Written Answers Nos. 745-766
745. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department has expended to date regarding awareness raising campaigns of Covid-19 in national newspapers, regional newspapers, national radio, regional and local radio stations and across social media platforms; and the amount committed to expend under any current contracts or agreements with same in tabular form. [10477/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic my Department has been working closely with all government departments to support the national COVID-19 effort.
At all times my Department has contributed to, and participated in, the large scale cross-Government communications programme which has been running since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has involved supporting and amplifying Government and public health messaging through both our internal and external communications channels.
While not specifically a campaign to raise awareness of COVID-19, since March 2020 my Department has been running the important ‘Still Here’ campaign. This purpose of this campaign is to reassure victims of domestic abuse that support services from State agencies and the voluntary sector are still available and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of what level of restrictions are in place. In addition to reminding victims of domestic abuse that help is ‘Still Here’, the campaign also reminds anyone concerned for their safety that the restrictions on movement do not apply to people at risk or who are removing themselves from a domestic abuse situation.
To date the Department has spent €401,952.56 on the Still Here campaign.
The following revised reply was received on 25 March 2021.
Regrettably we are now aware that a mistake was made in the answer regarding the total figure for the Still Here campaign, specifically a credit note had not been accounted for correctly in our records. The figure in my original answer of €401,952.56 was incorrect and the correct total spend for the Still Here campaign so far is €397,944.36.
746. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current restrictions in place with regard to the processing of employment visas due to Covid-19; the expected timeline for these restrictions; if visa applications currently in the application process are affected by these restrictions and delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10518/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, with effect from close of business on 29 January 2021, the Immigration Service of my Department has temporarily ceased accepting new visa/preclearance applications.
The Immigration Service is continuing to accept and process Emergency/Priority applications during this time. Applications received prior to 29 January 2021, continue to be processed. However, for successful applications, unless the application meets the Emergency/Priority criteria, a visa will not issue until such time as the restrictions have been lifted. The Immigration Service will notify the applicant that their application was successful. Refusal letters for unsuccessful applications will continue to be issued.
Increasing travel restrictions and the measures introduced as part of the Government’s efforts to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19 means that travel may not be possible and even if possible is not advisable unless absolutely essential. It is currently against the law for any person (regardless of nationality or passport) to travel within Ireland for non-essential purposes and people can be fined for doing so.
While it will still be possible to apply for an Irish visa/preclearance online in the normal manner, these temporary measures mean that applicants will not be able to complete their application process. Any application made online will remain valid until such time as restrictions are lifted.
The Immigration Service intends to resume accepting applications as soon as safety concerns abate. Information on the types of visas being processed is available by visiting the website at: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/updates-announcements.
The situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks. These measures are designed to support our public health restrictions on movement, including into and out of Ireland.
747. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined in relation to residency status which was previously in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10523/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe permission to remain of the person referred to by the Deputy expired on 22 September 2019. This permission was granted on the basis of being the parent of an Irish Born Child.
As this permission has lapsed for over a year, the person concerned should write to Unit 4, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, Immigration Service Delivery, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70 and provide a detailed account and documentary evidence of their personal circumstances since the expiration of their permission to reside in the State. Once received, the case will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.
General information in relation to applying for IBC renewal is available on the Immigration Service website at: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/inis/pages/wp07000030
The onus is on the applicant to ensure they hold a current and valid evidence of identity and nationality in the form of a current and valid passport, however if applying to Unit 4 on Form RES3, it is open to the applicant to include full evidence of their ongoing efforts to obtain same, including documentary evidence from the relevant issuing agency, so that these circumstances can be assessed at that stage.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the parliamentary questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
749. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if the continued construction of nursing homes is within the exceptional construction guidelines under the current level 5 restrictions. [9931/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a government decision regarding the Level 5 restrictions and the making of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31a - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, the development an essential health and related project is comprehended within the exemptions to closure. Paragraph 5 of Part 2 to the Schedule to the Health Act 1947 (Section 31a - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (as amended) details the construction and development that is included in the definition of an essential service and whereby a worker may leave his or her place of residence and attend a premises for the provision of that essential service.
The recent amendment to the Regulations significantly enhances and expands upon “Construction and Development” deemed to be an essential service under Part 2 of the Schedule to the Original Regulations. Critical construction of essential health projects are exempt from restrictions as the development of an essential health or related project isn’t dependent on it being linked to preventing, limiting, minimising or slowing the spread of Covid-19.
