Written Answers Nos. 527-546
528. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of children that are currently awaiting services through CAMHS in counties Sligo and Leitrim; the length of time they have been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55646/21]
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.
529. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant positions there are in CAMHS services in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55647/21]
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.
530. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections that the HSE has carried out in hospitality related businesses that operate indoor dining since 26 July 2021 in order to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirement for EU Digital COVID Certificates to be presented and checked by county; the number of compliance notices or formal orders issued to businesses that have been found to be non-compliant with the regulations relating the checking of EU Digital COVID Certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55656/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is continuing to carry out Covid-19 checks, using existing resources and on a risk prioritisation basis. Responsibility for compliance with this legislation rests in the first place with the business operator who must ensure that they are aware of their legal obligations and are fulfilling them. This includes the checking of EU Digital Covid Certificates across the hospitality sector before patrons enter business premises and verifying that the holder in each case is the person to whom the certificate refers.
HSE designated officers have been continuing to support, educate and encourage businesses and the public in the achievement of compliance with this important public health intervention.
The HSE has advised that since the introduction of the indoor dining regulations the following compliance checks have been carried out up to 15 November 2021:
13,538 Compliance Checks Undertaken.
Of these 3,297 were not offering indoor dining facilities and a further 1,640 were not trading at the time of the visit therefore a total of 8,601 compliance checks were completed.
Of those 8601 compliance checks-
- 5,975 (70%) were compliant.
- 327 (4%) were non-compliant.
- 2,299 (26%) required additional compliance measures.
In businesses where additional measures were found to be required, HSE designated COs continue to actively engage and follow-up with business operators to ensure full compliance.
Where persistent non-compliance is observed, formal enforcement action is initiated by the HSE. This has resulted to date in the serving of 21 Directions and 2 Compliance Notices by the HSE and the granting of 1 Emergency Cessation Order by the District Court The latter relates to a business operator in Galway.
531. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of neurology nurse specialists that have been recruited for Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin; when he anticipates these positions will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55657/21]
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.
532. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the 2018 HSE review of hospital car parking charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55658/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra533. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing a car park fee waiver scheme for persons that are required to attend hospitals on a frequent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55659/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together.
The Programme for Government makes a commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. I am very aware of the financial burden this issue can cause some patients and families. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE is giving consideration to how best to ensure this commitment is progressed, including consideration of the review submitted to the Department in 2018.
534. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the specific matters of concern or interest that have prolonged matters in view of three years consultation and work with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the HSE on finalising arrangements for the commencement of section 19 of the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55660/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEngagement with the Broadcasting Authority; the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Health Service Executive on issues related to compliance and enforcement of section 19 took place in 2019. That engagement was suspended throughout 2020 and much of 2021 due to resources being diverted to Covid-19 related areas. Work on commencement of the provision has now restarted.
535. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if further discussions have taken place in respect of the much needed provision of a full-time Covid-19 test centre for Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55662/21]
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.
536. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the view of NPHET on the rising infection rate in County Waterford which remains the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the country for a number of weeks while the county has the highest vaccination rate in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55675/21]
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.
537. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if it is policy to minimise transmission of Covid-19 or to achieve a 100% vaccination rate; if it is to minimise transmission of Covid-19, the reason free antigen testing has been rolled out to only the vaccinated; if a policy to minimise transmission should include the roll out of antigen testing for use by all persons in a variety of settings similar to the situation across many European Union countries; his views on whether the policy of pushing vaccination over the use of antigen testing is failing given the high levels of transmission presently within a highly vaccinated society; his plans to change or review the current policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55680/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outset of the pandemic, a multi layered approach has been adopted. We have relied on a combination of measures including physical distancing, mask wearing, hand and respiratory hygiene, robust and responsive testing, contact tracing and isolation, and vaccination. This multi-layered approach remains at the core of Government policy.
As the Deputy will be aware, Covid-19 incidence across the country is very high and has been increasing at a concerning rate. The numbers of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in hospital and ICU also remain high. The latest public health advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team described the overall epidemiological situation as concerning and uncertain. This advice reiterates the need for the continuation of the full range of current measures to suppress transmission levels.
