Written Answers Nos. 322-341
322. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if childcare professionals will be some of the first recipients of a Covid-19 vaccine; if there will be a cost for childcare professionals; his plans to ensure that persons who work in childcare will be the first to receive the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41042/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use. In this regard, a cross-Government High-Level Taskforce has been established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme.
Policy in relation to the order in which people should be offered vaccination is being developed as a priority in conjunction with the national experts on immunisation and it is expected that the NPHET will shortly finalise its advice to Government in this regard.
323. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way testing for Covid-19 is being carried out in meat processing plants; the number of tests carried out; the number of plants in which tests have been conducted between 1 August and 30 November 2020; the procedures for when a person is found to have Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41060/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra324. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to cases of Covid-19 in meat processing plants in county Cork between 1 August and 30 November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41061/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
325. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when restrictions on birthing partners and fathers supporting women through labour in maternity settings are due to be lifted. [40799/20]
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.
326. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if his Department has been the subject of an investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date; the number of specific investigations underway or completed; the dates on which his Department was first notified of the investigation; the details of the investigation; the nature of the complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40813/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not been the subject of a specific investigation by the Data Protection Commission from 2016 to date. My Department has responded to inquiries from the Data Protection Commission into complaints from data subjects during this period.
My Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of data subjects and adhering to obligations under data protection legislation.
327. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if trade shows are permitted under level 2 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40824/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19 was published by the Government on 15 September, 2020. This Framework 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. The plan is framed to account for periods which there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated clusters and low community transmission, through to situations where there is a high or rapidly increasing incidence, widespread community transmission and the pandemic is escalating rapidly in Ireland and globally. It recognises the need for society and business to be allowed to continue as normally as possible and is designed so that either national or county level restrictions can be applied.
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 Framework was informed by expert advice and recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19 specifically deals with the events and exhibition sector and the government will continue to work with the sector to progress the development of agreed protocols to enable the hosting of trade events in the near future. The Deputy may wish to note that my colleague Minister of State Robert Troy TD at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has met with sector representatives.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the plan is 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. It is not possible to say what circumstances will apply in the future due to the nature of the virus that has caused this global pandemic and the concerns that remain about the very serious threats to health that can be caused by Covid-19. It is not possible to say what will happen in the future, however, the measures in place and the public health advice have been adapted to the changing circumstances and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.
328. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to permanently extending the temporary delivery arrangement for cannabidiol oil and tetrahydrocannabinol oil. [40826/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 6th April, the previous Minister for Health announced an initiative to assist patients access to their medical cannabis products during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The Department of Health has so far organised a number of collections from the Netherlands for patients of clinicians in possession of a ministerial licence under the Misuse of Drugs Act owing to the COVID-19 travel restrictions and quarantine requirements and the initiative will continue while these are in place.
329. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants who can currently grant a licence for cannabidiol oil and tetrahydrocannabinol oil. [40827/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 – 2016, it is open to the Minister for Health to consider granting a licence for access to medical cannabis-based preparations for named patients, where this course of treatment has been endorsed by the consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
To date, one hundred and twenty-nine licences have been issued to 32 individual clinicians for the treatment of medical cannabis via the Ministerial licence application route.
Medical practitioners and patients are encouraged to consult the Department of Health website which contains information on medical cannabis, including clinical guidance on the use of medical cannabis and details on how a medical practitioner may apply for a Ministerial licence for medical cannabis. This information can be found on the Department of Health's website.
It is important to note that the decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis treatment, for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.
330. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the provision of cannabidiol oil and tetrahydrocannabinol oil in Ireland without patients having to source themselves. [40828/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2019, the previous Minister for Health signed legislation to underpin the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP). This is a 5-year pilot programme, restricted to prescribing of cannabis-based products by medical consultants, for patients with certain medical conditions who have exhausted all other available medical treatment options. Those conditions are:
· Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
· Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
· Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
For more information relating to the MCAP, including FAQs, please see the Department of Health’s website at the following link.
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/90ece9-medical-cannabis-access-programme/.
Commercial suppliers whose cannabis products have been reviewed and are considered to have met the specified requirements set out in the legislation and are in line with the clinical guidance for the MCAP, will have their products added to Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019. Once the products are listed in Schedule 1 of these Regulations the suppliers will be permitted to supply these products to the Irish market, in line with legal and regulatory requirements. Cannabis products will only be listed in Schedule 1 of the Regulations once they have been assessed as suitable for medical use under the MCAP.
To date four products have been added to Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019. The four products are:
1. Aurora High CBD Oil Drops
2. CannEpil ™
3. Tilray Oral Solution THC10:CBD10 25ml
4. Aurora Sedamen Softgels.
The HSE has engaged in discussions with the suppliers of these products, regarding pricing and supply information. The HSE will consider such information, in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The programme will not become fully operational until pricing and supply matters are agreed.