While the majority of Health Capital projects are progressing during the current restrictions, a number of projects can be slowed or stopped due to in-ability to access the required work areas due to COVID outbreaks or clinical decisions to limit access to those areas. In some regions there are indications of a slow-down in work due to supply chain and workforce issues, despite the sites being open.
750. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken to address the concerns of persons in relation to a repeat of the arrival of large volumes of seasonal workers into Ireland in the coming weeks given the quarantine process and public health guidelines for incoming travellers and workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10280/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra751. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health the way in which the matter of staff who are entering Ireland for seasonal work will be addressed; if they will be required to undertake mandatory quarantining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10282/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra752. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if seasonal staff entering Ireland in summer 2021 will be required to produce negative Covid-19 test results; if so, the person or body that will pay for these tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10283/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 750 to 752, inclusive, together.
Under the current regulations, only specific categories of travellers are exempt from completing mandatory testing and quarantine requirements. There is currently no exemption provided for seasonal agricultural workers.
Under the current travel measures, passengers arriving from overseas, including via Northern Ireland, are required to present a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form and produce evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel. The test result must be shown prior to boarding plane or ferry and once again to border official upon arrival. Any travellers arriving without a pre-travel PCR test result must complete one within 36 hours of arrival at their own expense or will be committing an additional offence.
Arriving passengers from overseas are also required to quarantine for 14 days at the address provided on their Passenger Locator Form. A second ‘non-detected’ PCR test result taken no less than 5 days after arrival can end the quarantine period. However, certain countries are designated as category 2 states due to the concerns about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and arrivals from these countries do not have the option to end the quarantine period early.
Arrivals that are exempt from mandatory quarantine include international transport workers, members of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces who are travelling in course of their duties and persons travelling to Ireland for unavoidable and time-sensitive medical reasons.
Close consideration is given by Government to travel measures and the response will continue to be adapted based on the epidemiological situation and based on latest public health advice. Legislation is being brought before the Dáil to give effect to the Government decision on introduction of mandatory quarantine at a designated facility for all passengers arriving from category 2 states and related matters.
753. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when pregnant women will be permitted to have the support of their partners at consultations in maternity hospitals in view of the vaccination of healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9364/21]
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.
754. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the facilities available in his Department to facilitate breastfeeding breaks in accordance with WHO guidelines of two years ago for women in the workplace and as part of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9374/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBreastfeeding is important for the health of both mother and infant, and national health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 and the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020, emphasise the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 re-affirmed the commitment to advance public support of breastfeeding and includes an action to extend provision for breastfeeding breaks under employment legislation (currently available to mothers of children under 6 months).
I would like to assure you that encouraging our employees to breastfeed is a priority and my Department has facilities for breast-feeding mothers and visitors in Miesian Plaza. There is one designated private room on its premises which provides appropriate comfortable seating, storage, refrigeration, washing and other facilities for those employees who are breastfeeding and/or expressing breast milk. Employees who wish to use the room for this purpose are provided with secure and private access to use the facility as and when required.
A new Breastfeeding Policy for Staff working in the Public Health Service came into effect in February 2021. This will support staff to continue to breastfeeding on return to work following maternity leave. This policy is being implemented on a cost neutral basis and will allow employees to take 1-hour paid breastfeeding breaks up until their child’s second birthday, in line with WHO/Department of Health Infant Feeding recommendations.
755. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to administer Covid-19 vaccinations to vulnerable persons who are unable to leave their home commencing with those over 85 years of age; if plans are in place in relation to same; if so, the timeline for such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9383/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra911. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that eligible persons included in groups 3 , 5 and 7 of the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy who are bed bound or housebound will receive the vaccine; if consideration has been given to single setting vaccination in such scenarios; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9952/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra935. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the process to receive the vaccine for persons that are eligible but are medically housebound and unable to attend a general practitioner surgery or vaccination centre for health reasons; if this process has been communicated to general practitioners and public health nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10055/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 755, 911 and 935 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
756. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the 12-month bone marrow donation ban for gay and bisexual men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9387/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Unrelated Bone Marrow Registry (IUBMR) is a register of people who are willing to donate their bone marrow/stem cells if they are found to match an unrelated patient needing a stem cell transplant. The IUBMR is part of a worldwide network of unrelated donor registries.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) hosts the Irish Unrelated Bone Marrow Registry (IUBMR). Donors wishing to donate bone marrow provide a DNA sample and are then placed on a database. As the IUBMR is hosted by the IBTS, blood group and infectious disease markers are tested at the time of donor registration. Some registries undertake this testing at a later date.