Rapid testing has a role to play as another valuable tool in Ireland’s battle against Covid-19, and the Minister for Health has been very clear that he supports its wider use. Since Thursday 28 October, asymptomatic fully vaccinated close contacts of any person that tested positive for Covid-19 can test themselves at home using free antigen tests provided by the HSE.
Antigen tests are also already in use across a range of appropriate settings and contexts. In the health sector, the HSE has deployed antigen tests for use in acute hospital settings, and as part of the response to outbreaks in the community The HSE is also operating a pilot antigen detection testing programme for staff in a number of Residential Care Facilities for Older Persons across the country.
The Minister for Health has asked officials in his Department to investigate potential options for the wider supply of antigen tests across the community. It is important to note that the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group has advised the Minister that there should be a cost effectiveness analysis prior to any recommendation being implemented.
Rapid antigen testing can play a role as another tool in Ireland’s response to Covid-19, and the Department of Health, NPHET and the HSE continue to monitor their potential utility and explore further how they can support the existing testing programme where appropriate.
538. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the amount of the maintenance budget for 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 that was spent on a health centre (details supplied) in Midleton, County Cork in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55681/21]
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.
539. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when funding will be provided for a senior dietician in Portlaoise Hospital for an adult insulin pump clinic. [55683/21]
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.
540. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the action that has been taken regarding the provision of medical cannabis to date in 2021 with particular regard to treatment of seizures and epilepsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55684/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2019, the Minister for Health signed legislation to underpin the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP). This is a 5-year pilot programme, restricted to prescribing of cannabis-based products by medical consultants, for patients with certain medical conditions who have exhausted all other available medical treatment options. Those conditions are:
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
- Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
- Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
On 15 July 2021, The Minister for Health, announced that the MCAP is now open for medical consultants to make an application for themselves and their patients to be registered for the programme.
Registration by consultants and their patients on the Cannabis for Medical Use Register, to be operated by the HSE, is required for the prescribing of cannabis-based products under the MCAP.
The HSE will establish and maintain a Register to facilitate the enrolment and recording of certain data including patient identifiers (in anonymised format), prescribers enrolled in the Programme, as well as prescribed or supplied medical cannabis products.
As the MCAP has been included in the HSE National Service Plan 2021, the operation of the programme is a matter for the HSE in the first instance.
Pending full operation of the MCAP and for medical indications not included in the MCAP, doctors may continue to utilise the Ministerial licencing route pursuant to Section 14 of the misuse of Drugs Avt 1977 to prescribe cannabis-based products for their patients, should they wish to do so. In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
It is important to note that the medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis 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.
541. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if there has been no official process from February 2020 to November 2021 to exempt persons from wearing a face covering due to disability, pre-existing medical conditions or having suffered sexual violence; the official process in place for a person in these categories to proceed with their daily lives unhindered; and the steps that have been taken by his Department to educate persons regarding the needs of persons in these categories and to prevent discrimination against them on the basis of face coverings they cannot wear. [55685/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the evidence relating to Covid-19, and the decisions necessary to protect everybody living in Ireland from its effects is constantly evolving. The public health advice relating to Covid-19, including face masks, is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), by my department and by the Government. The measures in place and the public health advice have been adapted to the changing circumstances and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.
The current advice regarding face coverings, including the circumstances in which it is mandatory to wear a face covering and who should not wear a face covering is available at: www.gov.ie/facecoverings/. Guidance is also available on the HSE website at Face masks: when and how to wear one - HSE.ie
The Deputy may wish to note that a person need not wear a face covering if they have an illness or impairment that would make wearing a face covering difficult. Face coverings are not recommended for anyone who:
- has trouble breathing
- is unconscious or incapacitated
- is unable to remove it without help
- has special needs and who may feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing them
- needs to communicate with someone who has learning difficulties, is hard of hearing or deaf
Guidance on type and standard of face mask is available on the HSE website at Types of face coverings, masks and visors - HSE.ie
To inform national efforts in response to Covid-19, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is developing Health Technology Assessment evidence summaries to answer specific research questions posed by the NPHET. HIQA evidence summaries on various topics, including on the use of face masks in the community is available at: www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessments
My Department and the Government has invested in significant public health campaigns to ensure that all members of the community are aware of all public health guidelines relating to Covid 19 including face masks.
542. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he plans to expand the Medical Cannabis Access Programme to include compassionate access for those who need cannabis based oil for medical and clinical purposes; if he plans to expand a wider range of THC-based products in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55686/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) was established as a result of recommendations by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in their “Cannabis for Medical User – A Scientific Review”.
The review stated that if the policy decision is to make cannabis available for medical purposes, the HPRA advised that it should recognise patient need, but be evidence based. It was advised, that treatment with cannabis be only permitted under a controlled access programme for the treatment of patients with the following medical conditions which have failed to respond to standard treatments;
- spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis;
- intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy;
- evere, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
Subsequently the Minister for Health established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Medical Cannabis Access Programme. This Group developed detailed Clinical Guidelines for the MCAP to be followed by clinicians, which contained inter alia guidance on ingredient combinations that are recommended for each of the three indications included in the MCAP.
The Department is currently working to commence a new clinical review that will continue the work of the previous clinical expert group. This review will seek to build on evidence found in the earlier study and will assess if there is new information to support the addition of any other clinical indications to the MCAP.
The MCAP is a 5-year pilot programme. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate access to acceptable cannabis-based products for medical use that are of a standardised quality and which meet the requirements outlined in the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019 (as amended).
There are currently six products assessed by the HPRA for inclusion in Schedule 1 of the Regulations, more products are currently being assessed by the HPRA. It is open to any supplier or producer to apply to the HPRA to have their products assessed for inclusion in the programme.
On 19 July, I announced that the MCAP was now open for medical consultants to make an application for themselves and their patients to be registered for the programme.
Registration by consultants and their patients on the Cannabis for Medical Use Register, to be operated by the HSE, is required for the prescribing of cannabis-based products under the MCAP.
The Misuse Of Drugs (Prescription And Control Of Supply Of Cannabis For Medical Use) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 262/2019) defines the cannabis-based product or preparation that can be used in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.
A prospective supplier can apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to have a product considered for inclusion in the Schedule of ‘specified controlled drugs’ in the Regulations. As specified controlled drugs will fall under schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017. A controlled drugs licence, processed by the HPRA, on behalf of the Minister, is also required for possession, supply or import of such cannabis products. The onus is on suppliers to make an application.
Details on how to apply for a licence to possess, supply or import medical cannabis products for use under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme in accordance with the requirements for schedule 2 products in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 can be found in the operator guidance issued by the HPRA.
543. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed plans by HSE facilities to demand all accompanying partners attending maternity hospitals to provide proof of vaccination; if it is proposed that they not be permitted for the birth of the child in circumstances in which they cannot provide proof of vaccination; the legislation under which such provisions are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55694/21]
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.
544. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a website (details supplied); the relationship between his Department and the website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55695/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe website referred to is run by a private company, Civil Certificates Limited, with no connection to the Department of Health.
545. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to offer HSE sponsorship programmes for those studying medicine in Ireland which would contract them to work for the HSE for a specified term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55696/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
546. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a vaccine injury compensation fund; when this fund will be made available to assist those suffering from adverse effects; the details of the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55699/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2018, the Government agreed to the establishment of the expert group to review the management of clinical negligence claims. It was chaired by the High Court judge, Mr. Justice Charles Meenan. The expert group examined the system from the perspective of the person who has made the claim to explore if there is a better way to deal effectively, yet more sensitively, with certain cases.
Mr. Justice Meenan submitted the final report on the current system for managing clinical negligence claims to the then Minister for Health and Minister for Justice in January 2020, prior to the onset of the Covid pandemic. The Government subsequently published the Meenan report in December 2020. One of the report's recommendations is that a compensation scheme be established.
On foot of a request from my Department, the Health Research Board, HRB, carried out an evidence review on the vaccine injury redress programme in other jurisdictions, which was completed in March 2019. The expert group's report, in addition to the HRB's evidence review, and consultation with other Departments and relevant State agencies will inform the development of proposals regarding the establishment of a compensation scheme, including the need for primary legislation, and work to advance policy development in this regard is under way in the Department.
