Written Answers Nos. 1155-1170
1155. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied) will retain the legal right to mortgage any or all parts of the publicly funded National Maternity Hospital under the current ownership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32436/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1156. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if, in view of Covid-19 and the grave need it has shown to retain public ownership of the health service, consideration will be given to ensuring the full public ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital by moving the site to Elm Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32437/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1155 and 1156 together.
As the Deputy is aware the new maternity hospital will be built on a site leased from the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG), and the State will provide an Operating Licence to the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) DAC and the SVHG to facilitate the provision of health services in the new building.
A legal framework is currently being developed to protect the State's investment in the new NMH and this will ensure that the hospital remains in State ownership. I can assure the Deputy that St Vincent's Holdings CLG will not retain the legal right to mortgage any, or all, parts of the NMH.
1157. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to conclude the governance review of the drugs approval and procurement process which was scheduled for completion by the end of the second quarter of 2019, as per the Sláintecare action plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32447/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2019, following a tender by the Office of Government Procurement, Mazars conducted a review of the governance structures around the HSE's drug reimbursement process. The report was submitted to my Department in January 2020.
The review made recommendations in respect of the HSE’s systems, structures, processes, governance arrangements and use of specialist resources in respect of the drug reimbursement process.
The report was under consideration by officials earlier this year, however the focus of the Department of Health changed to the immediate public health considerations of the COVID-19 pandemic and the preservation of life. This meant that this work stream was temporarily suspended to reallocate resources to support essential services.
My Department aims to complete its consideration of the report’s recommendations in the near future.
1158. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitalisations that occurred due to knife assaults in each of the years 2005 to 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32454/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy
1159. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if a child and teen physiotherapist can continue on a one-to-one basis for children with disabilities such as muscle dyspraxia and Asperger's syndrome under level 5 Covid-19 restrictions. [32455/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1161. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if the National Framework for Living with Covid-19 has a basis in statute or regulation or if it is purely advisory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32461/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday 15 September the Government published ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’. This Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. The Plan is designed to help everyone – individuals, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus. The intention is that Departments and sectors will provide guidance for specific sectors and activities in line with the 5 level framework.
The public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and it provides advice to Government in line with the current epidemiological position. Government then makes decisions about the measures which are to be put in place.
Various aspects of public health measures are provided for in regulations. These include the mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport (SI 244), mandatory wearing of face coverings in certain retail outlets (SI 296) and various aspects of the public health restrictive measures outlined in the 5 Level Framework including restrictions on travel, events and gatherings, and the operation of certain businesses and services as has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic. Current level 5 regulations are set out in Statutory Instrument Nos. 448 and 449.
Statutory Instruments related to the Covid-19 pandemic are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/
1162. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to address staff recruitment issues in homecare provision; if he has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) on this matter; and if he will conduct a social care workforce capacity review. [32475/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE undertakes the recruitment of staff through open, competitive, and transparent recruitment campaigns. Recruitment to the HSE is subject to the provisions of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 and is regulated by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy in relation to recruitment of home support staff.
While my Department and the HSE engages with the organisation referred to by the Deputy on a regular basis in regard to the delivery of home support services, recruitment is a matter for the private providers in the first instance.
There are no plans to conduct a social care workforce capacity review, however the Deputy will be aware that Budget 2021 has provided funding for up to 15,738 additional posts in the Health Service Executive, above what was funded for 2020. This is inclusive of the posts identified in the Winter Plan. This funding will provide for a permanent increase in the size of the public health workforce, with a focus on front-line staff. The National Service Plan will set out further detail on the positions, including the breakdown of the staff categories to be recruited. These staff will also enable an expansion of the capacity in our health system to ensure its resilience to future surges in demand.
1163. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if dance schools can be recategorised as educational institutions for the purposes of Covid-19 restrictions to allow them to continue to operate during increased restrictions similar to the conditions under which sports teams can operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32482/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraResilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 which was published by the Government, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.
The Plan sets out five levels of response, each with a number of measures designed to help us all lower COVID-19 transmission and setting out what is permitted at that moment in time. It aims to allow society and businesses to be able to operate as normally as possible, while continuing to suppress the virus. Each level outlines what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services.
The Plan reflects a careful consideration of the impact of the introduction of restrictions on employment and livelihoods, keeping as many businesses open as possible at different stages, while acknowledging that some businesses and services are critical. It acknowledges that sports, arts and other social activities are central to our well-being and that sports and arts are also the world of work for our many in our communities.
