Written Answers Nos. 1775-1798
1775. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding newborn genetic screening services to expand the range of diseases which are screened for in line with the EU average of 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35483/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully committed to supporting our population health screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service.
The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) was established in 2019 with the remit to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and to advise the Department of Health and the Minister for Health on all new proposals for screening and on revisions to existing programmes. Professor Niall O’Higgins was appointed as Chair of the NSAC in 2019 and was asked that the Committee prioritise an examination of the approaches for the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme and work in that regard has been progressed by the Committee.
In 2020 the NSAC made a recommendation to me for the addition of ADA-SCID to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP) and I approved the recommendation. Provision for the addition of ADA-SCID to the NNBSP has been included in the HSE’s 2021 National Service Plan and the HSE are progressing with implementation. The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme remains a priority work programme in 2021 for the NSAC.
Ireland has traditionally evaluated the case for commencing a national screening programme against the internationally accepted criteria (collectively known as Wilson Jungner criteria). The evidence bar for commencing a screening programme should and must remain high. This evidence threshold ensures that we can be as confident as we can be that the programme in question is effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards for the population.
Financial cost is but one factor that is considered in the decision-making process. Due to the complex nature of the evaluation process and the criteria against which a decision is made, it would be impossible to accurately quantify the cost of expanding a screening service until a full evidential assessment was completed.
The NSAC are planning to launch the first public ‘annual call’ for proposals for new population-based screening programmes in Ireland, as well as proposed modifications to existing programmes later this year, details of which will be available on Committee’s website.
1776. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of completing the repatriation of CervicalCheck screening services and diagnostics into a single public laboratory; the number of staff which need to be hired; the cost for same; the capital cost, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35484/21]
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.
1777. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in annualised revenue cost for maintaining each type of public community bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35485/21]
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.
1781. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of an additional HSE adult safeguarding and protection team; the staffing composition of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35489/21]
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.
1782. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of an additional community intervention team; the staffing composition of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35490/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is unfortunately not possible to provide an accurate costing for “an additional” Community Intervention Team (CIT).
This is because CITs are designed to meet the needs of local populations, and hence the cost and staffing composition of each team will vary depending on the needs and requirements of patients in a specific catchment area. As such, the composition of these teams - and the associated costs - will vary.
However, the Deputy may wish to note that as part of the Enhanced Community Care programme, some €4.125m was set aside to enable the recruitment of 45 additional staff to CITs. This funding was intended to expand three existing teams and, crucially, to establish five new CITs in Cavan/Monaghan, Donegal, Longford/Westmeath, Mayo and Wexford. This will ensure, for the first time, that CITs provide national coverage.
The provision of CITs is an operational issue and 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.
1783. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of an additional chronic disease management team; the staffing composition of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35491/21]
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.
1784. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully implementing the recommendations of the Nursing Home Expert Panel report by one-off costs and recurring costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35492/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort. The Expert Panel report, which was published in August 2020, has added further to our knowledge and learning. This report clearly outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes. These actions are based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19 to date. The report also recommends additional analysis and examination of the relevant public health and other data sets in order that further causal and protective factors for COVID-19 clusters are identified. Work to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel report, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, is ongoing across health agencies and stakeholders. The recommendations of the report are varied and complex, are both short-, medium- and longer-term in nature, and require a mix of ongoing operational response to COVID-19 and a longer-term strategic reform. Those strategic reforms are, by their nature, complex and relate to whole of system issues.
It is important to note that any such reforms require careful consideration and substantial policy development work. In the case of some recommendations, major legislative reform is required, something that must be approached in a measured and considerate way, to ensure reforms are delivered as intended. Costing of the implementation of recommendations is ongoing, along with the implementation of the recommendations. As noted, longer-term consideration is necessary in costing many of the recommendations, due to the major developmental work that is required in order to accurately cost the defined policy objective and the full range of actions needed to deliver same.
In line with the Government commitment to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel, up to €40m is available to support the progress of the national recommendations. Up to €5 million in funding has been allocated to HIQA for 2021 for the implementation of the Panel’s recommendations, with €3.8 million approved for draw down for the recruitment of substantial additional staff required to progress recommendations, including additional inspectors required to increase the frequency of inspections. Given the significant service and policy reforms recommended, many recommendations are currently in the developmental stage, including considerations of the role of the Community Support Teams, Integrated Infection Prevention and Control Strategy and a range of legislative reform analysis. It is anticipated that proposals will be considered by the implementation structures in due course and separately, business cases will be submitted to the Department for review.
It is also important to note that significant supports have been provided to nursing homes throughout the pandemic and these supports have been recognised by the Expert Panel in its recommendations. They include:
- Enhanced HSE engagement
- Multidisciplinary clinical supports at CHO level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams
- Supply of precautionary and enhanced PPE, free of charge.
- Serial testing programme for all staff of nursing homes.
- Where possible, access to staff from community and acute hospitals.
- Suite of focused public health guidance and training resources.
- HIQA COVID-19 quality assurance regulatory framework.
