Written Answers Nos. 664-686
664. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the status of programme for Government commitments (details supplied); if they have been completed; if not, the timeline on their progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48009/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. Information will be collated and a full response will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
665. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be issued with an appointment for a shoulder MRI under the MRI winter initiative for general practitioners; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48011/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGP’s ability to refer patients, particularly GMS patients, for diagnostic testing plays a key role in delivering health care in the community. As part of the HSE Winter Plan for 2020/2021, GP access to diagnostics was extended by the HSE to allow GPs to refer GMS patients to private providers.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
666. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will address shortcomings in the delivery of ambulance services in County Mayo; the way this service compares to other services in the midlands and east of Ireland; the number of paramedics and vehicles assigned; the average wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48016/21]
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.
667. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a settlement between a State agency (details supplied) and the Revenue Commissioners; if there are any agencies under his Department’s remit that have had a similar issue or have made a settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to any issue in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48026/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not aware of the details of the finances of State agencies that are outside my remit as Minister for Health. The public record of the meeting referred to by the Deputy does not contain reference to a settlement with the Revenue Commissioners.
Tax compliance is in the first instance the responsibility of bodies under the aegis of my Department themselves, and details of any settlements, investigations, etc are made available in their Annual Financial Statements, as appropriate.
In each of the past five years, the HSE has carried out a significant self-review of tax compliance with external specialist tax assistance. These self-reviews are conducted on an agreed risk based assessment with Revenue under their cooperative compliance framework. The level of review for 2019 was impacted by COVID-19 staffing requirements, and it was agreed with Revenue to perform a review focussed on specific areas which gave rise to the significant liabilities in previous years. The liability to taxes identified in the course of the self-review for 2019 was set out by means of a Self-Correction disclosure and payment (including interest) of €3,174,921 was made to the Revenue Commissioners in September 2020. The amount represents 0.17% of the overall tax paid by the HSE for that year. The HSE has a dedicated in house tax team resourced by tax professionals developing a strong relationship with Revenue and with access to external advisors where necessary. The HSE remains committed to exemplary tax compliance. in 2018 this Self-Correction disclosure and payment (including interest) amounted to €3,128,034.
I understand that similar payments were made in previous years. My Department does not hold details of these - this information is available directly from the HSE.
My Department does not hold records relating to tax settlements made by any other aegis bodies. These bodies may be contacted directly using the dedicated contact addresses available to members of the Oireachtas.
668. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the mean, median, and maximum wait time for children waiting on a MRI or CT scan by location [48038/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
669. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of MRI and CT scan machines; and the number that are operational, non-operational and broken, respectively. [48039/21]
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.
670. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres by location; and the number that are closed. [48040/21]
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.
671. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of surgeries for replacement joints which have been cancelled in the past three years due to a lack of replacement joints due to funding constraints. [48041/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons.
As the issue raised by the Deputy relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
672. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff of the 14,700 announced in Budget 2022 which have been hired; the revised target for year end; the breakdown of onboarded staff by grade and section; the number recruited for Covid-19 test and trace services; the number hired on a permanent and indefinite basis; and the number hired on a temporary and fixed-term basis. [48042/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe health service has grown by 4,359 WTE from the end of 2020 to the end of August 2021, with a total of 130,533 WTE employed directly by the Health Service Executive and its agencies. This is the second largest staffing growth in the health service since the establishment of the HSE, with the largest growth having happened in 2020.
Despite the significant growth seen, recruitment has fallen behind original targets. These targets were developed on the assumptions that there would be no vaccine rollout, and restrictions would be no higher than level 3. The unexpected Covid surge in Quarter 1 of this year and the significant recruitment through external agencies needed for the vaccine rollout has contributed to lower recruitment directly into the HSE.
Given these difficulties, revised targets have been prepared by the HSE and are currently being reviewed by officials in the Department of Health. The targeted recruitment that hasn’t materialised in 2021 will be targeted in 2022, subject to budget constraints.
For the remaining elements of the Deputy's question, I have asked the HSE to respond directly, as soon as possible.
673. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a comprehensive fracture liaison service to provide high quality, evidence based care to those who suffer a fragility fracture with a focus on achieving the best outcomes for recovery, rehabilitation and secondary prevention of further fracture as is recommended in the Trauma Systems for Ireland 2018 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48049/21]
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.
674. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the required allocation will be prioritised in the upcoming health budget to facilitate the establishment of a fracture liaison service as per the recommendation set out in the Trauma Systems for Ireland report 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48050/21]
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.
675. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to implement the recommendations set out in the Trauma Systems for Ireland report 2018 to develop trauma centres and units in hospitals nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48051/21]
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.
676. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the National Office of Clinical Audit has developed a TARN dataset to collect functional and quality of life outcome data for all components of the major trauma care pathway as recommended in the Trauma Systems for Ireland 2018 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48052/21]
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.
677. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE National Office for Trauma Services has established a formal trauma training committee and an appointed HSE lead for trauma education as is recommended in the Trauma Systems for Ireland 2018 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48053/21]
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.
678. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for occupational therapy, psychological therapy and physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48126/21]
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.
679. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if all hand sanitiser purchased by the HSE from 2016 until February 2020 had a valid PCS number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48132/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
680. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure the timely diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease by medical professionals. [48141/21]
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.
681. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide and cover the cost of care for women with pregnancy-related conditions such as gestational diabetes under the National Maternity Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48145/21]
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.
682. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the HSE currently covers the cost of care for women with pregnancy-related conditions such as gestational diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48146/21]
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.
683. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of children in the CHO7 area awaiting a special needs assessment. [48158/21]
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.
685. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if he plans to reintroduce screening for scoliosis in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48183/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions about population based screening programmes will be made on the advice of the 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. Proposals for new population based screening programmes and modifications to existing programmes 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.
In recent years there has been an increased investment in paediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis services, which has improved access to surgery and outpatient appointments.
In 2018 Children’s Health Ireland (CHI; previously the Children’s Hospital Group) was provided with an additional €9 million in funding to address paediatric orthopaedic waiting lists, including the provision of scoliosis services. Scoliosis activity accounts for 20% of overall orthopaedic activity across CHI.
686. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of children that are currently awaiting scoliosis treatment and surgery; the current waiting time for both treatment and surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48184/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
