Tuesday, 17 Dec 2019

Written Answers Nos. 468-487

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Ceisteanna (468)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

468. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the child and adolescent mental health teams in operation nationwide; and the vacancies in each respective team in tabular form. [53248/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Expenditure

Ceisteanna (469)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

469. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the cost of ensuring a minimum of one psychiatric nurse as part of each primary healthcare team. [53249/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Ceisteanna (470)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

470. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the funds used in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, respectively, to provide focused support for tenancies of persons with enduring mental health problems in recovery and seeking to live more independently. [53250/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Ceisteanna (471)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

471. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the funds used in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, respectively, to provide employment and training schemes and supports for persons with enduring mental health problems in recovery. [53251/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services Expenditure

Ceisteanna (472)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

472. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the funding spent in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, respectively, in order to provide appropriate services for persons experiencing mental illness and addiction while seeking care. [53252/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Suicide Prevention

Ceisteanna (473)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

473. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to the National Office of Suicide Prevention in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, respectively, by the purpose for which the funding was used. [53253/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

Ceisteanna (474)

John Curran

Ceist:

474. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the number of staff in CHO area 7 to meet the demand for children in need of speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53269/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Addiction Treatment Services

Ceisteanna (475)

John Curran

Ceist:

475. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of drug liaison midwives in place in each CHO area in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53270/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Expanding addiction services for pregnant and post-natal women is an action in the national drugs strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. Key to this is expanding the role of drug and alcohol liaison midwives across all maternity networks.

There are three drug liaison midwives in community addiction services in CHO 6, 7 and 9 who work with the maternity hospitals in the Dublin region (Rotunda, Coombe Women and Infant University Hospital and The National Maternity Hospital).

Two drug and alcohol liaison midwife posts are currently being recruited in CHO 3 & 4 in conjunction with South South East and University of Limerick maternity networks. Funding was approved for 2 additional posts in CHO 1 & 8, as part of the Saolta (North West) and Midlands maternity networks in Budget 2020.

I am committed to ensuring there is national coverage of drug and alcohol liaison midwives across all the maternity networks.  To achieve this, I am seeking additional funding for two posts in CHO 2 & 5, to work with the Saolta and South South East maternity networks (with particular focus on Galway and Waterford).

Drug liaison midwives in each CHO area

CHO	Maternity network/hospital group	2015-2019
6	Dublin East (National Maternity H)	1 x in place
7	Dublin Midlands (Coombe)	1 x in place
9	RCSI (Rotunda)	1 x in place
1
2
3	University of Limerick	1 x Being recruited
4	South South West (Cork UMH)	1 x Being recruited

Hospitals Funding

Ceisteanna (476)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

476. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding St. Vincent’s Hospital Group received in each of the years 2013 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53271/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (477)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

477. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a diagnostic assessment with the school-age team will be expedited for a pupil (details supplied). [53313/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. 

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (478)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

478. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when they can expect can expect an appointment with the ENT department at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [53321/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (479)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

479. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of the capital development project for CSSD at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53364/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (480)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

480. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of the capital project for a rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53365/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (481)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

481. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of the capital project for a new build at Sacred Heart Hospital, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53366/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As 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.

Hospital Equipment

Ceisteanna (482)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

482. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to replace the CAT scan at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53367/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Overcrowding

Ceisteanna (483)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

483. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address the overcrowding in the emergency department at Portiuncula Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53368/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I acknowledge the challenges facing the Emergency Departments in our hospitals.

According to HSE TrolleyGAR data, there was a 8.2% increase in patients counted waiting on trolleys at 8 a.m. in Portiuncula Hospital ED this year up to the end of November 2019 compared to the same period last year. My Department has engaged extensively with the HSE this year to identify mitigating actions to bring down trolley numbers and waiting times in the ED in the face of growing demand.

The HSE Winter Plan 2019/2020 was launched by the HSE on Thursday 14 November 2019. The aim of the Winter Plan is to ensure that service providers are prepared for the additional external pressures associated with the winter period. The increased pressures include a prolonged holiday period, severe winter weather, seasonal influenza, the spread of norovirus and other healthcare associated infections.

Nine Winter Action Teams (WAT), each aligned to a Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) and associated Acute Hospital and Hospital Group (HG), have prepared Integrated Winter Plans that will focus on demand management and reduction, staffing availability, timely access to the most appropriate care pathway for patients, and appropriate timely discharge from acute hospitals.

These Integrated Winter Plans have supported the development of a single overarching strategic level Winter Plan for the HSE.

The Integrated Winter Plan for Portiuncula Hospital will be delivered by Winter Action Team 2 (WAT 2), whose membership includes the CEO of the Saolta University Healthcare Group, the Chief Officer of CHO West, and the CEO of Portiuncula Hospital.

The HSE Winter Plan is supported by an additional €26m in winter funding available nationally. This is being used to relieve demand for ED services, support discharge and other initiatives to help hospitals deal with the challenges associated with winter.

Specifically, the winter funding will support access to the Fair Deal scheme and the availability of home care, transitional care, aids and appliances and other local actions to both facilitate timely hospital discharge and reduce congestion in EDs over the winter period.  Specific funding has also been allocated to the Winter Action Teams to support initiatives at local level.

