Written Answers Nos. 908-932
909. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the actions that have been undertaken by his Department on foot of the recommendations of the Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs in November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1043/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity followed ten days of hearings from stakeholders, including a number of Government Departments, and the receipt of a number of written submissions. The Report contained 20 recommendations for action under a number of headings and was published in October 2018.
The principal policy instrument for combatting obesity in Ireland is ‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016 under the Healthy Ireland Framework. The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. The Plan is a whole-of-government, cross-sectoral plan and recognises that obesity is a complex, multifaceted problem which needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. The recommendations in the Joint Oireachtas Committee report are broadly aligned with the actions in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan.
Work has been progressing on a number of fronts in relation to the areas covered in the recommendations of the Joint Committee Report and the actions in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan. For example, the HSE is developing an end-to-end Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Prevention and Treatment Model in line with Sláintecare. The Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration has requested an update on the recommendations of the Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity, and it is expected that a comprehensive update will issue shortly.
Obesity, and in particular childhood obesity, is a priority area for the Government, as reflected in the Programme for Government, "Our Shared Future". It is also a high priority of mine in my capacity as Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. Funding has been provided in Budget 2021 with a particular focus on developing healthy communities by addressing health and well-being in areas of deprivation and details are currently being progressed with a range of stakeholders. This approach will take into a range of factors that impact health and well-being as part of a whole- systems approach, and child obesity will be an important element of this.
910. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1045/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
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.
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 is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
911. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if Covid-19 vaccines will be rolled out in a timely and efficient manner; if adequate plans have been put in place for the training of sufficient personnel to administer these vaccines; when this training will be completed; when sufficient quantities of these vaccines will be available in Ireland to undertake a significant vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1046/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra946. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered utilising members of the Defence Forces in the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines due to their experience and expertise working on logistics in field hospitals on foreign missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1159/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra988. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when the entire population will be vaccinated against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1290/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra995. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered engaging staff from a variety of sectors to speed up to roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1307/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1027. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if staff have been designated for administering vaccines; the training carried out; and the timeframe for community vaccinations. [1468/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 911, 946, 988, 995 and 1027 together.
The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme. In this regard a High-Level Taskforce was established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme.
The Taskforce membership is made up of senior personnel from my Department, the Health Service Executive, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Office of Government Procurement, IDA Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of the Taoiseach, as well as expertise in the areas of public health, supply chain logistics, cold chain logistics, and programme management. The Defence Forces are also represented.
The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.
The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.
All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.
Over time there will be enough vaccine available to vaccinate all those who want it. We are planning to vaccinate as many people within our population, with approved vaccines, as quickly, safely, and effectively as possible.
Training is now available to all relevant staff and being completed on a daily rolling basis to build up the number of vaccinators. Over 2,000 people have now completed the training programme. Pharmacists, GPs, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and many healthcare professionals, will have a role to play in the vaccination programme.
912. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1047/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from my response to the Deputy’s similar question, number 147 of November 3rd last, funding of €2m was provided to the HSE to commence Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care in 2020. This was utilised specifically in respect of the development of the first four Regional Fertility Hubs – namely, at Cork Maternity University Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital.
While three of the first four regional hubs are based in Dublin, their total catchment area relates to that of the four corresponding regional health areas of the country.
Additional funding of just over €1m is being made available to enable the continuation and completion of Phase One of the roll-out in 2021, including through the setting-up of the final two Regional Fertility Hubs, to be located in Galway and Limerick.
The roll-out of Phase One has been slowed due to the management of the Covid-19 pandemic by the health service broadly and its impact upon the provision of elective health services, including fertility services.
Phase Two of the roll-out will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country and the AHR legislation commenced. While it is not possible at this juncture to give a definitive timeline for the completion of the roll-out, the introduction of a publicly-funded model of care for fertility treatment is a Programme for Government commitment. It is intended that, in line with available resources, this will be fully implemented on a phased basis over the course of the coming years.
Overall, the implementation of the model of care will help to ensure the provision of safe, effective and accessible infertility services at all levels of the public health system as part of the full range of services available in obstetrics and gynaecology.
It should be noted that while AHR treatment is not currently funded by the Irish public health service, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. Given the costs associated with certain fertility medicines, I am aware that these schemes can have a material impact on the total cost of AHR treatment for individuals who avail of them.
In addition, there is other support available in that patients who access AHR treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme.
913. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if fertility services can continue operating through level 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1048/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have forwarded the query to the HSE for direct reply.
914. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount allocated towards eating disorder treatment in the HSE in each of the past five years; the amount that was spent in each year; his views on the adequacy of the funding and the supports and treatments available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1055/21]
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.
915. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the status of the cross-border directive since 1 January 2021 in the context of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1056/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2021, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) no longer apply to the UK. In order to mitigate the impact of the loss of access to care in the UK under the EU CBD scheme for persons resident in Ireland, the Government has agreed to provide for the implementation of a replacement scheme to be available in Northern Ireland only from 1 January 2021. The new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme will operate for 12 months and will operate on the same parameters as the EU Cross Border Directive scheme.
Furthermore, the HSE has also put in place transitional arrangements for certain patients who have a legitimate expectation of continuing to access care in the UK under the current provisions of the EU Cross-Border Directive Scheme including provision for reimbursement of healthcare costs by the HSE to persons who fall into certain categories, such as patients who can evidence that they have treatment booked prior to December 2020 for treatment in 2021. Patients are advised to contact the HSE CBD office directly with queries on individual applications and whether they are covered by the transitional arrangements or the new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.
Finally, it is also important to note that, patients continue to have access to health services under the EU CBD Scheme in all other remaining EU countries.
916. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if addiction services have been transferred from Navan to Drogheda, County Louth; the reason for same; the number of staff and service users affected; the alternative site and service options that were considered and ruled out; the reason for same; if it is planned to return services to Navan; if so, the date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1057/21]
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.
917. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant neurologists nationally; and the number there should be compared to international standards. [1058/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy with this data as soon as possible.
918. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health the standard length of time a patient is waiting to see a neurologist for a routine, non-urgent reason, for example, migraines or dizziness clinic appointment. [1059/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
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 National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 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.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached document.
919. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the extent to which birthing partners are currently permitted to attend the birth of a child and related maternity appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1063/21]
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.
920. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that patients invited to attend an outpatient appointment with a neurologist (details supplied) at St. Vincent’s University Hospital who have been given the option to attend, cancel or rebook in the past are now being informed that they have only one opportunity to rebook and then must take the subsequent appointment or be removed from the waiting list; his views on whether, during the Covid-19 pandemic, those with underlying health conditions or legitimate concerns about the current level of infections and are keen to comply with public health advice should be penalised by choosing to defer the appointment during the pandemic having spent several years on the waiting list in the first place; the reason for this change in hospital policy on neurology outpatient appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1073/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatient 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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
921. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on a news article (details supplied) on reported Covid-19-related deaths at a hospital if a Covid-19 outbreak took place; if so, the number of residents infected; the number of transfers to hospital as a result; the number of deaths; if other relevant details will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1074/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
922. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of HSE funding allocated to the eating disorder treatment plan in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the actual spend on these treatments; the breakdown of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1076/21]
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.
923. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of ambulance response times from time of call to arrival on scene in each of the years 2018 to 2020, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1077/21]
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.
924. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on the health element of Housing First initiatives in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1078/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing First is an initiative for homeless individuals, who have been sleeping rough and using emergency homeless accommodation on a long-term basis, with complex needs (including mental health and addiction needs) that have prevented them from exiting homelessness. The model offers the provision of immediate, permanent and affordable housing to tackle homelessness, and provides appropriate wraparound housing and health supports, and connections to community-based supports, to ensure people maintain their housing and improve their overall health and well-being.
The Housing First National Implementation Plan 2018–2021 is collaboration between the Department of Health and Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. It includes a target of over 600 tenancies. Over 50 per cent of those tenancies have already been delivered; and the success rate of the programme through housing sustainment is over 85 per cent, which compares very favourably with the best outcomes achieved by Housing First internationally.
A Housing First Manual for Ireland was published in December 2020 and will assist housing and healthcare practitioners in implementing the model in Ireland.
The Department of Health provides annual funding of €36 million to the HSE for the health services and supports for homeless people, which is an increase of €6 million since 2016. From this allocation, the HSE provides funding for health supports for those availing of tenancies through Housing First.
I along with my colleagues the Minister for Health and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage are committed to reducing and preventing homelessness. Housing First is an important policy instrument to reach this goal. In Budget 2021, I secured €1m for health supports for 218 new tenancies under the Housing First programme. as part of an overall allocation of €3.8m for the addiction and health needs of people who are homeless.
As the Deputy’s question relates to the spend on the health element of Housing First for 2018 - 2020, and is therefore a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
926. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of parliamentary questions he received in 2020; the number that stated that the issue was a service matter for the HSE or another statutory body to respond to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1094/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables in the following link.
927. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if an ambulance was called to a fur farm in County Kerry in December 2020; the reason for this call-out; if any workers at this or the other two fur farms have tested positive for Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1095/21]
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.
928. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the measures being undertaken to ensure Northern Ireland continues to have access to the European health insurance card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1110/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK provides for a continuation of healthcare rights when on a temporary stay in a State covered by the Agreement. Therefore the equivalent of EHIC rights will be maintained under the Agreement for persons resident in Northern Ireland. In that regard there is no requirement for the Irish Government to implement the direct reimbursement scheme for persons resident in Northern Ireland that was originally envisaged.
929. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of all Covid-19 vaccine authorisations currently being assessed by the European Medicines Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1111/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra991. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with the European Commission on the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1297/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra992. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with the European Medicines Agency about its approval of Covid-19 vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1298/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1095. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the interaction he had with the European Medicines Agency, EMA, about the approval process for a Covid-19 vaccine (details supplied); his understanding of the delay in the EU approval process versus that of the UK and the USA; and the likely approval date and subsequent roll-out plan for this particular vaccine in Ireland. [1802/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 929, 991, 992 and 1095 together.
Ireland is taking part in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission (EC) on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.
On 21 December, the EC granted approval for conditional marketing authorisation for the vaccine Comirnaty, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in people from 16 years of age following recommendation by the European Medicines Agency. Supplies of Comirnaty are being delivered to the State and utilised in the current vaccination programme.
On 6 January, the EC granted approval for conditional marketing authorisation for COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in people from 18 years of age.
The EMA has received an application for conditional marketing authorisation (CMA) for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The assessment of the vaccine, known as COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, will proceed under an accelerated timeline. An opinion on the marketing authorisation could be issued by 29 January provided that the data submitted on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine are sufficiently robust and complete and that any additional information required to complete the assessment is promptly submitted.
The EMA are also currently undertaking a rolling review of the Janssen Vaccine, which began on 1 December 2020.
For more information on COVID-19 Vaccines in development, are available on the EMA website:
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/treatments-vaccines/covid-19-vaccines-development-evaluation-approval-monitoring
931. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 446 of 10 December 2020, the steps being taken to address the unacceptably long waiting time for speech and language assessments in Dublin 9 and 11 given the current waiting time for initial assessment in the area is 18 to 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1117/21]
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 access to disability 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.
932. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of people with a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 who have uploaded their random IDs to the Covid tracker application on a monthly basis; the number of application users who were sent a close contact alert each month since the application went live; the number of active users each month; the steps being taken to increase the use of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1121/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
