their substantive roles (nursing, midwifery and HSCP roles) and not as IBCLC’s.
The Breastfeeding Strategy and action plan is currently under review by the Breastfeeding Strategy Implementation group and is expected to be completed soon. Further exploration in the development of a level 9 postgraduate education qualification for infant feeding will remain on the HSE agenda to strengthen professional development for healthcare professionals in promoting breastfeeding. More detail on education supports for healthcare professionals in breastfeeding is evident in the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Report (WBTI) report that was published in late 2023. The Government remains committed to improving the breastfeeding rates in Ireland and in the training of healthcare professionals to deliver those supports.
1230. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on infant formula in maternity hospitals in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11625/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for their attention and direct response to the Deputy.
1231. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health who represented Ireland at the COP10/MOP3 global anti-tobacco conferences; what agenda items were priority for the Irish delegation; what are the outcomes of the conferences that can translate into tobacco policy or legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11631/24]
View answerAn official from the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Unit of the Department of Health attended the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) COP10 and FCTC Protocol MOP3.
The Delegation's priority was to monitor the latest developments in relation to novel products, while ensuring that focus was also kept on the tobacco epidemic.
Outcomes of the conferences include:
• The establishment of an Expert Group to explore forward-looking tobacco control measures which go beyond those which are currently contained in the FCTC.
• A decision on Article 18 which urges parties to take account of the environmental impacts of tobacco production.
• The re-establishment of an Expert Group on liability which will help Parties to take legal action against the tobacco industry.
• A decision on human rights which encourages Parties to consider including WHO FCTC principles and implementation efforts when engaging with the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
• The Panama Declaration which reaffirmed the “fundamental and irreconcilable conflict” between the tobacco industry and public health.
1232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether progress has been made on summarising the responses to the public consultation on further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, whether pre-legislative scrutiny will be the next step of the legislative process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11632/24]
View answerThe public consultation on further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products closed on January 5th 2024 and received 15,822 submission. Analysis of the data is ongoing.
The content of the proposed legislation will be guided by our consultation as well as by evidence reviews, legal advice and regulatory impact assessment to ensure that any regulation is achievable and effective. This process is being further informed by engagement with other EU Member States, Government Departments and the HSE.The timeframe for publication of the General Scheme of the Bill and considerations regarding pre-legislative scrutiny will be determined by the final proposed legislative measures.
1233. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health for health for an update on the progress being made for the proposed reopening of a health centre in Wicklow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11634/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly 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.
1234. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the urgent need to expand a health centre in Wicklow (details supplied) to allow wheelchair access for patients with mobility issues and to construct an additional room for medical consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11635/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly 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.
1235. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will commence chemotherapy treatment at Letterkenny University Hospital; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11641/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1236. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the position for an update in relation to the HSE-led implementation group considering the Joint Committee on Health report on the proposed legislative recommendations in the Marie O'Shea report; how many times have the group met since being established; who are the members of the group; to identify the ten work-streams identified by the group; when the draft implementation action plan is likely to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11643/24]
View answerThe final Report of the Review of the operation of the Health(Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was submitted to me at the end of February 2023. It made a range of recommendations, most of which are operational in nature, with some proposing legislative change.
The Report was considered by Cabinet on April 25th 2023. The HSE, as agreed by Government, has established an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations. The proposals recommending legislative changes were referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration.
In December 2023, the Joint Committee on Health issued a report on the proposed legislative recommendations. This is now being considered in my Department.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the update on the operational recommendations.