- Temporary accommodation to nursing home staff to support measures to block the chain of transmission.
The inter-agency Implementation Oversight Team, which was established by the Minister for Health, oversees the implementation of the relevant COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel recommendations, and reports regularly to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Mental Health and Older People. Many of the short- and medium-term recommendations have been commenced or delivered on to date, with work continuing to progress other recommendations. Two progress reports have been published to date, with the third report due to be completed in the coming months. These reports are available on the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report: Implementation Oversight Team webpage at www.gov.ie/en/publication/c7f5b-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-report-implementation-oversight-team/.
1785. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated recruitment and revenue cost of hiring an additional 100 public dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35493/21]
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.
1786. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of restoring dental screening services for children in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35494/21]
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.
1787. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated recruitment and revenue cost of hiring an additional 100 orthodontists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35495/21]
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.
1788. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated recruitment and revenue cost of hiring an additional 100 dental technicians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35496/21]
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.
1789. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated recruitment and revenue cost of hiring an additional 100 dental hygienists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35497/21]
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.
1790. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the purpose of maintaining section 38 hospitals; the operational and governance differences between HSE hospitals and section 38 hospitals; if he envisages the creation of any new section 38 Hospitals; the typical ownership arrangements for assets used by section 38 hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35511/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Independent Review Group (IRG) was established in August 2017 to examine the role of voluntary organisations in the provision of health and personal social services and to make recommendations on the future evolution of their role. The Group’s report was published in February 2019. Amongst its findings, the report noted the fact that voluntary organisations in general have a governing board, which the IRG viewed as providing a direct level of corporate governance through accountability of management to the Board, and bringing a level of governance oversight to the operation of organisations.
While recognising the value that voluntary organisations continue to bring, the report also highlights the need for robust processes to ensure that public funding is appropriately accounted for and that all publicly funded organisations are compliant with sound financial practice, good corporate governance and meet the needs and expectations of the public in respect of the type and quality of services provided. In this respect, the HSE enters into detailed annual service level agreements with all Section 38 and 39 organisations that it funds.
The IRG report also examined the situation in relation to the ownership of assets, and in particular the appropriate protection of State investments. It notes that, in the past, there was a significant level of cross subsidisation between the State and voluntary organisations which was done on an ad hoc basis, but that since the creation of the HSE in 2005, it is a requirement that the State takes a charge on all capital investments it funds in voluntary organisations.
In the context of the proposed relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to the Elm Park campus, the Mulvey Agreement, which was finalised in 2016 following an extensive mediation process between the NMH and the St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group, provides for the establishment of a new company - National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC – which would provide services at the new NMH under section 38.
1791. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if in dealing with new legislation on surrogacy, it will contain a provision for the introduction of pre-authorised surrogacy agreements prior to conception to ensure that parental rights and responsibilities can be transferred at birth from the surrogate mother to the intended parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35113/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1840. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the recommendations of a person (details supplied) in the report A Review of Children’s Rights and Best Interests in the Context of Donor-Assisted Human Reproduction and Surrogacy in Irish Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35111/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1791 and 1840 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, drafting of a bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research is ongoing by officials in my Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. This comprehensive piece of legislation will encompass the regulation, for the first time in Ireland, of a very wide range of practices, including domestic altruistic surrogacy. Publication of this legislation is a priority for my Department and the Government, and a commitment to enact this legislation is included in the Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future”.
The surrogacy provisions of the Bill outline the specific conditions under which surrogacy in Ireland will be permitted, including a requirement for all surrogacy agreements to be pre-authorised by the AHR Regulatory Authority, the establishment of which the Bill will provide for. The legislation also sets out a court-based mechanism through which the parentage of a child born through surrogacy may be transferred from the surrogate (and her husband, if applicable) to the intending parent(s).
The published report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection comprises issues relating to parentage and the right to identity in donor-assisted human reproduction and surrogacy in this jurisdiction and abroad.
As issues relating to international surrogacy raised in the report of the Special Rapporteur concern areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments, my Department is engaging with the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in regard to this issue.
1792. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the HSE can provide assistance to a patient (details supplied) to register with a general practitioner practice given their attempts to do so have failed due to full patient lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35532/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra3055. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide assistance to a patient (details supplied) to register with a general practitioner practice given that their attempts to do so has failed due to full patient lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40111/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1792 and 3055 together.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in the surrounding areas.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
1793. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing community paramedicine resources by 5%; the staffing composition of current community paramedicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35533/21]
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.
1794. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of directly providing 1 million home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35534/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1795. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing 1 million home help hours through an agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35535/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1794 and 1795 together.
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.
1796. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of service providers by type of provider contracted by the HSE to provide home help services by community healthcare organisation, CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35536/21]
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.
1797. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of service providers by type of provider contracted by the HSE to provide nursing home services by community healthcare organisation, CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35537/21]
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.
1798. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of service providers by type of provider contracted by the HSE to provide rehabilitation services by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35538/21]
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.
