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Thursday, 15 Jul 2021

Written Answers Nos. 339-358

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (339)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

339. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his plans to enhance supports for breastfeeding mothers in Irish maternity units and at home to ensure that mothers who choose to breastfeed are supported in that choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32008/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

I can confirm however that in May of this year I announced significant investment towards implementing the HSE Breast-feeding Action Plan, with €1.58 million of funding to provide an additional 23.5 lactation consultants across hospital and community settings.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (340, 388, 390, 391, 413, 415, 421, 441)

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

340. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will request the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to examine the possibility of giving a vaccine (details supplied) as the second dose for those who have already received a vaccine for a first dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32034/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mark Ward

Ceist:

388. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if a person who has received their first vaccine (details supplied) dose and is due to receive their second dose must receive the vaccine as their second dose or can choose which vaccine they can avail of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32564/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

James O'Connor

Ceist:

390. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if an alternative vaccine can be offered to persons who received their first dose of a vaccine (details supplied) but want to be given an alternative vaccine for their second dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32574/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

391. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of studies have shown that mixing vaccines, particularly mixing a mRNA vaccine after an initial dose of a vaccine (details supplied) may provide more efficacious outcomes against the variants than administering the same vaccine twice; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that a number of countries including Canada, Sweden and Norway are adopting this approach; if he will permit individuals to choose which vaccine to take for their booster dose and in particular for the 60-69 age cohort who were required to take a particular vaccine for their initial dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32575/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

413. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has requested the HSE and its advisory bodies to consider the mixing and matching of Covid-19 vaccines already being administered in this country in relation to the second vaccination as is happening in other countries in Europe and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32817/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

415. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on comments (details supplied) in relation to the possible mix and match of vaccines in order to protect the most vulnerable quicker than previously planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32819/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

421. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he plans to amend the vaccine protocol for the 60-70 age cohort in the context of offering persons in this age profile the option of receiving an alternative to a vaccine (details supplied). [32881/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

441. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if a person will be prioritised for another vaccination if they refuse a vaccine (details supplied) as a second dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33053/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 340, 388, 390, 391, 413, 415, 421 and 441 together.

Ireland'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, hospitalisation 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.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (341)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

341. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the request for a rehabilitation bed for a person (details supplied). [32038/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (342)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

342. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number on a waiting list for the National Rehabilitation Centre in three month increments up to and including 24 months by county of residence in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32039/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future’ includes a commitment for advancing neuro-rehabilitation services in the community. The Health Service Executive is leading on the implementation framework in respect of the recommendations of the National Policy and Strategy for the provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011-2015.

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.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (343)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

343. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if students who are going on Erasmus or study abroad programmes for the upcoming academic year will be provided with a Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32047/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.

On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department, following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).

Further details are available here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list

I am pleased to inform you that the vaccine rollout at participating pharmacies has now expanded to encompass an opt-in model for the vaccination of younger age groups. The amendment to the programme follows updated advice from the NIAC regarding the use of adenoviral vaccines (AstraZeneca and Janssen) in those aged under 50 years of age.

Younger age groups who do not wish to receive an adenoviral vaccine will be offered an mRNA vaccination in due course. The HSE will put in place consent mechanisms to ensure that anyone under 35 years of age who chooses to avail of an earlier vaccination is adequately informed of the extremely rare side-effects associated with the adenoviral vector vaccines. People in this age group will also be advised about the probable timing of the availability of mRNA vaccine for their age group when considering this accelerated option.

The administration of the single-dose Janssen vaccine to those aged 18-34 began the week commencing 5 July at participating pharmacies across the country. The rollout is being implemented by the HSE in conjunction with the Irish Pharmacy Union and will see approximately 850 pharmacies participating nationwide.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (344)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

344. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered procuring more sustainable personal protective equipment for use in community-based care circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32057/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (345)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

345. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if steps are being taken to address glitches in the Covid-19 vaccination appointments system given that some persons in the older age cohorts have been overlooked for their appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32071/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

State Bodies

Ceisteanna (346, 357, 358)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

346. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the appropriateness of an appointment to the board of Safefood Ireland (details supplied); his views on whether this represents a conflict of interest in the context of Safefood Ireland progressing Ireland’s breastfeeding strategy in addition to the WHO’s recommendations on breastfeeding; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32072/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

357. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32185/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

358. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason for the appointment of a person (details supplied) to an advisory role with Safe Food Ireland; his views on whether the appointment demonstrates a conflict of interest and is contradictory to the national policy of trying to promote and improve the uptake of breastfeeding; the basis for their appointment; his further views on the influence that such a person can have on the board in terms of promoting the use of infant formula above breastfeeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32186/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 357 and 358 together.

