Written Answers Nos. 1026-1043
1027. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders by areas (details supplied); the number of dental practices taking medical card holders into 2022; the ratio and proportion of dental practices to medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52952/21]
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.
1028. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when Ireland will recognise deaf blindness as a unique disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52953/21]
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.
In relation to health needs, HSE Disability Services provide personal and social supports based on the needs of the individual, rather than the provision of services based on a specific diagnosis or condition.
1029. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a decision on supported accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52961/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
1030. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of the additional 2,600 beds (details supplied) that were allocated in Budget 2021 that have been made available to date; the breakdown of beds made available by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52964/21]
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.
1031. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of the 16,000 additional staff as committed to in Budget 2021 (details supplied) that have been recruited and are working at present within the HSE; the breakdown of these new staff per CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52965/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2021 National Service Plan outlined plans to increase the workforce by circa 15,838 over funded 2020 levels. This funding allowed for permanent employment of a number of temporary workers hired in 2020, as well as a significant expansion of the workforce in 2021, by approximately 14,567 WTE.
The health service has grown by 4,462 WTE from the end of 2020 to the end of September 2021, with a total of 130,636 WTE employed directly by the HSE and its agencies. This is alongside the staff recruited through external partners to support vaccination and contact tracing.
The unexpected COVID-19 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 than was targeted under Budget 2021. The remaining 10,105 WTE will be target for recruitment in the last quarter of 2021 and throughout 2022. Budget 2022 continues the significant investment in the health sector workforce, with the HSE being funded for the remaining WTE to be hired from Budget 2021, along with additional WTE identified for existing levels of service and new developments.
For the latter part of the question on the breakdown by CHO, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1032. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of beds that have been added at University Hospital Limerick campus to date in 2021; the reason overcrowding is still such an issue considering additional beds have been made available; his winter contingency plans to combat the consistent over-crowding at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52966/21]
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.
1033. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken by his Department to increases access to community healthcare services in County Clare specifically as per commitments made in Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52967/21]
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.
1034. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of the additional staff for children’s therapeutic services (details supplied) that have been instated as committed to in the Budget 2021 announcement; the breakdown of these new staff per CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52968/21]
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.
1035. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the difficulties a person (details supplied) is having regarding obtaining their prescription; and if support can be provided to them in obtaining a prescription for their condition. [52970/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. The Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.
In Ireland there are various services in place to protect individuals from excessive medical costs. People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE based primarily on financial means. In addition, where an applicant is over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge. Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, no individual pays more than €114 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. Further information on these, and other schemes, is available at www2.hse.ie/costs-schemes-allowances/.
It is important to note that the medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process and 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.
As as part of this question relates to a service matter, I have also asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1036. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional €100 million for the disability budget announced in 2020 for 2021; and the amount of such monies that has been spent to date in tabular form. [52973/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment 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.
An additional €100 million was provided in the 2021 Budget for new disability developments, which will see? the budget for specialist disability services exceed €2.2 billion in 2021. This additional funding was allocated as outlined below.
|
Support/Service |
Amount in € millions |
|
To support the resumption of Day Services taking into account Covid-19 social distancing advice. |
30 |
|
To provide Day Services and Rehabilitative Training for 1,700 school leavers. |
17.4 |
|
To provide additional Emergency and planned residential places for people with a disability. |
11 |
|
To support a pilot to relocate U65’s inappropriately placed in Nursing Homes |
3 |
|
S39 Pay restoration |
10 |
|
To provide additional 214 intensive in-home respite packages. |
6 |
|
To provide for an additional 10,400 respite nights in 9 newly acquired respite houses. |
5 |
|
To support children with disabilities in Tusla/HSE care |
4.2 |
|
To Support Transitions from Tusla to adult services |
1.0 |
|
Decongregation - to support a further 144 people with a disability to move out of congregated settings into residential settings in the community. |
4.1 |
|
To recruit 100 additional multi-disciplinary therapy post (50% cost) |
3.5 |
|
Integration Fund |
2.5 |
|
To provide an additional 27 expert staff to process assessment needs |
1.7 |
|
To provide 40000 additional personal assistance hours |
0.6 |
The Department of Health and the HSE engage in a Performance Management process where HSE performance and outputs are reported and monitored. As progress is reported in arrears, and in view of the fact that there were certain delays in reporting because of the impact of the cyber-attack earlier in the year, the detail on spend to date requested by the Deputy has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1037. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the expenditure to date in 2021 to decongregate under 65s from nursing home residential settings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52974/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
1039. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his Department has received a proposal to develop additional capacity at the children's ark paediatric unit, University Hospital Limerick; the status of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52981/21]
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.
1040. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will advise a student who is currently on an Erasmus scheme in Sweden who received their first vaccination dose in Ireland and the second in Sweden but cannot get an EU Digital COVID Certificate from either country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52986/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation individual Member States are responsible for issuing EU Digital COVID Certificates for medical events, in this case vaccination, that took place in their jurisdiction.
Individuals who received their first dose in Ireland and their second dose in another country, are advised to apply to the country where they received their second dose for a vaccination certificate confirming the second dose has been given. Individuals not able to access a certificate in the Member State where they received a vaccine can contact the Embassy in that country for support and representation.
Individuals who have received one dose of a two dose vaccine in Ireland can request a record of this single dose by contacting the EU Digital COVID Certificate Helpline on 1800 807 008.
1041. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has plans either through additional funding or strategic planning to address mental health issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52988/21]
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.
1043. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide information on plans it has for a one hectare site in its ownership at Jamestown, Ratoath, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52998/21]
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 directly to you in relation to this matter.
