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Thursday, 21 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 314-324

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (314)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

314. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the details of the additional funding for the fair deal scheme; if this funding will assist in the progression and expansion of the scheme; if consideration is being given to additional or complimentary schemes for non-residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51800/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Changes to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021 will be implemented from 20 October 2021.  The primary amendment to the Scheme (more commonly known as the Fair Deal Scheme) will mean that after a period of three years, when calculating the cost of a person’s nursing home care, the value of family-owned farms and businesses will no longer be taken into account. This will happen where a family successor commits to working the farm or business for a period of six years from the date of their appointment.

The Act also extends the 3-year cap on financial assessment of the value of a principal residence to the proceeds from selling that home while in Fair Deal. Once the changes provided for come into operation, a Fair Deal participant will not experience an increase in their contributions to care after three years due to having sold their family home. This is in line with the core principles of the scheme, and will remove a disincentive to the sale of properties that might otherwise remain vacant.

Over €1.049 billion has been allocated for Long Term Residential Care in Budget 2022; an increase on 2021 levels of funding. A further €30m has been provided for in Budget 2022 for new developments which includes additional funding to operationalise the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021. The details of this initiative will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.

The Government is also committed to establishing a new statutory scheme on the financing and regulation of home support. This scheme is a key enabler to providing more alternatives to nursing home care and wider opportunities for people to live fuller, more independent lives. The scheme will provide for the financing and regulation of home-support services in order to provide equitable access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care needs.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (315)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

315. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the way the additional funding of €105 million for disability services will help provide greater independence in terms of post-school options and the wrap around supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51801/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The quantum of services to be provided by the HSE is being considered as part HSE National Service Planning process. 

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (316)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

316. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the way he plans to provide additional care options for young people with a disability who wish to reside outside of nursing home settings and who wish to live independently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51802/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (317)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

317. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the details of the way in which the new funding for safeguarding will be utilised; if the funding will be absorbed into current HSE services; if not, if funding will be directed towards charity not-for-profit advocacy services such as services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51803/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am delighted to have secured investment in Budget 2022 to support the development and establishment of 9 permanent multi-disciplinary Community Support Teams (CSTs), one in each CHO, as part of a wider overall allocation of €17.6 million to support the continued implementation of the recommendations of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report. 

This investment aims to enhance the integration of all nursing homes, public, private, and voluntary, with the wider public health and social care system – a key pandemic learning. The teams will establish and maintain relationships with each nursing home and with HIQA at local level to proactively support residents, enhance awareness of and access to integrated care pathways for residents with more complex needs and support improved clinical governance. 

Budget 2022 is also supporting, when they are established, the appointment to each of the 9 CSTs of social work supports. These new resources will enhance the HSE’s Safeguarding and Protection Teams in each CHO and will be assigned to work with the new CSTs, having a particular focus on non-HSE residential care services. 

Further details of these initiatives will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.

Health Service Executive

Ceisteanna (318)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

318. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the expense incurred by the HSE purchasing hand sanitiser which at the time of purchase did not have a valid pcs number or which had an expired pcs number; the cost of storage of such product; the value of such stock which was disposed of as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51808/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (319)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

319. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all orphan medicines reimbursed by the State from 2019 to date; the date of the drugs group decision and the date of reimbursement in each case in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51818/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Disease Management

Ceisteanna (320)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

320. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when his Department plans to publish a successor strategy for rare diseases following the expiration of the National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland in 2018; the work that is ongoing in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51819/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In late 2020, the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases was operationalised and incorporated into the National Rare Disease Office. So, from 01 September 2020, the NRDO became the main contact point and driver for national HSE rare disease projects and initiatives. The work of the NRDO is overseen and governed by HSE Acute Operations under the governance of the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer, where the National Rare Disease Plan is firmly embedded.

Meetings to ensure that the input and the voice of the patient is represented in the ongoing work in relation to Rare Diseases, have taken place at regular intervals with the Rare Disease Task Force, the HSE National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and the Rare Disease Office.  Continuing this practice, earlier this year (2021) I met with the HSE, the NRDO and The Rare Disease Taskforce and a very fruitful discussion was held regarding priority areas for the future in order to build on the significant progress made to date in implementing the Rare Disease Plan.

A number, of key themes for inclusion in a roadmap for the coming period have been agreed.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (321)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

321. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when his Department will publish the review conducted by a company (details supplied) into the governance structures in relation to the HSE drug reimbursement process that was submitted to his Department in January 2020; the actions that have been taken by him and his Department with regard to the recommendations made by the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51820/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following a tender by the Office of Government Procurement, Mazars conducted a review of the governance structures around the HSE's drug reimbursement process. The report was submitted to my Department in January 2020.

The review made recommendations in respect of the HSE’s systems, structures, processes, governance arrangements and use of specialist resources in respect of the drug reimbursement process.

The report was under consideration by officials, however the focus of the Department of Health changed to the immediate public health considerations of the COVID-19 pandemic and the preservation of life. This meant that this work stream was suspended to reallocate resources to support essential services.

My Department aims to complete its consideration of the report’s recommendations in the near future.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (322)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

322. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to expand the Covid vaccination programme to very vulnerable children under 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51823/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ireland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations 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 practices in relation to immunisation.

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.

You can read the guidelines at: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf.

There are currently no vaccines authorised for use for those aged under 12 years old. Children have different reactions to medications and vaccinations, so conducting clinical trials specific to that population is important to fully understand the benefits and potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in this group.

The EMA is currently evaluating an application to extend the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11. The EMA's human medicine committee (CHMP) will review the data on the vaccine, including results from an ongoing clinical study involving children aged 5-11, in order to decide whether to recommend extending its use.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions including social distancing, hand hygiene, good respiratory etiquette and ventilation, as well as vaccinating as many adults and adolescents as possible will all help lower case rates amongst younger children. 

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (323)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

323. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when Belmullet Hospital will reopen the second ward that has been temporarily shut since summer 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51833/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.  

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (324)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

324. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when community chiropody services will reopen in the Belmullet area; when community chiropody services will reopen in Mayo University Hospital; the alternative interim public chiropody services that are available to medical card holders in County Mayo while both these services are closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51834/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

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