Written Answers Nos. 425-449
425. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date in the recruitment of six epilepsy nurse specialists which was agreed as part of the HSE Valproate Response Project in 2018; if all these posts have not been filled, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31494/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
428. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if the use of rapid antigen testing has been considered for airline travel within the European Union. [31511/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra430. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding rapid antigen testing for children travelling with parents on holidays after 19 July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31561/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 430 together.
Under the current travel measures, as provided in S.I. 135/2021, passengers travelling to Ireland are required to present evidence of a negative result from a PCR test. Currently, children aged 6 are not subject to this requirement. The Government has announced revised travel policies to take effect from 19th July in keeping with the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The new travel measures will be publicised in advance of 19th July. It is intended that from this date, children under 12 years of age will not be subject to the requirement for a pre-departure PCR test.
429. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in cohort 7 receiving a Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31512/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 ongoing, 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.
432. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a procedure will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31566/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 E is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
434. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if it can be made mandatory for siblings of close contacts to remain home from school until test results are known to prevent further spread of Covid-19 in schools. [31568/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has worked to ensure that the measures in place in schools are robust and prioritise the safety of staff and children. Dedicated multidisciplinary school teams led by public health professionals, working with teams from the Department of Education and school inspectors have been established to support school principals to identify issues as they emerge and work in a collaborative manner.
There is ongoing consideration given by the Government to policy in relation to the management of Covid-19 in school settings.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has published Guidance for Educational Settings relating to the management of Covid-19 in school settings. This guidance, which includes protocols relating to the management of close contacts, is available at: www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/
The Deputy may wish to note that schools must have a Covid-19 Response Plan and a Covid policy in place. Up-to-date Government advice and resources for schools, parents and students in the context of COVID-19, including advice on Covid-19 planning is published at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.
Where a school is informed of a pupil or staff member who has tested positive for Covid-19, if the case was in the school during the infectious period, the HSE will contact school management in order to undertake a Public Health Risk Assessment (PHRA). Core to the PHRA will be assessing the likelihood of onward transmission from the case identified, and this will inform their further actions.
The Public Health advice remains that a confirmed case, anyone awaiting the result of a test and close contacts of confirmed cases, should restrict their movements and follow the advice provided by the HSE which is available at www.hse.ie. If a child is sent for a test as they are a suspected case, the other members of the household should restrict movements until the result is known. However, if a child who has been identified as a close contact is feeling well, with no symptoms of Covid-19, other members of the household do not need to restrict their movements. This means that adults living in the house can continue to attend work and other children in the house can continue to attend school, preschool or childcare.
The risk assessment applied in school settings may be dynamic and change as new information becomes available, and the testing strategy may evolve as information unfolds.
On an ongoing basis, NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to detect, and mitigate the impact of, the virus across the population. This includes keeping Ireland’s national testing and tracing policy under continuing review.
435. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that no conflict of interest exists in the appointment of a director of a company that produces baby milk formula to the Safefood Advisory Committee given the role of Safefood in promoting nutrition and specifically breastfeeding. [31569/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999 provides for the Food Safety Promotion Board/Safefood to have both an Advisory Board and an Advisory Committee.
Safefood Advisory Committee (SAC) members are selected by Safefood following a publicly advertised invitation for expressions of interest from suitably qualified professionals ?working in fields relevant to the organisation's aims. The SAC is drawn from a wide range of disciplines, including the food industry.
The role of the SAC is advisory. It meets on average twice a year and provides expert advice to Safefood when it considers new and emerging issues in the wider food environment. Members advise Safefood on food safety and healthy eating related issues within their own areas of professional expertise. They also advise on strategic and cost-effective communications mechanisms for fostering positive food safety across the food chain and healthy eating behaviours. The SAC provides Safefood’s in-house experts with different perspectives.
Appointees to the SAC must comply with the Code of Conduct for SAC members and disclose any information or personal connections which, if appointed, could lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest. Members of the SAC must comply with Safefood's corporate governance requirements dealing with the potential for a conflict of interest. Should conflicts of interest arise, the relevant member is required to highlight the potential conflict and must, in line with procedure, step back from any discussions on those issues as appropriate.
