Written Answers Nos. 197-207
198. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for Music Generation; if the success of this will mean similar initiatives for other art forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7708/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme – Clár Éire Ildánach 2017 – 2022 on the 8 December 2016.
This is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the 2016 commemorative programme.
The core proposition of this programme is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. The programme is based on five pillars: enabling the creative potential of every child; enabling creativity in every community; investing in our creative and cultural infrastructure; establishing Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production; and unifying our global reputation.
The aim of Pillar 1 of the Creative Ireland Programme is to enable the creative potential of every child. The Department of Education and Skills and Arts Council will be key partners in implementing this pillar. This will build on many existing initiative in the area of education, young people and the arts, including the work of Music Generation. In this regard, it should be noted that issues in relation to Music Generation are a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills. My Department has commenced discussions with that Department and the Arts Council on the delivery mechanisms for this pillar and it is intended that a national plan will be in place by the end of 2017.
200. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, under pillar 5, she will consider reinstating the board of Culture Ireland and recruiting a new external director when the current director leaves; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7710/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCulture Ireland was established in 2005 under my Department to promote Irish arts abroad. Following a review in 2012, the Government committed to maintaining Culture Ireland as a division of my Department and to expanding its remit to work on a cross agency basis to ensure maximum impact from investment in Irish arts. An Expert Advisory Committee was established to guide and oversee this work and I am satisfied that this arrangement is working well. Culture Ireland has played an important role in building Ireland’s global reputation through the promotion of Irish artists worldwide and will play a pivotal role in the Creative Ireland Programme.
201. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Health when the FreeStyle flash glucose monitoring system (details supplied) will be made available to persons here through the medical card or through the long-term illness book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7475/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
202. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if there will be any increase in the number of home help hours provided in 2017 in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7476/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
203. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the position regarding general practitioners charging a person (details supplied) for blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7484/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no provision under the GP GMS contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition. The HSE has advised GPs that where a blood test forms part of the investigation or necessary treatment of a patient’s symptoms or conditions, this should be free of charge for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Notwithstanding this, I understand that in recent times, some GPs are charging GMS patients for these services.
If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient may make a complaint to the HSE Local Health Office, who will deal with the matter in accordance with the HSE's Complaints Policy.
In order to achieve clarity on this issue, I have asked that any difference of perspective in relation to the provision of phlebotomy services be addressed in the GP contractual review process. I am pleased that initial meetings with GP representative bodies to progress this work have recently taken place and I look forward to constructive and positive further engagements.
204. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in hospitals have been reviewed in the context of minimising hospital-acquired infections; if any recommendations have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7485/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the cooling coils for air conditioning systems in hospitals, he will provide information regarding the levels of bacterial and fungal biofilms that are found when the systems are cleaned and decontaminated; if there has ever been a report of the release of planktonic bacteria and fungi into the conditioned airstream that would add to existing entrained planktonic bacteria and fungi that would get through primary filters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7486/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra206. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to the introduction of enhanced ultraviolet germicidal irradiation within the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in hospitals to eliminate the cooling coil biofilm and entrained microbes, which necessitate constant cleaning of cooling coils, drip trays, plenums, ductwork and conditioned air; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7487/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 to 206, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
I can assure the Deputy that the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance is a significant patient safety and public health priority for the Government. I am advised that Irish hospitals, like other hospitals internationally, are taking steps to reduce healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance including the prudent use of antibiotics.
A wide range of initiatives has been put in place in the Irish health system over several years to tackle healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance, covering improved surveillance of infections and prescribing and infection prevention and control processes.
It also includes antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, public and professional awareness-raising with a significant emphasis on the education and training of healthcare professionals.
Ireland is also developing a National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in line with the World Health Organisation’s 2015 Global Action Plan on AMR and the European Council’s 2016 Conclusions: ‘The next steps under a ‘One Health’ approach to combat antimicrobial resistance’.
The National Action Plan is being developed with the oversight and guidance of the Interdepartmental AMR Consultative Committee. The Committee was established in 2014 by my Department’s Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in recognition of the need for a ‘whole of Government’ approach to tackling the issue of AMR. This intersectoral approach crosses the health, veterinary and environmental spheres to encompass all stakeholders’ efforts to address what is a world-wide concern. It is intended that the National Action Plan will be published in 2017.
207. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will make pre-exposure prophylaxis available through the health service in order that the risk of contracting HIV is reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7497/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. The strategy was developed in response to a recommendation of the National AIDS Strategy Committee on the need to establish clear leadership within the health sector around the area of sexual health. The Strategy contains 71 recommendations that address all aspects of sexual health and a Sexual Health Action Plan for 2015-2016 that contains 18 priority actions for immediate attention.
One of the priority actions identified in the Action Plan for 2016 is to 'Prioritise, develop and implement guidance to support clinical decision making for STI testing, screening and treatment and on the appropriate use of antiretroviral therapy in HIV prevention’. An Implementation Group has now been established within the HSE as an outcome of this action. This group will make recommendations on the appropriate use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the overall context of the national approach to HIV prevention. Any decision concerning the availability of PrEP will be made following the completion of this work.
