Written Answers Nos. 850-867
850. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the protocol for cervical screening under the CervicalCheck programme, with particular emphasis on the protocol for detecting abnormal cells; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16287/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
851. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason the vaccination hub in Athlone, County Westmeath is starting at the end of March 2021 but not happening in Mullingar, County Westmeath until mid-April 2021; and if there is a delay in Ireland receiving vaccines. [16288/21]
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.
852. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the six private providers that the HSE has engaged with to provide mental health services using surge capacity in private hospitals, in relation to correspondence (details supplied); the costs in this regard; the details of same; and the services that have been delivered to date. [16301/21]
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.
853. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the details of the plans for Jigsaw to provide a service in Clondalkin, Dublin 22; the location of same; the regularity with which it will be physically in Clondalkin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16302/21]
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.
854. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that vaccine clinics in Cork City Hall and Melbourne Road, Cork were closed on 20 and 21 March 2021, the opening hours of these clinics on the days in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16304/21]
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.
855. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons vaccinated in the mass vaccine clinic in Cork City Hall on 20 and 21 March 2021 respectively. [16305/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra856. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons vaccinated in the mass vaccine clinic on Melbourne Road, Cork on 20 and 21 March 2021, respectively. [16306/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 855 and 856 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
857. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has taken steps to work with his counterpart and others in the Netherlands to facilitate the inclusion of the products of a company (details supplied) in the list of prescribed products for those eligible for treatment under the forthcoming medical cannabis access programme; his views on whether the availability of the products would allow for the seamless inclusion of those currently prescribed the products under the individual licensing programme in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16309/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA prospective supplier of cannabis-based products can apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), on behalf of the Minister, to have a cannabis-based product considered for inclusion in the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme.
Cannabis-based products that can be used in the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme are defined as ‘specified controlled drugs’ in legislation (SI 262/2019) and the definition outlines the specific requirements for those products.
The criteria that cannabis-based products must meet in order to be considered by the Minister for inclusion on the schedule are set out in the legislation and can be found in the operator guidance issued by the HPRA.
The manufacturers of the prescribed cannabis-based products availed of by patients (whose clinicians are licensed under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016) from a pharmacy in the Netherlands have not sought to have their products included in the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme.
Due to current Netherlands government policy, the prescribed cannabis-based oil formulations are not permitted to be commercially exported from the Netherlands but are only supplied in the Netherlands to Irish patients on an individual basis on foot of a valid medical prescription when presented to the appropriate pharmacy.
Representations were made to the Dutch authorities to facilitate the export of the products to Ireland. The Dutch authorities confirmed that the export of cannabis oils to foreign pharmacies or wholesalers is not permitted and that magistral preparations may only be provided directly to patients or their representative on the basis of a prescription.
In April 2020, as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic the Department initiated a collection and delivery process of cannabis-based products form the Netherlands to patients homes for patients of clinicians licensed under Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts to prescribe controlled substances to their patients and this was confirmed as a permanent measure in December 2020.
On commencement of the access programme clinicians and their patients can continue to avail of the licence pursuant to the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016.
858. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will receive a wheelchair as soon as possible as a matter of priority due to their age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16314/21]
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.
859. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if staff will not be redeployed into other services under the progressing disability services programme in a facility (details supplied). [16315/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
860. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is actively identifying potential sites in Drogheda for a second Covid-19 vaccination centre in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16325/21]
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.
861. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if administration, budgetary responsibilities or functions will be or have been transferred from him to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and if administration or budgetary responsibilities or functions relating to the Disability Act 2005 have or will be transferred. [16330/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra862. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if funding delivered for and relating to disability services and matters under Vote 38 has or will be transferred to and administered by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; if there are plans for such a transfer; if these funds will be transferred to Vote 40 in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16332/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 861 and 862 together.
Following the Government's announcement regarding the establishment of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Integration, arrangements are underway for the transfer of disability services to the new Department.
There are a number of factors to be taken into consideration in planning for this transfer of functions. Given the scale of the functions being transferred and the significant budget involved (c. €2.2bn in 2021), there are multiple financial, HR, policy, legal and governance workstreams underway within my Department to sequence the range of tasks necessary to effectively complete the transfer of responsibility between both Departments.
Since the Taoiseach’s announcement in June 2020, both Departments have worked together to provide effective oversight and co-ordination of the various tasks involved in the transfer of policy and budgetary responsibility. While significant progress has already been made in advancing the transfer, work to-date has emphasised the complexity and interconnected nature of the service and financial arrangements currently in place. Due to the complex nature of these current arrangements, it will be necessary to draft and enact primary legislation to establish the arrangements for the new Department in a legally robust manner. To that end, I intend to bring the General Scheme of a Bill to Government in the first half of this year.
863. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the circumstances surrounding the relocation of the children's eye clinic from Portlaoise to Athlone; if comprehensive details will be provided on when this service will resume in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16337/21]
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.
864. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get an increase in home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16338/21]
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.
865. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the improvements that have been made or are planned to make to the ICU capacity in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16345/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the start of last year, permanent adult critical care capacity in our public hospitals stood at 255 beds, according to the National Office of Clinical Audit. Funding for 40 additional adult critical care beds was provided in March 2020 as part of the initial response to Covid-19.
A Strategic Plan for Critical Care was noted by Government in December 2020 and aims to bring permanent adult critical care capacity in Ireland to 321 by the end of 2021 and to 446 in the long term in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review. A total of €52m was provided in Budget 2021 to advance the Critical Care Strategic Plan. This will retain, on a permanent basis, the 40 adult critical care beds put in place on a temporary basis last year and add further new build bed capacity with the aim of bringing the total baseline permanent capacity to 321 beds by year end in line with the Plan. The funding provided will also allow for the development of a workforce plan and education initiatives to grow the critical care workforce.
866. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if financial help in the form of grant assistance or waivers will be available to Irish persons of limited means who need to return home from working or living overseas during the mandatory hotel quarantine requirement period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16347/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has agreed with the Department of Foreign Affairs a procedure whereby Missions abroad can assess claims by Irish citizens and residents that the prepayment fee for pre-booking a mandatory hotel quarantine package is presenting an insurmountable financial barrier to their ability to return to Ireland. If after assessing such a claims the Mission considers it merited, it may grant a 'Deferral of Payment Certificate' which allows the affected person to pre-book without prepaying. It does not however provide a waiver to payment. Arrangements for payment will be followed up with the affected person after their return to Ireland.
867. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will publish a report following the implementation of the Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021; when he expects this report to be published; his plans for a new breastfeeding action plan; when he expects this plan to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16348/21]
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.
