Written Answers Nos. 1117-1134
1117. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when respite services for adults with special needs will resume to full capacity in Inishowen, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53315/21]
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.
1118. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if sufficient staff are available for a HSE centre (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53316/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1119. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if sufficient staff are available for a transport service to a HSE centre (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53317/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if recruitment of staff for transport services to a HSE centre (details supplied) in County Donegal is ongoing or planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53318/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1118 to 1120, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1121. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to amend existing legislation and examine a redraft of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill to ensure that the rights of children who are born through assisted human reproduction are upheld, and that they are fully protected in law, as recommended by the Special Rapporteur for Children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53319/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1139. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 as a result of the Special Rapporteur's report entitled A Review of Children's Rights and Best Interests in the Context of Assisted Human Reproduction and Surrogacy in Irish Law. [53361/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1121 and 1139 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.
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.
The issues raised in the report of the Special Rapporteur in relation to surrogacy and AHR concern areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments and my Department is engaging with the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in regard to this issue.
I can assure the Deputy that 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”. Officials in my Department will continue to engage intensively with the Office of the Attorney General in order to finalise this complex legislation.
1122. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if persons who have been diagnosed with myocarditis subsequent to receiving a vaccination for Covid-19 can apply to have their medical expenses reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53320/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, the Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to the statutory in-patient charge, to public in-patient hospital services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 per night, subject to a maximum of €800 in any period of twelve consecutive months. All persons accessing public in-patient services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory public in-patient charge, subject to a number of limited exemptions which include;
- medical card holders;
- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases - including Coronavirus (Covid-19);
- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;
- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;
- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;
- women receiving maternity services;
- children up to 6 weeks of age;
- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card; and
- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.
The question of waiving statutory in-patient charges and other fees for persons who experience an adverse reaction to Covid-19 vaccination, will require further consideration in the context of broader health policy, legal and financial implications which may arise.
1123. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the supports available to persons who have been diagnosed with myocarditis subsequent to receiving a vaccination for Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53321/21]
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.
1124. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 299 of 21 October, if he will outline the process now in place for persons to avail of the three-year cap on farm or business assets; the details of the web link for applications and the required declarations; the address for such requests to be submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53336/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation on the changes to the scheme resulting from the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021 including who can be a family successor, the process of appointing a family successor and the supporting documents required can be obtained from a local Nursing Homes Support Scheme Office or from www.hse.ie/nhss. Section 5 of the linked webpage outlines the process and the statutory declaration which needs to accompany each application.
The National Nursing Homes Support Scheme Office has also written to recipients of Fair Deal funding to outline the changes. In addition they have also held information webinars for nursing home staff, hospital and community staff, older person representative organisations and key stakeholders.
Farm and business owners need to apply to the scheme if they want their farm or business to be included in the three-year cap. Application forms and statutory declaration forms can be downloaded directly from the HSE website or they can be obtained from a local Nursing Homes Support Scheme Office, which can also advise people on how to fill in the form and the documents required to accompany an application.
Completed application forms should be sent to the local Nursing Homes Support Scheme Office.
1125. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the lack of available home support service carers in County Meath; the number of persons in County Meath who have been approved for home support but whose service has not commenced due to a lack of carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53338/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government (2020) commits to the introduction of “a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care.” In this regard, the Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support. The new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care-needs.
Work is on-going within the Department to progress the development of the new scheme within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms. This work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery for home support services.
In parallel to this, the Department has committed to establishing a cross departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group. The role of the group will be to facilitate the views of stakeholders, and examine the evidence regarding the skills and labour market shortage, in home support. Potential areas to be considered include recruitment, retention, skills development, and the sustainable employment of home carers into the future. The Department is working to scope and plan for the establishment of this group. It is envisaged that it will include representatives from the home support sector and across relevant Government departments and agencies. It is intended to provide a forum for practical action and collaboration aimed at identifying the issues that are leading to shortages in the sector.
The remainder of your query is a service matter, and I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1126. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place for the roll out of Covid-19 booster vaccines for those who have been designated as being at high-risk from Covid-19; the person or body that will administer these vaccines; the timeline for any such roll out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53339/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 8 September, I announced an update to the Covid-19 vaccination programme following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
The NIAC has recommended a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) for residents aged 65 years and older living in Long Term Residential Care Facilities and for those aged 80 years and older living in the community. The booster dose can be given after a minimum interval of six months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.
The NIAC has now recommended that a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech should be offered to all those aged 60-79 who have completed their primary vaccination course with any Covid-19 vaccination. The booster dose should be ideally given 6 months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule (with a minimum interval of 5 months). The HSE has developed an operational plan for the vaccination of this cohort with the programme expected to commence on the week of 1 November.
The NIAC continues to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for those with waning immunity and reduced effectiveness in other groups, such as those with co-morbidities (under 60 years of age) and healthcare workers and will make further recommendations if required. I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to ensure that the NIAC examine whether there is a clinical need for healthcare workers to receive booster vaccines.
As the roll out of the booster vaccines is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1127. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the date for when the reduction of the monthly threshold for the drugs payment scheme, which will be reduced from €114 to €100 per month, will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53340/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) was introduced by the Health Services (Drug Payment Scheme) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 526 of 2012) and provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines/appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. All persons ordinarily resident in Ireland can apply for eligibility regardless of their means.
There have been significant reductions since the DPS was established, when the threshold was set at €144 per month. Most recently the threshold was reduced to €114 per month from 1 November 2020.
As announced in Budget 2022, the DPS threshold will be further reduced to €100 per month. It is anticipated that, upon enactment of secondary legislation to give effect to this change, the new threshold will come into effect on 1 January 2022.
1128. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 25 March, the current projected timeline for the opening of the new national forensic mental health service hospital, Portrane; if recruitment has been successfully completed to ensure a full complement of staff for the new facility; if all outstanding industrial relations concerns are being resolved; if site identification has progressed for the two new 30-bed regional intensive care units in counties Cork and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53341/21]
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.
1129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 26 September 2019, the future plans for a HSE property (details supplied) in County Dublin; if consideration is being given to transferring the property to the local authority for other uses such as housing, community or the arts; the steps he will take to secure the property to address the constant vandalism; if any further action has been taken since HSE Estates undertook an initial assessment of the property in quarter 4 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53342/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1130. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a long-stay bed. [53344/21]
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.
1131. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the staffing breakdown for the Children's Disability Network Teams Nos. 7 to 12, inclusive; and the waiting list, by service, in each. [53347/21]
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.
1133. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and when he or she can expect an appointment at the audiology clinic, Portlaoise Hospital, County Laois. [53349/21]
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.
1134. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the guidance that has been offered to general practitioners concerning the in-person consultation for infants and young children who may be exhibiting some symptoms of Covid-19. [53356/21]
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.