Safefood developed a code of practice for Advisory Board and SAC members and procedures for conflict of interest is included.
SAC members act in a voluntary capacity and are there to bring their expertise to topics for discussion – they are not present to represent the views of their employer. Safefood advises that all SACs appointed to date have included food industry representatives.
The Department of Health and the HSE are responsible for breastfeeding policy in Ireland. Safefood is not responsible for breastfeeding policy. The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. Since its publication, the HSE has established the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group to progress relevant actions. 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. In 2021, my Department made a significant investment towards implementing the Breastfeeding Action Plan. I recently announced additional funding to the HSE of €1.58 million to fund 24 additional lactation consultants, thereby providing support to every maternity unit in the country.
436. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that immunocompromised persons who have received the first dose of a vaccine (details supplied) will receive a second dose using another vaccine. [31570/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccine as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The Committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to the Department of Health. The NIAC review all data relating to COVID-19 vaccines on a rolling basis.
Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.
The current Guidelines state:
There are currently four COVID-19 Vaccines authorised for use in Ireland. The vaccines are not interchangeable. For vaccines that have a two-dose schedule, the same vaccine should be used for both doses. The NIAC will continue to review the evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of a heterologous vaccination strategy (using a different vaccine for the first and subsequent doses of a multi-dose schedule) as it becomes available.
You can read the guidelines at: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf
437. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a second Covid-19 vaccine. [31581/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 ongoing, 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.
438. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the circumstances surrounding the relocation of the adult audiology service from St. Fintan’s, Portlaoise, County Laois to Tullamore, County Offaly; when the service will resume in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31589/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
440. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE early intervention teams currently operating nationwide. [31597/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra441. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of early intervention teams established since February 2020 in view of the Programme for Government commitment to fully implement the access and inclusion model. [31598/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra442. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of funding an early intervention team including an occupational therapist, psychologist and speech and language therapist. [31599/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 440 to 442, inclusive, together.
As these Parliamentary Questions relate to operational issues, they are 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.
443. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE school age teams currently operating nationwide. [31600/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
444. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of funding a school age team including an occupational therapist, psychologist and speech and language therapist. [31601/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
445. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen day care centres given that the vast majority of the users are vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28587/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy has advised that his question refers to adult day services for people with a disability, and also day services for older people, so I will provide an answer is respect of both.
With regard to disability services, day services re-opened at 39% capacity at service locations throughout August and early September of 2020, and by end of January 2021 this had increased to 51%. The combination of supports in the location, outreach supports, and remote supports provides an overall quantum of support to service users of over 60% at the end of January. The increase in day service capacity was supported by additional funding of €30 million provided in Budget 2021 to increase capacity in buildings and provide extra staff. This funding provided an increase in day services by an average of one day a week for 14,940 people against September 2020 service levels.
For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency day service capacity is reduced, this is due to the physical limitations of the buildings available, the lack of mainstream community activities, and the continued restrictions imposed by social distancing guidance. Many people with disabilities have underlying health conditions, and as the threat of COVID-19 remains, unfortunately so too does the need for these restrictions.
The vaccination process for staff and service users is well underway across day services, and all service providers should now be delivering a minimum of 60% of pre-COVID levels of location-based supports. For those in residential services, currently their day service supports are largely being provided in their residence, however some service users have returned to their day service location, and it is now expected that all residential service users that received their day service at a location pre-COVID should begin to resume location-based day service supports.
The HSE is in the process of establishing the vaccination status of all staff and service users in day services. Once established, the HSE will engage with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) on what further easing of restrictions can appropriately be applied to day services. Those attending day services have been vaccinated as part of cohort 4, people aged 16-69 years and at very high risk of severe COVID-19 disease. The administration of the second vaccine dose for this cohort began in the week beginning May 10th and is expected to be complete by early July.