Dance classes are regarded as exercise and sporting events under Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 .
As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is now at level 5 of the Plan until 1 December, 2020. At level 5, no exercise or dance classes are permitted.
The Government's guidelines for exercise and sporting events at all levels of the Plan are available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/. Level 5 guidance from Sport Ireland is available at: https://www.sportireland.ie/news/return-to-sport-expert-group-issues-guidance-to-sports-sector .
1164. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount the HSE spent on private ambulances in the south-east and mid-west regions in the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32483/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1165. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the placements within the health service that student nurses are paid for and those they are not; the estimated cost of payments and number of recipients for any paid placement; if he will provide details of other classifications of students that undertake paid and or unpaid placements within the health service; the number of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32484/20]
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.
1166. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of paying student nurses for any unpaid placements within the health service at a weekly rate equivalent to 1 and 0.5 WTE of appropriate scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32485/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1197. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the bursary for student nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32614/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1258. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide student nurses working on the front line with a wage while they are on placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32818/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1369. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health his plans to put in place a remuneration package for student nurses who are effectively working 35 hours per week in hospitals and healthcare facilities as healthcare assistants for no remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33410/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1166, 1197, 1258 and 1369 together.
I recognise the importance of student nurses and midwives completing their essential clinical placements in a safe environment. I also recognise the potential hardship that might arise for students on placement due to COVID 19 such as maintaining part time employment, increased travel and additional accommodation costs.
Student nurses and midwives are not paid for clinical placements in years 1-3 of their studies and supernumerary status is critical for learning in complex environments. Financial supports for non-intern student nurses and midwives are governed by Circular 9/2004, that provides:
- an accommodation allowance up to €50.79 per week to be paid where it is necessary for a student to obtain accommodation away from their normal place of residence.
- a refund of travel expenses.
Both are paid as refunds on production of receipts.
In the immediate term my Department is reviewing the current accommodation and travel allowances that apply to this year’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students on clinical placements, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such placements.
The revision is expected to conclude shortly, and I look forward to bringing forward proposals thereafter.
Concerning 4th year nursing and midwifery students, the HSE continues to fund the internship employment of these student who are on rostered work placements. It is very important to me that the training element is protected for students. This includes those scheduled to commence in the coming weeks and those due to commence rostered work placement in 2021. These 4th year student nurses and midwives on rostered work placement are paid at the approved rate, that is €22,229 on an annual basis for psychiatric nursing specialism and €21,749 for all other nursing disciplines.
I am open to examining what other measures that can be put in place to protect and support student nurse and midwife education and welfare at the present time. My priority is to ensure placements continue so long as it is safe to do so. In that regard, my Department is engaging with the HSE and higher education bodies on an ongoing basis.
Separately, and for the longer term, my Department is also reviewing the accommodation and travel allowances for students on clinical placements that should apply from the academic year commencing Autumn 2021 and onwards. This review is expected to conclude at the end of this month, and I look forward to examining the outcome of this review in due course.
As the cost of paying students is a service matter, I have referred the matter to the HSE and asked that it respond directly to the Deputy.
1167. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons from each hospital and relevant centre who have been provided with healthcare worker accommodation since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic; the number of those persons who are currently availing of the accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32500/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccess to temporary accommodation for healthcare workers has been set up by the HSE. This accommodation is available to all healthcare workers.
The HSE website sets out key information in relation to this here https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/coronavirus/policies-procedures-guidelines/temporary-accommodation-for-healthcare-workers.html
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific details that he is seeking.
1168. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide additional healthcare worker accommodation across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32501/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccess to temporary accommodation for healthcare workers has been set up by the HSE and is available to all healthcare workers.
The HSE website sets out key information in relation to this here https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/coronavirus/policies-procedures-guidelines/temporary-accommodation-for-healthcare-workers.html
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this operational issue.
1169. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if disability services will remain open for the duration of level 5. [32504/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with NPHET advice on Level 5, social work and social care services, (including disability services, mental health services, child protection and welfare services, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services) and homeless services including homeless outreach services will remain open and are deemed essential.
It is important to note that Government’s intention is that disability services will remain open at each level of the Resilience and Recovery Framework, subject to public health guidance.
1170. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if play therapy is classed as an essential service; if so, the guidelines in place for the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32514/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
