Written Answers Nos. 1478-1500
1478. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the long wait times for transgender adults wishing to access gender-affirming healthcare through the National Gender Service at Loughlinstown; if increased funding and resources have been allocated to clear the current ten-year backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14759/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1479. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the English version of the medical card application form is currently not available for download from the Health Service Executive (HSE) website and checked on 24, 25. 26 and 27 March 2024; the reason these forms were unavailable on these dates (details supplied); the measures that are being taken to ensure the availability of these forms in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14766/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1480. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the process for online applications for medical cards (details supplied); if the HSE will make arrangements to provide an option to have these documents printed by the HSE and then have them posted to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14767/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1481. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently re-examine the transfer of the physiotherapy/occupational therapy service to Longford for parts of Westmeath who previously attended Clonbrusk in Athlone (details supplied); and if these services must remain in Longford if his Department will discuss the provision of transport links with the Department of Transport as a matter of urgency. [14771/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1482. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of the plan to provide a new ambulance base at Kelvin Grove, Carlow, if plans have been submitted to Carlow County Council; if the project includes a training centre; and the indicative timeframe for delivery of the project. [14774/24]
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.
1483. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the status of a complaint made to the management of St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14775/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1484. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if the X-ray unit in St. Dymphna’s hospital, Carlow has been reopened; the hours of service for the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14782/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1485. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the use of LibreLink sensory technology to monitor blood levels is approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14783/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1486. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of minor and major treatment bays within the accident and emergency department of Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. [14796/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1487. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric neurology registrar at CHI Temple Street in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [14797/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1488. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health for an update on a case (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment with the haematology department at Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [14803/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1489. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an ADHD assessment can be secured for a person (details supplied) who requires same to be completed as soon as possible, whose family are concerned for their well-being, who was in State care aged 5 to 18, and whose GP has now referred them to the appropriate services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14808/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1490. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to outline an itemised list of how the 2023 mental health budget allocation was spent, in tabular form, including the costs for existing levels of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14825/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1491. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to report on the total amount of funds moved from the health budget to the children, equality, disability, integration and youth budget; to report on how the transfer of moneys for the Department of Disability will be recorded in health budgets going forward; to report on how the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will now report on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14826/24]
View answerThe Further Revised Estimates for Public Services 2023 took account of the transfer of administration and Ministerial functions of specialist disability services provided by the HSE and other specialist health providers previously funded and administered by the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disabilities, Integration and Youth with effect from the 1st March, 2023.
That transfer of functions comprised of:
• managing health services for people with a Disability
• providing community care services for people with Disabilities, and
• provision of Children Disability Network Teams services.
In respect of the functions transferred, 39 posts were transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disabilities, Integration and Youth along with a funding transfer of €2.647 billion in respect of 2023.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are now responsible for reporting on this budget as these responsibilities have permanently transferred.
1492. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the new Implementation Plan for Sharing the Vision will be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14827/24]
View answerSharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, Ireland’s national mental health policy, aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.
The implementation of Sharing the Vision is overseen by the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC), independently chaired by Ms Catherine Brogan, which is collectively responsible for driving and overseeing the long-term implementation of the policy.
The current Implementation Plan for Sharing the Vision was developed under the oversight of the NIMC to guide the implementation of the policy's 100 recommendations during the period of 2022-2024, and will be completed by the end of 2024. A key task for the NIMC in 2024 is the development of its successor plan (2025- 2027).
The development of the next Implementation Plan will be informed by learnings from the first implementation cycle, as well as incorporating implementation science expertise and taking into account on-going and future developments relevant to the delivery of mental health services, including the regional restructuring of the Health Service Executive (HSE), whole-of-government, whole-of-system cooperation, recruitment and budget considerations, and the wider policy landscape and interdependencies across other government Departments in respect of Sharing the Vision.
Another priority for the NIMC in 2024 is the delivery of short-term recommendations according to the current Implementation Plan. The development of the next Implementation Plan (2025-2027) will be informed by the progression of all recommendations over the coming year. Regular Implementation Status Reports for Sharing the Vision, along with the NIMC's Analysis documents, are published on the NIMC webpage on the Department of Health website here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/8f821-national-implementation-and-monitoring-committee-steering-committee/#sharing-the-vision-reports.
1493. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the updated suicide prevention strategy will be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14828/24]
View answerConnecting for Life, 2015-2024, is Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide. The Strategy focuses on the prevention of suicidal behaviour and addresses a broad range of risk and protective factors.
The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is responsible for the implementation of Connecting for Life, overseen by a Cross-Sectoral Implementation and Monitoring Steering Group chaired by the Department of Health, with representation from departments, agencies and NGO partners who have commitments to deliver on various actions in the Strategy.
Following an independent mid-term review, in November 2020 Cabinet approved extending the Strategy from 2020 to 2024.
Reflecting the complex process of implementing an inter-departmental and cross-agency strategy there have been three implementation plans for Connecting for Life to date. The plans have ensured a structured approach to implementation and enable coordination across government departments and agencies on key actions in the strategy.
As Connecting for Life is now drawing to a close, an evaluation of its implementation is now being conducted, having been commissioned by NOSP. The evaluation will help assess how well the Strategy has been implemented and the extent to which its activities have contributed to reduced suicide rate and reduced rates of self-harm, in the whole population and amongst priority groups. The evaluation will be considering the implementation process of the strategy, and an outcomes evaluation to consider the impact of the strategy. The study is due for completion in Q1 2025. The report of the evaluation and the learnings from Connecting for Life will inform the successor strategy to Connecting for Life, and the Department of Health has now commenced work on the development of this new suicide prevention strategy.
1494. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to report, in tabular form, the location of each of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis, eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14829/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1495. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to report, in tabular form, which of the national clinical programmes in mental health, namely ADHD, dual diagnosis, early intervention in psychosis (eip), eating disorders, perinatal mental health, self-harm/suicide are available to under-18s; to indicate the location of these; to report on the number of under-18s who accessed each of these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14830/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to report, in tabular form, the number of suicide crisis assessment nurses employed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14831/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1497. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to report, in tabular form, on the number of people accessing outpatient mental health services in each of the community health organisations (CHOs) in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14832/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1498. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for adults seeking ADHD mental health supports in north County Dublin/CHO9; if there are plans to develop a dedicated pathway for adult ADHD assessment services in north County Dublin/CHO 9; if there are initiatives to increase resources for adult mental health assessments in north County Dublin/CHO 9, including a focus on ADHD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14840/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1499. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will consider establishing an office for alcohol harm reduction to operate within his Department which would take the lead across Government Departments in developing the policy measures needed to address alcohol harm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14858/24]
View answer1500. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence dedicated funding for the provision of alcohol care teams within all major hospitals and which would be linked to community services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14859/24]
View answer