The IPC guidance are kept under constant review and updates will be provided in the months ahead on further restoration of day services.
With regard to older person's services, the position is as follows.
Day centres are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population and play a key role in enabling older people to live independently in their own communities. The pandemic and associated restrictions has had a profound impact across society and especially for our older population.
All Community Health Organisations through the National Older Persons Office were requested in April 2021 to provide information on the status of their Day Care Services in order to ascertain the level of service that could resume on receipt of updated public health guidance. As a result, it was intended that approximately 100 day centres would re-open week beginning 5 July. It was also intended that an additional 55 centres would resume in July and August, with a further 90 centres that require works expected to reopen before the end of the year. It was indicated that these dates may be subject to change as the HSE continues to deal with the significant challenge of the on-going cyber attack.
Since then updated Public Health guidance to support the re-opening of Day Care Services for Older People was provided in June 2021 to facilitate re-opening plans. Following on from this a further information request issued to HSE Services to obtain an update on re-opening plans. The process for reopening of the centres has already commenced and it is expected that more centres will reopen in the coming weeks.
446. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a felling licence for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38136/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA tree felling application for the person named was received in 2019 and a harvest plan has been provided. The application is currently with the Department’s Ecology Unit and is being dealt with and an Appropriate Assessment Report will be produced as soon as possible. When that is finalised, the application will be advertised on the Department’s website and opened for a 30-day public consultation period.
This new consultation period has been established recently, following new legislation, SI 293/2021, by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, when affects the way in which planning applications, including forestry licences are assessed. Once that period has elapsed, the ecologist will review any submissions received and will make an Appropriate Assessment Determination at which stage the file will be returned to the inspector for final decision.
447. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he or the agencies under his remit has had with the National Broadband Plan in the past two months. [38196/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has not engaged with the National Broadband Plan in the past two months.
As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of the Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry application submitted 16 months ago (details supplied); the reason for the delay; the measures he is taking to address the backlog in forestry applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38235/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA tree felling application for the person named was received in March 2020 and a harvest plan has been provided. The application is currently with my Department’s Ecology Unit and is being dealt with and an Appropriate Assessment Report will be produced as soon as possible. When that is finalised, the application will be advertised on my Department’s website and opened for a 30-day public consultation period.
This new consultation period has been established recently, following new legislation, SI 293/2021, by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, when affects the way in which planning applications, including forestry licences are assessed. Once that period has elapsed, the ecologist will review any submissions received and will make an Appropriate Assessment Determination at which stage the file will be returned to the inspector for final decision.
The delays in dealing with forestry licence applications have arisen because of substantial changes which were introduced due to European Court of Justice and Irish law rulings relating to the protection of European sites. This led directly to most forestry projects being screened in for Appropriate Assessment, which was challenging to implement and led to a need for greater ecological input. This is turn created a backlog in licences.
Addressing this backlog is a matter of immediate priority for me and the Department. Project Woodland, which was launched in February this year, has been set up with the objective of reviewing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the forestry licensing system, as well as the creation of a shared national vision for forestry and the development of a new Forest Strategy.
449. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are guidelines, written procedures or protocols or key performance indicators for acknowledgement of correspondence received and response to correspondence received, respectively by category of correspondence (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38236/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Customer Charter 2015 - 2020 sets out the Department's commitments to Customer service including written and email correspondence. The Charter states that letters will be acknowledged within three working days of receipt, while emails will be acknowledged within one working day. Substantive replies to both letters and emails should issue within 20 working days and, if this is not possible, an interim response must issue within 10 working days with the contact details of the person dealing with the correspondence.
There is no separate commitment for any of the different categories specified. However, a dedicated Liaison Office is in place to deal with queries from members of the Oireachtas.
The Customer Charter and the Farmers Charter had been set up to run in conjunction with the term of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2015 - 2020. However, the new CAP has only recently been agreed between the institutions and Member States of the EU and so a review of both Charters will be undertaken when details of the CAP have been finalised.