The IUBMR performs searches (for unrelated matching donors) on behalf of St James's Hospital and Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin and Unrelated Bone Marrow Registries worldwide. Unlike for blood and blood components, the IBTS is not involved in the collection, processing and storage of bone marrow donations. The collection, processing and storage of bone marrow happens in the hospital.
The World Marrow Donor Association (www.wmda.info) sets out general eligibility criteria for bone marrow and blood stem cell donors, at the time of registration and also at the time of collection/harvest. The IUBMR follows this guidance. The IBTS has advised that men who have sex with men (MSM) who are willing to donate bone marrow can apply to join the IUBMR.
If a donor on the IUBMR is selected to donate, he or she undergoes a comprehensive medical assessment by the collection centre hospital (St James's Hospital) to determine whether the donor is fit and healthy to donate. The decision to proceed to donate depends upon this assessment and the acceptance of the donor by the recipient's transplant medical team at the other hospital. This process is identical throughout the world.
757. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the 12-month blood donation ban for gay and bisexual men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9388/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe remit of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system. A major objective of the IBTS is to ensure that it always has the necessary programmes and procedures in place to protect both the recipients and the donors of blood and blood products. The IBTS constantly keeps all deferral policies under review to ensure the ongoing safety of blood and the products derived from it.
The IBTS lifted its lifelong ban on men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood in January 2017, when the deferral policy was reduced to a period of one year following their last sexual encounter with a man.
The IBTS continues to keep this, and all of its deferral policies, under active review in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections and international experience.
The IBTS advise that a review is underway which examines the risks associated with social behaviours that may result in a deferral from blood donation due to risks of transmission of infectious diseases. This will include a review of the 12-month deferral currently in place for men that have sex with men.
758. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if Ireland has a policy for emergency preparedness for infant feeding protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9389/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have a policy for emergency preparedness for infant feeding protection.
However we have agreed with our colleagues in the Department of Health in Northern Ireland that the facilities of the Human Milk Bank in Co Fermanagh will continue to operate as usual and mothers in the Republic of Ireland can continue to provide breastmilk and avail of breastmilk supplies as before Brexit.
A new Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in public health services is in final draft and is due for implementation, across all health services in 2021.
759. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if the new children’s hospital will have lactation facilities for HSE employees and a lactation department; if so, if this will include mothers attending with their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9390/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraChildren’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised that nursing mothers will have access to lactation rooms in the Emergency Department, Outpatient and Radiology Departments and throughout the public realm concourse of the new children’s hospital. Lactation Rooms will also be provided in the Parent’s Family Accommodation Unit and the Parent’s Hostel. These single occupancy rooms will provide comfort and privacy and will include baby changing facilities. The lactation rooms will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A dedicated Lactation Room will be available for staff on Level 5 and in the Education accommodation on Level 3 of the new children’s hospital. All inpatient units will be single rooms which will make it easy for nursing mothers to feed at the bedside, and breast pumps will be available for use on request. The Critical Care and Neonatal Units will have separate Lactation Rooms should mothers wish to express milk.
760. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of the under-eights general practitioner visit card (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9394/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. At present all children under six years of age are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under. The initial stage of this phased expansion will be the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 and 8.
The appropriate date for commencing the expansion remains under consideration in light of COVID-19 and the additional pressures the expansion might place on general practice in that context. This date will be determined following consultation with the IMO. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
761. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the drugs approval process for Luxturna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9413/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
762. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the drugs under consideration for approval on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs scheme by the HSE in tabular form; the stage in the approval process and current and pending decision of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9415/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
763. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the contact regarding the Covid-19 vaccination centre in County Longford will be finalised. [9417/21]
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.
764. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the role the Defence Forces will have in the set-up, running and maintenance of the 37 announced Covid-19 vaccination centres. [9418/21]
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.
765. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the reason only one vaccination centre will be established in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9419/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra789. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if north County Mayo will be considered as an additional centre for the general population Covid-19 vaccine roll-out in County Mayo given that the Belmullet local electoral area had one of the highest rates of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9501/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra797. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to introduce additional vaccination centres for counties Galway and Roscommon; the process for determining the number of vaccination centres per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9524/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 765, 789 and 797 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
766. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if a person can avail of the Covid-19 vaccination at a centre that is not in their county but closer to them geographically. [9420/21]
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.
