Written Answers Nos. 617-640
617. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults awaiting appointments with the adult primary care psychology services; the average waiting times by community healthcare organisation, CHO, area from 2019 to the latest date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47737/21]
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.
618. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting appointments with primary care psychology services; the average waiting times by community healthcare organisation, CHO, area in each year from 2019 to the latest date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47738/21]
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.
619. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting appointments with the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS: the average waiting times by community healthcare organisation, CHO, area in each year from 2019 to the latest date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47739/21]
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.
620. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children placed in adult psychiatric hospital services and units in each year from 2019 to the latest date 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47740/21]
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.
621. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children referred to community specialist eating disorder teams who had waiting times from assessment to treatment started within four and eight weeks in each year from 2019 to the latest date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47741/21]
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.
622. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 688 of 3 February, the status of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47742/21]
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.
623. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment; if his or her appointment has been classed as urgent; the position on the waiting list; the current waiting time for such appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47745/21]
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.
624. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to address waiting times for paediatric occupational therapy appointments in counties Roscommon and Galway; if all occupational therapists are working in occupational therapy roles; the plan to recruit additional occupational therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47746/21]
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.
625. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the services offered under priority 1, emergency services only, occupational therapy services; if paediatric patients are being seen for in-person appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47748/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing clarification from the Deputy, it is understood that his question relates solely to the availability of Occupational Therapy appointments for paediatric patients.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
626. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the EU Digital Covid certificate will be made available for Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47757/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the successful rollout of the initial implementation phase of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland the Government is adding a further service to enable Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU to obtain a Digital COVID certificate valid in Ireland and across the EU.
This service will be released in a two phased approach. The online portal began to accept applications from Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland who hold a Northern Irish COVID vaccination certificate with a QR code on 29th September. Phase 2 will accept applications from Irish passport holders vaccinated in other non-EU countries with an Irish approved vaccine regimen and is currently in development.
627. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the outcome in which the fair deal scheme has been approved but a spouse subsequently wants to separate and sell the family home; if the home can be sold in this instance; if so, the way that this will affect the approved scheme if after selling the home the person approved for the scheme uses his or her share of the proceeds of the sale to buy another property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47761/21]
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.
628. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the community schemes or job initiatives available to persons with a disability or mental health issue such as schizophrenia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47774/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.
As the Deputy has clarified that this question refers to job initiatives and community schemes in general, I must advise that this is a matter which comes under the remit of the Department of Social Protection.
629. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if there is another general practitioner who accepts medical card patients in the Dún Laoghaire area, particularly for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47777/21]
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.
630. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when he expects the proposed review of the dental treatment services scheme contract will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47795/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte (2019) provides a framework to transform oral health services and will broaden the care provided to the public from birth to old age. The roll-out of the Policy has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the proposed review of the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) contract has been deferred. I am committed to the sustainability of the DTSS which provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over and which will need to be aligned with the new policy. Officials in my Department and from the HSE are currently engaging with the Irish Dental Association on matters relating to the DTSS, including the proposed review.
631. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when guidelines will be introduced to maintain consistency so partners can be present for the full birth and visiting times after the birth in maternity services across the country (details supplied). [47799/21]
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.
632. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the way he plans to reduce inequalities with respect to access to patient services and health outcomes for members of the public who are diagnosed with coeliac disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47830/21]
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.
633. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will review the existing models of care for coeliac patients to drive efficiencies in their level of care and support a new pilot voucher scheme or pre-loaded payment card as a way of helping patients to access gluten-free staples from local supermarkets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47831/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Gluten-free products were removed from the list of GMS reimbursable items, with a number of other products, in September 2012. These products were, by this time, more widely available and they tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. There are no plans to reinstate these products on the list of reimbursable items under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
A proposal for a pilot voucher or pre-loaded payment card scheme to assist coeliac patients access gluten-free products has not been considered by the Department and no request for funding for such a proposal has been received from the Health Service Executive. However, coeliac patients may claim tax relief on medical expenses incurred on gluten-free products manufactured specifically for coeliacs.
634. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the alternative long-stay and respite placements available in Cork city and county to residents of the Owenacurra Centre if its proposed closure goes ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47832/21]
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.
635. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the service plan in place for the persons under the care of the Midleton and Youghal, and Cobh and Glenville adult mental health teams with severe and enduring mental illness who require long-stay or respite placement in the event that the Owenacurra Centre is permanently closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47833/21]
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.
636. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the expected cost of renovating the Carraig Mór mental health facility in Shanakiel, County Cork. [47834/21]
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.
637. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the estimated reduction in service cost to the budget of the community healthcare organisation, CHO 4, as a result of closing the Owenacurra Centre in terms of clinical staffing costs, food costs and cleaning costs in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47835/21]
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.
638. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE estates department is of the view that no amount of refurbishment could allow the Owenacurra Centre to meet building standards or the standards required by the Mental Health Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47836/21]
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.
639. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if the clinical risks to residents, for example, symptom regression, deterioration of mental state, and a decline in functioning and quality of life, associated with the proposed closure of the Owenacurra Centre have been assessed; the way these risks are being monitored or managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47837/21]
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.
640. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the financial assessment breakdown in the case of a person (details supplied) availing of the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47842/21]
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.
