Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Ceisteanna (526)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

526. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if it is stipulated by his Department or the HSE that individuals contracted by the HSE for the provision of counselling services through an outside agency (details supplied) are required to set up a limited company for this purpose; the reason this is occurring given that it causes unnecessary bureaucracy and costs and acts as a discouragement to some counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27257/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.