The 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 members 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 breast-feeding policy in Ireland. Safefood is not responsible for breast-feeding policy. The HSE Breast-feeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan is the framework for progressing supports for breast-feeding in Ireland. Since its publication, the HSE has established the National Breast-feeding 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 Breast-feeding 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (347)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

347. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32073/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I refer to the matter which has been raised by the Deputy. The Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) is not available to a patient where a procedure is available in the State's public healthcare system. However, the Cross-Border Directive (CBD) and the analogous Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS) allows for patients that are normally resident in Ireland and availing of public health services to avail of treatment in another EU/EEA Member State, for the CBD, or Northern Ireland, for the NIPHS. Reimbursement under either scheme will be made at the lesser of either the cost of the treatment in Ireland, or the cost in the other State - details are available from the HSE's CBD National Contact Point (NCP).

The patient should contact the HSE's CBD NCP regarding details of either the CBD or NIPH schemes. The contact details are: National Contact Point, Cross-Border Healthcare Directive Department, HSE Cross Border Directive, St Canice's Hospital, Dublin Road, Kilkenny Tel: 056 778 4546 Email: crossborderdirective@hse.ie.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (348)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

348. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of additional charges to the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32127/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 permits community pharmacists to dispense generic medicines where a brand name medicine has been prescribed, provided they have been designated as interchangeable by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

Reference pricing means a single reimbursement price, or reference price, for a group of interchangeable medicines. This is the maximum price that the HSE will pay community pharmacies for all medicines in this group, regardless of the individual medicines’ price.

Generic medicines must meet exactly the same standards of quality and safety and have the same effect as the original medicine. All of the generic medicines on the Irish market are required to be properly licensed and meet the requirements of the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

To improve the patient safety aspect for generic substitution, Section 13 (1) of the Act allows a prescriber to indicate on a prescription that a branded medicine should, for clinical reasons, not be substituted.

If a patient wishes to remain on a particular branded medicine, they should discuss this with their clinician in the first instance who may, for clinical reasons, write ‘do not substitute’ on the prescription. If the clinician decides to write ‘do not substitute’, then the patient will not have to pay the difference between the reference price and the branded product price.

Home Help Service

Ceisteanna (349)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

349. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that a person (details supplied) is provided with the awarded amount of home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32128/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (350, 351, 352, 353)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

350. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of new early intervention teams that have been established since July 2020 in view of the Programme for Government commitment to fully implement the access and inclusion model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32129/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

351. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of running a full staff early intervention team, including an occupational therapist, psychologist and speech and language therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32130/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

352. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of school age teams that are currently operating across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32131/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

353. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of running a full staff school age team, including an occupational therapist, psychologist and speech and language therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32132/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 to 353, 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.

Question No. 351 answered with Question No. 350.
Question No. 352 answered with Question No. 350.
Question No. 353 answered with Question No. 350.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (354)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

354. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) would need to enter mandatory hotel quarantine on return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32136/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 provides for mandatory quarantine in designated facilities for persons coming into the State from areas where there is known to be sustained human transmission of COVID-19 or Variants of Concern, or from which there is a high risk of importation of COVID-19 or any variant of concern by travel from that area, and for the designation of such areas by the Minister.

Peru is currently on the list of Designated States.

There are some limited exemptions from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine and these are provided for under the Act, i.e. persons arriving into the State:

1 in the course of duty and who hold a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services)

2 drivers of a heavy goods vehicle in the course of duty

3 airline pilots, aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew in the course of duty

4 pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation

5 who are a member of An Garda Síochána or Defence Forces (or their equivalents from another state) and travelling in the course of duty

6 who is a diplomat or certain other category of persons entitled to privileges and immunities in the State

7 for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons certified by a registered medical practitioner or person with equivalent qualifications outside the State

8 having been outside of the State to provide services to or perform the functions of an office holder (under any enactment or the Constitution) or a member of either house of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament.

The Act also empowers the Minister to prescribe other classes of person who should be exempted:

1 SI 134 of 2021 regarding passengers transiting through an Irish port or airport.

2 SI 181 of 2021 regarding athletes competing in events of international standing.

3 SI 183 and SI 211 2021 regarding new-born infants born abroad returning to the State together with their families

4 SI 183 of 2021 regarding travellers who have received the full course of a relevant EMA approved Covid-19 vaccine.

5 SI 216 of 2021 regarding travellers returning to the State after receiving unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical treatment, together with carers or dependants travelling with them.

6 SI 241 of 2021 regarding travellers providing essential services in the State.

Exemptions are granted by the Border Management Unit (BMU) on arrival at immigration. Passengers need to be able to provide documentation supporting their case for exemption to the immigration officers at the port of entry. If an exemption is not granted, the passenger will be taken to Mandatory Hotel Quarantine.

Question No. 355 answered with Question No. 316.
Question No. 356 answered with Question No. 316.
Question No. 357 answered with Question No. 346.
Question No. 358 answered with Question No. 346.
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