Written Answers Nos. 813-832
813. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health his views on the overpayment of rent to the landlords for the building from which his Department operates on Baggot Street; the amount of overpayment that was made; when the overpayment was made; when the attention of his Department was drawn to the overpayment; his views on whether it will be possible for the State to recoup the overpayment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46723/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn respect of the rental costs for my Department’s premises, I can confirm that the rent payments come from the Office of Public Works' budget. I have no role in relation to the lease or rent arrangements for Miesian Plaza. The OPW, as the tenant, manage these functions on behalf of all Departments in the building.
The terms of the lease were agreed between OPW and the landlord. As my Department was not involved in the process, I cannot comment on rental costs, how they were arrived at, or subsequently agreed.
814. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount of rent that has been paid by the State for the use of the building from which his Department operates on Baggot Street in each of the past five years. [46724/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn respect of the rental costs for my Department’s premises, I can confirm that the rent payments come from the Office of Public Works' budget. The terms of the lease were agreed between OPW and the landlord.
I have no role in relation to the lease or rent arrangements for Miesian Plaza. The OPW, as the tenant, manage these functions on behalf of all Departments in the building.
815. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the hotels or premises with which the State entered into contracts for use as self-isolation facilities and emergency hospital beds throughout the pandemic; the capacity of each hotel and premises in question; the length of each contract; the costs associated with each contract; and the number of persons who availed of the facilities during the pandemic. [46725/21]
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.
817. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when he expects a national psychology led postnatal depression and mental support network to be introduced in each primary care team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46729/21]
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.
818. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, County Cork. [46734/21]
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.
819. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the reason persons over 69 years of age are not eligible for breast cancer screening. [46737/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service. In this regard and in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, BreastCheck is currently implementing an age-extension project that will see all women aged between 50 to 69 years being invited for routine breast screening.
In relation to consideration of any further age changes, such as extending the age to people over the age of 69, it is vital we remember that breast screening is a population health screening measure. It is not an individual diagnostic test. The balance between the benefits of screening and the potential harms or risks to the population as a whole require careful, evidence-based consideration and balancing.
As with all our national screening programmes, BreastCheck delivers its services in line with international criteria for population-based screening programmes, which are kept under constant review. The balance between the benefits of screening and the potential harms or risks to the population as a whole require careful, evidence-based consideration and balancing.
Decisions about changes to our national screening programmes will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers the evidence for changes in a robust and transparent manner. The Committee’s role is to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly. This ensures policy decisions are informed by the best available evidence and advice.
The NSAC is currently finalising plans for its first ‘annual call’ which will be announced later this year. Applications for proposals for new population based screening programmes and modifications to existing programmes, such changes in the age of those eligible for screening, will be welcomed from the public as well as the HSE, health professionals and other professional bodies. Further information on the 'annual call' will be published on the NSAC website.
820. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the BreastCheck website and the advice that was made available through that platform for women in view of the suspension of the BreastCheck service; and the information provided in relation to alternative measures that women could undertake during the Covid-19 restrictions. [46741/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra821. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the reason the BreastCheck website has now changed and appears to have been replaced by the HSE. [46742/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra822. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 after their BreastCheck was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46743/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra823. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if the reason BreastCheck appointments were cancelled in 2020 was due to the redeployment of staff for Covid-19 related assistance who would have normally conducted the BreastCheck service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46744/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra824. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if all BreastCheck appointments were cancelled in 2020; if BreastCheck appointments are now 12 months or more behind schedule; and the contingency plans that are in place to address the backlog in BreastCheck appointments. [46745/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra825. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of those awaiting BreastCheck appointments by CHO area in tabular form. [46746/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra826. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the communication that was given to the women on the BreastCheck database in relation to the suspension of the service; the way they were communicated with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46747/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 820 to 826, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
827. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1175 of 9 September 2021, if he can provide details of the four units not providing phase III cardiac rehabilitation services; the reason these services are not being provided; when the services will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46750/21]
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.
828. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of cardiac rehabilitation services in each hospital that is supposed to offer the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46751/21]
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.
829. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists participating in the dental medical card scheme in County Tipperary in 2019 and 2020. [46752/21]
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.
830. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he has received a submission from an organisation (details supplied) in relation to Budget 2022; and if he will prioritise family carers and carers in his discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. [46776/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI received a pre-budget submission from Family Carers Ireland on August 24th 2021 which my Department and I have considered ahead of Budget 2022.
However, as the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment at this stage on the outcome of the estimates process, or matters which will be the subject of national service planning in 2022.
As Minister for Health, I am committed to improving supports for family carers. Under the National Carer’s Strategy a range of measures have been introduced or extended by my Department to support family carers in recent years. Most recently, €2m was allocated in Budget 2021 as a first step towards implementing a Carers’ Guarantee. My Department has been in consultation with representative groups and the HSE to ensure the funding address geographical inequity of access to carer supports.
831. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his priorities for cancer service funding during Budget 2022 discussions; if is in receipt of proposals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46777/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment, and is part of the implementation of Sláintecare. We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past four years, with clear evidence-based policy direction from my Department and strong implementation by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme.
As part of Budget 2021, an extra €20m was allocated for the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy this year. Additional funding of €12m was also allocated this year for the restoration of cancer services to 95% of 2019 (pre-Covid) levels. This funding is being used to support hospitals in addressing backlogs, extending clinic times, providing additional clinics, increasing diagnostic capacity and providing locum/temporary support.
It is important that our focus remains on the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy across the areas of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient supports, as well as on supporting cancer services to progress against the background of Covid-19, and the impact of the ransomware attack on the health service in May 2021.
Decisions on the funding of cancer services next year will be made in the context of Budget 2022. The Irish Cancer Society has presented a pre-budget submission and I can assure you that their views will be taken into account in the Service Planning process for next year.
832. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to its Budget 2022 proposals; if he will ensure a continued expansion of funding for Alzheimer’s services similar to Budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46778/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI received a pre-budget submission from the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland on September 9th 2021 which my Department, Minister Butler and I have considered ahead of Budget 2022. Unfortunately, due to diary commitments, I was unable to attend Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland’s pre-budget launch.
As Minister for Health I am committed to the implementation of the Irish National Dementia Strategy, which aims to improve how we provide care for people living with dementia. The National Dementia Office, established within the HSE, oversees implementation of the Strategy.
As the Deputy will be aware in Budget 2021, the Government allocated €12.9 million for a number of dementia specific measures. This allocation comprised of €7m for an additional 250,000 hours of home support for people living with dementia, €0.9m to expand the dementia advisor service operated by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and €5m for implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.
With regards to allocation of funding for 2022, as the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment at this stage on the outcome of the estimates process, or matters which will be the subject of national service planning in 2022.
