Written Answers Nos. 1860-1879
1860. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of support for mental health early intervention initiatives; his plans for enhancing and adding to existing services; and the funding required for this. [35303/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1861. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the annual costs of operating counselling at primary care in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018. [35304/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1862. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons accessing counselling at primary care services in each of the past three years and to date in 2018 by location, age and gender. [35305/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1864. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the average number of sessions availed of by each person accessing counselling at primary care in the past three years and to date in 2018 by CHO and primary care service. [35307/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1861, 1862 and 1864 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1863. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for an initial appointment for primary care counselling for adults, children and adolescents, respectively, by CHO and primary care service. [35306/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1865. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of efforts to improve access to primary care counselling, including the training, recruitment and retention of new psychologists to the service; and the estimated additional costs for staffing in each of the next five years, respectively. [35308/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1866. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans for initiatives to encourage the study of psychology and for students of psychology to advance to clinical studies and work within the health service here; and the specific supports, grants or incentives for same. [35309/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1867. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of suicide crisis assessment nurse, SCAN, nurses in place nationally; the target number for these positions; and the number of these positions filled to date by service. [35310/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1868. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost for providing free counselling at primary care for all persons in receipt of a free general practitioner visit card. [35311/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1869. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of the free general practitioner visit card. [35312/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 1st July 2018 there are 496,820 (10.4% of the population) availing of the free general practitioners visit card.
1870. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of providing free primary care counselling to those on medical cards for the past three years and to date in 2018. [35313/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1871. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of medical cards in the past three years and to date in 2018. [35314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1872. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the status of initiatives to provide employment and housing supports for persons with enduring mental health conditions; his plans for new initiatives; the current and estimated future costs including staff required; his views on the importance of the matter in view of the link between employment and housing issues and the danger of readmission and relapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35315/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1873. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of attendees in emergency departments suffering from steroid use, steroid addiction or other ailments relating to the use of illegal drugs for enhancing sporting performance in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35318/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1874. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated to the recently announced positive harm reduction campaigns Cocaine - Reduce the Harms and Crack - Reduce the Harms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35319/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1875. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the developmental process of the recently announced positive harm reduction campaigns Cocaine - Reduce the Harms and Crack - Reduce the Harms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35320/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1876. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the international model of best practice which underpins the recently announced and positive harm reduction campaigns Cocaine - Reduce the Harms and Crack - Reduce the Harms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35321/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1878. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the progress made for each of the strategic actions contained within Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - A health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35323/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national drugs strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery-a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025 identifies 50 strategic actions across five goals. The strategy sets out performance indicators in relation to each goal.
As a first step in implementing the strategy, a number of actions was prioritised and additional funding of €6.5 million was provided in Budget 2018 to resource these actions. They include;
- expand the availability and geographic spread of drug and alcohol services
- establish a medically supervised injecting facility
- recruit two additional drug and alcohol liaison midwives
- improve the range of drug-related services and rehabilitation supports for people who are homeless
- strengthen the effectiveness of the drug-related intimidation reporting programme
- consider the approaches taken to the possession of drugs for personal use.
The National Oversight Committee, which I chair, gives leadership and direction to support the implementation of the strategy. The committee reviewed progress on the implementation of the strategy at its recent quarterly meeting in May. Representatives from all the relevant government departments, agencies and sectors are on this committee.
I expect to receive a detailed report on the implementation of strategy at the end of the year.
1879. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the procedure in cases in which a suicidal person presents to an accident and emergency unit; the waiting times by hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35324/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
