Written Answers Nos. 571-591
571. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding appointing a clinical psychologist to the County Wexford acute hospital diabetes multidisciplinary team given the need for psychosocial support in diabetes care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54072/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra572. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a diabetes psychology resource to the County Wexford community diabetes specialist team hub under the Integrated Model of Care for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease Implementation Guide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54073/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra573. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a 0.5 whole-time equivalent clinical psychologist to the County Wexford acute hospital diabetes paediatric diabetes team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54074/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 571 to 573, inclusive, together.
As the issues raised are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
574. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a clinical psychologist to the diabetes multidisciplinary team in Wexford Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54075/21]
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.
575. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively, who provide services under the dental treatment services scheme. [54099/21]
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.
576. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if the attention of his Department has been drawn to the fact that there are persons who received second doses of a Covid-19 vaccine in other EU member states and third-countries who are unable to obtain Covid certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54100/21]
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 second dose in another Member State, are advised to apply to the country where they received their second dose for a vaccination certificate. 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.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation additionally allows for Digital COVID Certificates to be provided to Union citizens vaccinated in a third country provided that the Member State has been provided with reliable proof of vaccination.
Ireland launched an online portal to receive applications from individuals vaccinated in third countries for Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland from 28th September and this was extended to Great Britain on 15th October. The further development of the portal to accept applications for Irish passport holders vaccinated in other third countries is underway, with cross-departmental support, and is expected to be available in November.
This portal will accept applications from individuals vaccinated in a third country, outside of the EU Member States and countries which have been awarded an equivalence decision, who are 18 years of age and older, hold a valid Irish passport, and a reliable proof of vaccination for a vaccine type currently authorised for use in Ireland.
577. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on the additional nurses (details supplied) needed at Cork University Hospital; the plans that will be put in place to facilitate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54102/21]
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.
578. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for speech and language therapy, as recommended in an assessment of need in early 2020. [54115/21]
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.
579. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54120/21]
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.
580. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when there will be full return of adult disability day services in the Cork north Lee area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54127/21]
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.
581. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare services, including adult disability day services and respite services, that have resumed at full service level in the south and south west HSE area to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54128/21]
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.
582. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if children awaiting psychology services can be supported to attend private services with support from the national treatment purchase fund; if not, if he will put a system in place to allow those waiting in excess of three months to attend private services that are covered by the HSE in order to avoid delays for those who cannot pay from being left behind, many of whom have waited in excess of one year for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54130/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, to offer and provide funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an acute hospital inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
As psychological services are not Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient waiting lists within an Acute hospital setting, they do not meet current NTPF criteria.
Any change in the function of the NTPF to include the provision for treatment for patients outside of the acute hospital setting would require primary legislation. Therefore, the operational and legislative implications of this need to be considered.
However, the overarching goal is to reduce these waiting lists so that children and adults can secure timely assessments. The Deputy will be aware that in August of this year I announced €4 million in funding for local initiatives to reduce waiting lists for children and young people under 18 waiting more than 12 months to access primary care psychology. These initiatives are progressing, including through the recruitment of new staff and increased hours of service. I continue to closely monitor this initiative, in conjunction with the HSE
The total allocation for mental health services in 2022 is €1.149 billion. This is another record budget for mental health. It delivers an additional €47 million for next year and comprises €24 million for new developments, €13 million is for existing levels of service and €10 million in once off funding for mental health initiatives in response to Covid.
The €24 million is being prioritised for the continued development of mental health services, including out of hours supports, CAMHS telehubs and CAMHS community teams.
Additionally, supports continue to be available to children and young people, which include a wide range of community and voluntary supports including Jigsaw, MyMind, Turn2Me and SpunOut.
583. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of neurology nurse specialists operating in the Ireland East Hospital Group in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; the increase in funding allocated in budget 2021 to increase numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54132/21]
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.
584. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if a group (details supplied) will be included as part of the advisory group to the national eating programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54133/21]
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.
585. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the status of incidents entered into the national incident management system, by month, in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54134/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency hosts the National Incident Management System (NIMS) which is the principal source of national data on incident activity for the Irish public health service. Under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000 State authorities are obliged to report adverse incidents promptly to the State Claims Agency (SCA). This allows the SCA, in conjunction with State authorities, to identify and analyse developing trends and patterns and to work with the State authorities concerned to develop and implement risk mitigation strategies. It is also important in the investigation of any subsequent claim.
I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained in the attached document was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as per the criteria outlined below.
Criteria used
- This report shows all incidents reported by Delegated State Authorities on NIMS between 01/01/2018 and 31/12/2020
- The figures include all personal injury (Service User, Staff and Member of Public), property damage, dangerous occurrence, and informal complaint incidents
- This report is correct as of 31/10/2021.
In the table attached, Healthcare refers to all Statutory and Voluntary Healthcare Organisations that have been delegated to the State Claims Agency e.g. Acute hospitals, Section 38 organisations and National Support Services.
All other Delegated State Authorities are all other state bodies outside of Healthcare which have been delegated to the State Claims Agency e.g. Government Departments and Agencies under the aegis of the Ministers.
586. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be issued with the aid for which he or she has applied; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54143/21]
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.
587. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his legislative proposals relating to surrogacy, with particular reference to ensuring that the interests of the children and parties are sufficiently safeguarded and protected with particular reference to the obviation of the need for subsequent legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54151/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction, including domestic altruistic surrogacy.
The surrogacy provisions of the Bill outline the specific conditions under which surrogacy in Ireland will be permitted, including a requirement for all surrogacy agreements to be altruistic and pre-authorised by the new AHR Regulatory Authority. The legislation sets out a court-based mechanism through which the parentage of a child born through surrogacy may be transferred from the surrogate to the intending parent(s).
In addition, under the surrogacy provisions at least one of the intending parents will have to be genetically related to the child. The Bill will also provide for the establishment of a National Surrogacy Register to ensure the child’s right to identify all parties (including the surrogate mother, intending parents and any donor) involved in the child’s conception and birth. Commercial surrogacy in Ireland will be prohibited as it raises a number of concerns relating to the welfare and commodification of the children involved as well as the potential risks of coercion and exploitation of financially vulnerable women to act as surrogates.
Publication of the AHR Bill 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”. This Department will continue to engage intensively with the Office of the Attorney General in order to finalise this complex legislation.
The AHR legislation aims to promote and ensure the health and safety of parents and others involved in the process (such as donors and surrogate mothers), while, most importantly, consideration of the welfare and best interests of children born as a result of AHR is a key principle underpinning all legislative measures in this area.
588. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if plans are being put in place to ensure that those who are issued immunosuppressants in their homes are referred for their Covid-19 booster shot given that referrals are under way for those who are administered immunosuppressants in hospital settings. [54157/21]
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.
589. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54191/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
590. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the outcome on the investigation into the illegal removal of organs from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54221/21]
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.
591. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54223/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