Once the Medical Cannabis Access Programme commences the HSE will establish and maintain a Register to facilitate the enrolment and recording of certain data including patient identifiers (in anonymised format), prescribers enrolled in the Programme, as well as prescribed / supplied medical cannabis products. The Department can advise that while the MCAP register is not currently operational, engagement is ongoing with the HSE in regard to progressing same.
Ministerial Licence under Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016
Pending full operation of the MCAP and for medical indications not included in the MCAP, doctors may continue to utilise the Ministerial licencing route to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients, should they wish to do so. In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, either by a consultant or by a GP which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time. This information can be found at the following links:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1a5c4e-applying-to-the-minister-for-health-for-a-medical-cannabis-licence/
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/e35cb4-ministerial-licence-application-process/.
It is important to note that the medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis treatment, for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.
331. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to SouthDoc by facility under the GMS scheme from 2016 to date, in tabular form. [40831/20]
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.
332. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to SouthDoc by facility from 2016 to date, in tabular form [40832/20]
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.
333. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if xolair is available under the drugs payment scheme; if not, the cost of a 450mg injection dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40839/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, including the Drug Payments Scheme (DPS), in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The HSE has advised that Omalizumab (Xolair®) is not available under the DPS, as it is not approved for use in the community under the statutory community drugs schemes.
However, maximum hospital pricing approval is in place for Omalizumab (Xolair®)for use in public hospitals. Under the current IPHA Framework Agreement on the Pricing and Supply of Medicines, hospitals can negotiate revised pricing arrangements with individual manufacturers.
In accordance with the IPHA agreement, the HSE reviews the pricing of non-patent-expired medicines annually. Hospital medicines subject to a price reduction are included in price realignment files which are published on the HSE website. The 2020 files include the reduced hospital pricing for Omalizumab(Xolair®):
- Xolair® 75mg Pre-Filled Syringe Solution for Injection x 1 : ex-factory price €164.48
- Xolair® 150mg Pre-Filled Syringe Solution for Injection x1 : ex-factory price €323.22
On 31 July 2020, the EMA extended marketing authorisation of Omalizumab (Xolair®) to include the following indication: as an add-on therapy with intranasal corticosteroids (INC) for the treatment of adults (18 years and above) with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps for whom therapy with INC does not provide adequate disease control.
The HSE has advised that, as of 1 December 2020, no pricing and reimbursement application has been received for the reimbursement of Omalizumab (Xolair®) for this indication.
334. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the alleged redeployment of speech and language therapists by the HSE for Covid-19 testing. [40846/20]
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.
335. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen the rolling recruitment campaign for staff nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40849/20]
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.
336. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are many Down's syndrome children on a three year waiting list to be treated for arthritis; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there was a commitment made that children with Down's syndrome would be seen after referral within 12 weeks; his plans to address this very serious delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40855/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families. This Government’s priority is to improve waiting times for all patients accessing hospital treatment across all specialties, including paediatric rheumatology.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organisation.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
In addition the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to include, increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics and clinical validation.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy concerning paediatric rheumatology, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
337. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if the funding needed for residential care for a person (details supplied) will be provided given that a respite centre they currently attend is planning to open a new residential centre within the next two months and would potentially be able to accommodate this person and provide the professional supports they need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40876/20]
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.
338. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the contact tracing and follow-up situation for a person who is normally resident in Ireland, but flies into Belfast airport and travels across the Border; if this person will be followed-up by contact tracing teams based either in the north or the south of the island; if he is satisfied that the level of follow-up checks on those required to restrict their movements is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40877/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra339. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the contact tracing and follow-up situation for a person who is normally resident in Northern Ireland, but flies into Dublin airport and travels across the Border; if this person will be followed-up by contact tracing teams based either in the north or in the south of the island; if he is satisfied the level of follow-up checks on those required to restrict their movements is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40878/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
340. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the percentage rate of passengers who received a follow-up phone call having previously completed the passenger locater form in October 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40879/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the period 1st – 30th October 2020 there were over 155,000 COVID-19 Passenger Locator Forms completed.
Incoming travellers from countries with elevated incidence rates are contacted to verify the place of address provided on the form. Several categories of travellers are exempt from completing the COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, such as those transiting directly to Northern Ireland and essential transport workers.
Travellers receive an interactive text message requesting that they verify their place of address submitted on the COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. Follow-up phone calls are made to those that do not response or changed place of address.
According to information provided by the contracted call centre for October 2020, 87% of travellers eligible for address verification confirmed their place of residence during their first 14-day period in Ireland.
341. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons to date who have refused to complete the passenger locator form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40880/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been six incidences (totalling 11 persons) reported whereby incoming passengers have refused to complete the COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form as of 18 November.
The minority of incoming passengers who do not comply with the requirement, and any failures or refusals to complete a passenger locator form are referred to An Garda Síochána for engagement and any necessary enforcement.