In addition to the immediate measures being undertaken in the Winter Plan the Government through the Sláintecare Strategy is addressing the issues of access to healthcare. The Sláintecare Action Plan for 2019 has a specific workstream on access and waiting lists. The Government is also increasing investment in health infrastructure and capacity in the system in line with Project Ireland 2040.

I am confident that together with the more immediate measures being undertaken under the Winter Plan and the strategic approach undertaken by the Government under Sláintecare that progress will be made in addressing the difficulties in the Emergency Departments.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (484)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

484. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a treatment placement in the UK will be funded in a relevant placement for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53398/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff Training

Ceisteanna (485)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

485. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of courses (details supplied) provided in the various hospital group areas to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53410/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.

Forestry Sector

Ceisteanna (486)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

486. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider planting a tree of a native Irish species for each school child creating a new national forest called foraois na bpáistí in view of the concerns expressed by young persons concerning climate change and to give due recognition to these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52962/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

It is indeed reassuring to see the interest young people have in climate change, the most pressing issue of their generation and one which affects all our futures.  As you know this Government has declared climate change a national emergency and has put in place a roadmap for decarbonisation under the Climate Action Plan 2019.  The Plan contains ambitious targets in respect of afforestation, and we will be actively working towards achieving  8,000 hectares of new planting each year.

Native woodlands are an important component of our planting programme and my Department operates a package of measures under the Forestry Programme 2014-2020 aimed specifically at promoting the proactive protection and expansion of Ireland’s native woodland resource.   I specifically increased the payments under a Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme in order to encourage planting, and the grant now available for Native Woodland Establishment is €5,620 per hectare with land owners  receiving an annual premium of €665/ha or if over 10 hectares, €680/ha for 15 years.

In order to further encourage the planting of native woodlands, my Department has launched a Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF) initiative. This provides an opportunity for businesses to partner with the Department in supporting new planting.  The WEF involves an additional once-off top up payment of €1,000 per hectare paid by the business to the landowner. There has been a positive reaction from the business community to this scheme, with An Post and Accenture already signed up and other businesses submitting formal expressions of interest in participating in the scheme.  At a recent event to promote the WEF, there was substantial interest amongst businesses in attendance in investing in the Fund.   

Furthermore, my colleague Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and I recently  announced that Coillte Nature and Bord na Móna are collaborating on a new project which will see bogs that are no longer being used for peat production transformed into rich native woodlands. Following on from this, we plan to actively engage with other public bodies in the near future to encourage them to identify possibilities within their land bank for the establishment of native woodlands.

Promotion of woodlands and all their benefits is really important which is why in January of this year, my Department advertised a ‘Call for Proposals for Forestry Promotion’ for the two years 2019 – 2020. This was a public call open to all and was aimed at encouraging initiatives under three categories; promoting the multifunctional benefits of forestry, promoting the planting of trees and forest management promotion. The response to the call was impressive, with 15 projects at a cost of nearly €1m chosen. 

I am very pleased that a number of the successful projects are aimed at both primary and secondary school children, as there is enormous value in educating children on the benefits of forestry. These projects seek to raise awareness of the essential place of forests in their  lives, through innovative learning activities and workshops, which include taking children out of the classroom and into local forests to learn about nature and trees.

My Department expects to advertise a similar “Call for Proposals” in 2020, and  this will provide an opportunity for new proposals to be submitted for consideration, such as "foraois na bpáistí".

Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (487)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

487. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications to the 2019 Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot, BEEP, scheme by county, in tabular form; the number of approved applications; the number of applications not approved; the number of applications not approved that were appealed; the number of payments under the 2019 BEEP scheme that have issued to date; and the value per county. [52578/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The objective of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality date on herd performance, supporting decision making on farm.

19,135 valid applications were received for the Pilot with 16,424 of those subsequently carrying out the required actions and receiving payments totalling €15,306,280. The breakdown of payments to date under the 2019 BEEP scheme by county and the value per county is given below.  124 herds remain to be processed but these are expected to be concluded  in the coming weeks.

County	Number of Herds Eligible for Payment	Total Amount Paid
CARLOW	227	€283,920
CAVAN	803	€672,280
CLARE	1302	€1,172,920
CORK	1,228	€1,152,240
DONEGAL	769	€497,440
DUBLIN	40	€51,640
GALWAY	1,794	€1,535,560
KERRY	786	€613,760
KILDARE	187	€232,000
KILKENNY	462	€628,960
LAOIS	441	€577,600
LEITRIM	549	€323,800
LIMERICK	504	€500,560
LONGFORD	489	€435,600
LOUTH	152	€170,280
MAYO	1,490	€1,021,520
MEATH	387	€495,200
MONAGHAN	541	€425,040
OFFALY	413	€498,840
ROSCOMMON	958	€782,880
SLIGO	696	€473,320
TIPPERARY	749	€915,320
WATERFORD	257	€357,160
WESTMEATH	531	€602,480
WEXFORD	399	€557,240
WICKLOW	270	€328,720