Cathal Crowe
Ceist:1206. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of planned new primary care centres in Ennistimon, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32657/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (1206)
Freagraí scríofa
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (1207)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:1207. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of planned new primary care centres in Sixmilebridge, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32658/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (1208)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:1208. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a farm shop business that sells produce on the basis of a seasonal harvest, in respect of which customers travel to reap that harvest from distances of in excess of 5 km, can continue to facilitate those customers who must travel outside of the 5 km limit to reap the harvest. [32663/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 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.
At Level 5 of the Plan, only essential retail is permitted to open. A list of essential retail is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-4/
Essential retail includes outlets selling food or beverages on a takeaway basis whether on a retail or wholesale basis and whether in a non-specialised or specialised outlet.
People are asked to stay at home and to exercise within 5km of home. A number of exemptions are provided including for food shopping.
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. Details of Level 5 measure are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/
Current regulations and other 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/
Question No. 1209 answered with Question No. 1114.
Questions Nos. 1210 and 1211 answered with Question No. 1186.
Respite Care Services
Ceisteanna (1212)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:1212. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE can provide a timeline and an update on the provision of respite care for person (details supplied) who has been identified as a code red by their service provider and is on the emergency residential list with the HSE. [32670/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (1213)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:1213. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to counter pseudoscience, falsehoods and denial in respect of Covid-19; his views on whether the State is doing enough to counter these falsehoods, which have increased since the announcement of a second lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32675/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In line with best practice international advice and guidance provided by the WHO and the ECDC, communications has been a cornerstone of my Department and wider Government’s response to COVID-19. There is no vaccine or viral therapy treatment available yet, so this means that consistent, comprehensive communication around personal preventive behaviours and public health guidance is crucial to keep people safe at this time - especially at periods in which the virus is circulating at high levels within the community.
To that end, my Department has held press briefings from the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to ensure that experts in public health are to the fore when informing the public about the disease’s pattern and progression within Ireland. This gives journalists from a broad cross section of the media the opportunity to ask key figures such as the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Medical Officer questions on a regular and consistent basis, in order to counter the potential spread of misinformation in the media.
Representatives of the NPHET are also regularly available for media interview across all major media outlets such as RTE, Newstalk and Virgin Media News, in order to answer questions and provide response to any concerns posed to them by media or the general public in relation to the pandemic and Ireland’s response to it.
In each daily press release issued by my Department, links are provided to the COVID-19 dashboard, where detailed information on the spread of COVID-19 and key indicators in the community are available. This includes information such as the number of hospitalisations, ICU figures, tests carried out, and information on case numbers given at LEA level.
My Department is also responsive to all media queries sent into the Press Office and releases statements providing accurate, timely public health information in response to the media on a daily basis.
Consistently, my Department has directed followers on social media to official sources of information, such as the Department’s own website, the COVID-19 Data Hub and the HSE’s website. The HSE also undertakes considerable social media advertising campaigns in order to promote public health guidelines and advice across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
HSE Funding
Ceisteanna (1214)
Cormac Devlin
Ceist:1214. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he will re-examine funding for residential places in CHO 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32679/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (1215)
Danny Healy-Rae
Ceist:1215. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason elderly persons or those with underlying health conditions have to wait for weeks to get the flu injection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32682/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government has expanded the provision of seasonal influenza vaccination without charge to all of those in the HSE-defined at-risk groups, including healthcare workers, and to all children aged from 2 to 12 years. Vaccines are being administered via GPs and pharmacists, as in previous years.
This season, 1.95 million doses of influenza vaccine have been purchased, which is double the amount administered last season. The HSE has procured 1.35 million doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) for the forthcoming winter. This vaccine is being made available to all persons in an at-risk group and aged from 6 months up. In addition, the HSE has purchased 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), which is delivered via nasal drops rather than by injection and is being made available to all children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive.
This expanded programme will ensure that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza will have access without charges. This is in line with the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and represents a significant step forward in providing vaccination without charges.
International markets for influenza vaccine are extremely tight this year, and in Ireland this resulted in deliveries from the manufacturer taking longer than intended. However, the full quantity of vaccine ordered has now been received. 950,000 doses of the injected vaccine have been distributed to GPs, pharmacists, and healthcare settings. This is 10% more than the amount distributed at the same time in 2019 and is equal to almost the full amount administered in the 2019/20 season. The quantities distributed to GPs and pharmacists has been based on the orders from the same sources last year, in order to ensure an equitable distribution. The remaining 400,000 doses will be distributed to GPs and pharmacists in the coming weeks.
Demand for vaccination this year is unprecedented. This is the case across Europe and beyond. Given the finite supply available, it is important that even the increased quantities available in Ireland are targeted where they will have the greatest impact.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (1216)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:1216. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if persons (details supplied) can travel outside of their 5 km radius for the reasons outlined in order to maintain their mental health and well-being; and if he will immediately communicate the position to the public if they are permitted to do so. [32683/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is currently at Level Five of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 - the Plan for Living with COVID-19.
At Level 5, people are asked to stay at home as much as possible unless they have a "reasonable excuse" for leaving.
The regulations providing for these measures are set out in S.I. No. 448 of 2020. Regulation 5 of SI 448 sets out a non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses for leaving one’s home. This non-exhaustive list includes at 5 (2) (k) the provision of care to a vulnerable person.
I am grateful to the Deputy for bringing this important matter to my attention.
Question No. 1217 answered with Question No. 1200.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (1218)
Cormac Devlin
Ceist:1218. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32691/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Cross-Border Health Initiatives
Ceisteanna (1219)
Cormac Devlin
Ceist:1219. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); when the reimbursement of cross-border medical costs thresholds changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32692/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1220)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters regarding the rheumatology department at UHK (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32699/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (1221)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:1221. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to avoid hunting becoming the cause of the spread of Covid-19, for example, in respect of unnecessary travel, close proximity to others, crowds of more than 15 persons and persons travelling through miles of farmland. [32705/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the country has moved to level 5 of the Government’s medium-term strategy for dealing with COVID-19: Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19.
This Plan 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, families, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus.
As I'm sure you can appreciate, COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. COVID-19 is infectious in a person with no symptoms, or for the period of time before they develop symptoms. The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government's Framework are based on a review of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. It seeks to balance the risks of different types of gatherings against the desire to allow normal activities to proceed in so far as possible.
At level 5 of the Plan, people are asked to stay at home, with certain exceptions, and must exercise within 5km of home. No matches or other sporting events may be held with the exception of professional elite sports and senior inter-county gaelic games and horse and greyhound racing, which may continue behind closed doors. All other training activities should be individual only. It is possible to meet with 1 other household in an outdoor setting which is not a home or garden, such as a park, including for the purpose of exercise. It is appreciated that these measures are difficult, but they have been put in place to protect public health.
The Deputy may wish to note that recreational hunting is not among the exemptions provided for under the current regulations - the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 8) Regulations 2020)(S.I. No. 448 of 2020).
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.
Current regulations and other 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/
Question No. 1222 answered with Question No. 154.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (1223, 1224, 1225)
Michael Ring
Ceist:1223. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the status of and position of a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32712/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Ring
Ceist:1224. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if a site has been located for a facility (details supplied) in County Mayo. [32713/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Ring
Ceist:1225. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if a site has been purchased for a facility (details supplied) in County Mayo. [32714/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1223 to 1225, inclusive, together.
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.