Written Answers Nos. 1235-1258
1237. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health how people in the healthcare system that suffer from long-Covid will be supported post 31 March 2024 if they are still unable to work after the temporary special scheme for leave concludes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13705/24]
View answerIn the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme has been in place since July 2022 for eligible staff in respect of Long Covid.
This Special Scheme has been extended a number of times, most recently in October 2023, when the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) granted a final extension, permitting the Special Scheme to run until 31st March 2024.
DPENDPR's sanction to extend the Special Scheme to that date was contingent on it being the final sanction that would be provided, and as such the Special Scheme will conclude on 31st March 2024.
The conclusion of the Special Scheme has been the subject of a claim from health sector staff representative bodies, and the Labour Court has recently recommended that persons with Long COVID in the health service should be supported by taking account of the availability of the range of support arrangement already in place, including the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
The circa 118 employees currently on the Special Scheme have been supported on full pay for close to four years to date (depending on the date they initially contracted Covid) having moved from DPENDPR’s Special Leave with Pay to the Special Scheme in July 2022. Any employee remaining unwell after the Special Scheme concludes, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, and employees have received personal notification of this from their employer.
The supports available under the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme include:
Full pay sick leave for three months.
Followed by half pay sick leave for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration, which if granted, provides up to a 547 days of paid sick leave.
The Critical Illness Protocol may also provide further supports if granted.
1238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when funds will be made available so that a surgery can be carried out (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13706/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1239. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of planned primary care centre projects that the HSE intends to lease which are currently stalled, suspended or otherwise in abeyance due to the need to review leasing costs; and the date that the HSE intends to initiate that review for each, in tabular form. [13711/24]
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.
1240. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when a response will issue to an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13712/24]
View answer1241. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health when a formal response will issue to the application by the Royal Hospital Donnybrook to the HSE for capital funding toward a new public community nursing unit on its grounds (details supplied). [13713/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1240 and 1241 together.
I can confirm that the Department received this application from Royal Hospital Donnybrook and it is currently under consideration by the relevant units.
1242. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he plans to make a speech and language therapy clinic available in Ospidéal Pobail Chorca Dhuibhne, County Kerry, to enable children in local area to access same rather than travelling to Tralee. [13741/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1243. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the current system in place for the provision of prostheses and bras to breast cancer patients (details supplied); if he is aware of any significant delays and difficulties in obtaining a prosthesis and bras following breast cancer treatment for breast cancer patients; the average waiting time for the approval of these items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13755/24]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case. The Community Funded Schemes (CFS) is the collective name for the provision of these products and services.
The Community Funded Scheme service improvement programme recently published two new national procedures for the provision of an allowance for cancer treatment in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products. The HSE advise that the intention of the new procedures was to standardize provision across the country.
I instructed the HSE to ensure that no patient, either currently availing of the scheme or accessing it in the future, should be at any financial loss as a result of the proposed changes.
The HSE has since communicated to each CHO advising them to revert to the pre-existing level of contributions to patients in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products until such time as the new procedures can be reviewed in terms of the proposed allowances to be provided. CHOs were also instructed to contact any member of the public who received an email/communication advising them of the new procedure to inform them it has been withdrawn. This communication also reiterated that no person should be disadvantaged in any way in the intervening period.
I want to reiterate that progressing Women's Health is a priority within the Programme for Government, and a top priority for me as Minister for Health. I am proud to have overseen unprecedented levels of funding in women's health services over the last few years. I want to ensure that the necessary supports are put in place so that every woman has the same level of access to appropriate healthcare no matter where they live in Ireland.
In regard to the service matters raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1244. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of cancelled hospital appointments in the State, broken down by individual hospital, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13787/24]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellations or postponements, they can happen for a variety of reasons, including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way, hospitals follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Cancelled hospital appointments and procedures are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.
In relation to the particular query raised, as these is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1245. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average and longest waiting time for a child to see a CAMHS professional in each county in the past three years; and the number of children on waiting lists for CAMHS, by county, in each of the past ten years. [13788/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1246. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons diagnosed with cancer in the State in each of the past ten years, by cancer type, in tabular form. [13789/24]
View answerThe National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) is charged with collecting and classifying information on all cancer cases that occur in Ireland. The NCRI produces annual reports covering cancer incidence, mortality and survival.
The most recent year for which the NCRI has published full incident cancer case counts is 2021. This data was published in its 2023 annual report, which is available here:
• www.ncri.ie/sites/ncri/files/pubs/NCRI_AnnualStatisticalReport_2023.pdf
Full accurate data for 2022 and 2023 will not be available until the NCRI has collected and verified all data.
Please find attached the number of persons diagnosed with cancer in the State each year between 2012 and 2021, by cancer type, in tabular form.
1247. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time between cancer diagnosis and the commencement of chemotherapy treatment (details supplied), in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [13790/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1248. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons screened by CervicalCheck at either primary care or colposcopy in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [13791/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1249. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients to receive radiation oncology in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [13792/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1250. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients to receive surgical oncology in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [13793/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1251. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of GP referrals to cancer rapid access clinics, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [13794/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1252. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons screened by BreastCheck in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [13795/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1253. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of Parliamentary Questions which he referred to the HSE for response, in the past year, which have yet gone unanswered; and if a specific figure can be provided in the case of Parliamentary Questions submitted by this Deputy. [13796/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1254. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13808/24]
View answerThe table below shows cost of flights for Ministerial travel abroad incurred to date in 2024. Accommodation was arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and will be billed to my Department in due course.
|
Destination |
Purpose |
Flight Cost |
|
|
Minister Donnelly |
Australia |
St Patrick's Day |
8,330.55 |
|
Minister Donnelly's Private Secretary |
Australia |
St Patrick's Day |
1,827.43 |
|
Minister Donnelly's Advisor |
Australia |
St Patrick's Day |
3,304.65 |
|
Minister Butler |
Cyprus/Italy |
St Patrick's Day |
303.95 |
|
Minister Butler's Private Secretary |
Cyprus/Italy |
St Patrick's Day |
303.95 |
|
Minister Butler's Advisor |
Cyprus/Italy |
St Patrick's Day |
313.95 |
|
Minister Naughton |
Singapore |
St Patrick's Day |
4,320.62 |
|
Minister Naughton's Private Secretary |
Singapore |
St Patrick's Day |
4,320.62 |
|
Minister Naughton's Advisor |
Singapore |
St Patrick's Day |
4,320.62 |
1255. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of properties either owned or leased by his Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13826/24]
View answerMy Department has one building, leased by the OPW. It does not own or lease any vacant properties.
1256. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if the National Gender Service can share where the protocols that involve leaving transgender youth on puberty blockers alone for ten years until age 23 as their staff mentioned on the radio last week (details supplied) are published, and the names of clinics which do this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13835/24]
View answer1257. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if the appearance on the radio last week by one of their staff (details supplied) was authorised by the National Gender Service; if he and the National Gender Service fully supports the statements made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13836/24]
View answer1258. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if the National Gender Service regularly meets with trans community groups; when they last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13837/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1256 to 1258, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for response.
