Written Answers Nos. 856-875
856. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of first year students that are or were applicable under the HPV scheme; the number of HPV vaccines administered to the same cohort in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24390/21]
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.
857. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a significant drop-off in vaccines administered in view of school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the possible impact this has had on HPV vaccination numbers on first year students; if so, if he will urgently make funding available which would facilitate a HPV catch-up programme in line with his Department’s guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24391/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra941. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to allow pharmacies to administer the HPV vaccine considering the drop in HPV vaccination rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24702/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 857 and 941 together.
All vaccines administered through the School Immunisation Programme, including the HPV vaccine, are provided free of charge.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases.
As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection.
Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in their first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage.
My Department will continue to be guided by the NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.
It is important to note that the schools-based immunisation programme for the 2019/2020 academic year has been completed and the uptake rates for the HPV vaccine in that academic year are 82% for the first dose of the vaccine and 77% for the second dose.
This is the highest uptake for the HPV vaccination programme since 2015/2016 and is particularly encouraging because it was the first year that boys were included in the programme and it shows that the provision of vaccine in community clinics did not adversely affect the uptake.
The programme for the academic year 2020/2021 was paused during the first few months of 2021 due to school closures and redeployment of staff to the COVID-19 immunisation programme.
The inputting of uptake information for the schools-based programme has also been delayed due to redeployment of administrative staff. However, Community Healthcare Organisations have reported that the vast majority of second level schools had their first dose of HPV vaccine delivered between October and December 2020.
The uptake rate for the first dose of the HPV vaccine, in the 2020/2021 academic year, as at 29 April 2021, is 66% and this figure is expected to increase because data input on vaccine uptake is ongoing.
All or almost all areas have recommenced or are about to recommence the school programmes and the HSE expects the HPV vaccination programme to be substantially complete before the start of the next academic year.
858. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the threat to a care home (details supplied); and if he has identified a way in which residents can be guaranteed continuity of service while the issues are being resolved. [24393/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
859. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the relevant regulation which grants exemption from hotel quarantine for those travelling for surrogacy reasons; if the regulation applies to those travelling for IVF; if he has considered an exemption for IVF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24405/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19 variants of concern.
The Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act. All applicable travellers must reserve and pay for a place in mandatory hotel quarantine.
The Act identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine, and a full list of exemptions can be accessed on www.gov.ie/quarantine.
With effect from 8th May, if a person has travelled abroad for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons they will not be required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine on their return to Ireland. In addition, any carer or dependent travelling with this person will also be exempted from the requirement to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine.
All families travelling with children (under 18 years old), including those who have travelled to a designated state for the purpose of surrogacy, are exempt from the need to complete mandatory hotel quarantine when coming to Ireland for the purpose of establishing residence, if: the child was born abroad and has never been in Ireland, and; the parents’, guardians or responsible adult are ordinarily resident in Ireland.
Any other dependents travelling with the party will also be exempt, however, all travellers are still required to have to have a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever you specified in your passenger locator form.
As of 17th April, passengers who are 'fully vaccinated' and have the documents to confirm this are no longer required to complete mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival in Ireland. Dependents, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine in this instance. Please note that the 4 EMA approved vaccines currently accepted have specific definitions for when a person would be considered 'fully vaccinated'.
Passengers who are fully vaccinated and exempt from hotel quarantine are still subject to other travel restrictions, such as the need to provide a negative pre-departure PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified in their passenger locator form.
The provisions of the Act allow for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine in a designated facility; however, this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun.
Neither I as Minister for Health nor my Department have any role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
860. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason funding has been reversed to fund operations in a hospital (details supplied) due to cancelled procedures at Tullamore Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24407/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
861. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if a consistent approach will be introduced throughout the State to allow partners to attend pre-natal appointments and births; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24410/21]
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.
863. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of assistant psychologists currently working within HSE services in an unpaid capacity. [24423/21]
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.
864. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to facilitate an increase in the number of assistant psychologists within the health services; and if so, when and the way he plans to do same. [24424/21]
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.
865. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied to oversee a health service in which assistant psychologists work in an unpaid capacity; and the steps he proposes to take to rectify and improve matters for assistant psychologists within the health service. [24425/21]
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.
866. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to introducing additional doctoral places in psychology; and if he will meet with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and appropriate academic heads with a view towards changing matters. [24426/21]
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.
867. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for funded doctoral places to be introduced in respect of educational psychologists and counselling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24427/21]
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.
869. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if consideration has or is being given to the inclusion of bipolar disorder on the long-term illness scheme to allow persons with the disorder free access to medicines to treat the disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24429/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme at this time. However, a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, will be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
For people who are not eligible for the LTI Scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €114 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
People who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
870. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed by his Department; and the collective total salary received by employees of his Department. [24450/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has 667 staff or 647.69 WTE as of 30th April 2021. The collective monthly payroll for April in my Department amounted to €4.971 million.
871. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department employ persons or firms to deal with public relations; if so, the number of persons employed by his Department to deal with public relations; the names of any firms involved; and the amount spent on public relations by his Department. [24451/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have a press and communications adviser and my Department has a Press and Communications Office responsible for developing a strong and consistent voice and identity for the Department of Health. This supports the Department's role in providing leadership and policy direction for the health sector and involves engaging proactively with the media to ensure the Department’s work is communicated in an effective and timely manner to the public and other stakeholders. The Department does not employ public relations staff or engage the services of public relations firms on an ongoing basis.
872. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the information that HSE recruiters share with foreign medical graduates particularly in relation to the opportunity for job progression if they were to immigrate to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24467/21]
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.
873. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is appropriate in respect of the redress scheme applicable to women who resided in Magdalene laundries that a person (details supplied) having waited a period of four years for a cataract operation was required to pay a sum of money to obtain such treatment; if he will investigate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24476/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sincerely regret that patients can experience a long waiting time for appointments and treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
I can advise the Deputy that 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. It is the responsibility of the treating Consultant to clinically prioritise patients for surgery on the waiting list.
In recent years, Department of Health has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2019. At the end of March 2021 there were 4,226 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 6,268 in March 2019.
The work of the HSE to improve access to elective care and reduce waiting times for patients is supported by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). This includes 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.
€240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 to improve access to care, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This will be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as to address waiting lists.
With regard to the particular circumstances of the individual referenced by the Deputy, my Department has contacted the Deputy's office for further information to investigate this issue. However, this information is not to hand and, once received, I will arrange for the matter to be examined and a response to issue to the Deputy.
The Deputy may be aware that, as part of the package of wide ranging supports for Magdalen Laundry survivors, eligible participants do not have to pay the public hospital in-patient statutory charge. This exemptions means that eligible women do not have to pay €80 for each day in an acute hospital as an in-patient.
874. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is appropriate that a person (details supplied) must wait a period of up to three years for a cataract operation and that the same person has been denied a household benefit package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24477/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for a Household Benefit Package would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.
As part of the package of wide-ranging health related supports for Magdalen Laundry Survivors, eligible participants do not have to pay the statutory emergency department charge or the public hospital in-patient statutory charge. These exemptions mean that the eligible women do not have to pay €100 for an emergency department attendance or €75 to attend an injury unit or €80 for each day in an acute hospital as an in-patient.
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.
In relation to the matter of cataract surgery, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. I understand officials from the Department of Health have been in touch with the Deputy’s office for specific details that are necessary to enable the HSE to issue a reply.
875. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will consider increasing funding for a counselling service (details supplied) to ensure that it can respond effectively to the mental health crisis following the Covid-19 pandemic. [24489/21]
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.
