Written Answers Nos. 318-337
318. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an inflatable seat will be granted for a person (details supplied) with very limited mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56679/21]
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.
319. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of primary healthcare centres in County Clare in each of years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [56684/21]
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.
320. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of primary healthcare centre staff employed in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 on a whole-time equivalent basis in tabular form. [56685/21]
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.
321. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have accessed day disability services in each of the years 2017-2020 and to date in 2021 in County Clare in tabular form. [56686/21]
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.
322. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of ShannonDoc services and locations that were operational across County Clare in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [56687/21]
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.
323. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent professionals that have been working in County Clare mental health services in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [56688/21]
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.
324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the support for Irish survivors of thalidomide Bill; if he will meet with a representative organisation (details supplied) regarding this Bill; the reason he previously refused a request to meet with this organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56697/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a number of cases concerning thalidomide before the High Court at present and it is not possible to comment on matters that are sub judice. As certain members of the representative organisation and I are on opposing sides of the extant litigation, it is not appropriate for me to meet with the representatives, in these circumstances.
The Deputy may be aware that following an Irish Government decision in January 1975, the Government granted an ex-gratia sum equivalent to 4 times the German lump-sum and an ex-gratia monthly allowance for life equal to the German monthly allowance, to each of the Irish children found to have thalidomide related injuries. There are currently 29 Irish people in receipt of ex-gratia monthly payments from the Department of Health. The annual figure for the Irish monthly payments ranges from €6,175 to €13,313 for each individual. The rate of payment is related to each survivor’s level of thalidomide related injury.
The German monthly payments are made by the Contergan Foundation, which is established under German legislation. From 1 August 2013, the Foundation substantially increased its monthly payments to thalidomide survivors, including Irish survivors. Both the German payments and the Irish ex-gratia payments made to the survivors are exempt from tax, including DIRT and are not reckonable as means for the purpose of Social Welfare payments. The rate of payment is related to the survivors' level of thalidomide related injury.
In addition to the initial lump-sum and monthly payments for life, the supports provided by the Irish State to each Irish survivor include a medical card on an administrative basis regardless of means, provision of appliances, artificial limbs, equipment, housing adaptations and access to a full range of primary care, hospital and personal social services. There is a designated senior manager in the Health Service Executive who liaises with Irish thalidomide survivors and assists them to access supports towards their ongoing health and personal social service needs.
Work is underway in the Department to bring forward Heads of a Bill to provide these health and personal social supports on a statutory basis to Irish thalidomide survivors. While it is not possible at this stage to provide a timeframe for these legislative proposals, the Government is committed to the ongoing support of Irish thalidomide survivors.
It is important to note that the German Contergan Foundation has confirmed that since 2013 it is accepting applications from individuals for compensation for thalidomide related injury. It is open to any Irish person to apply to the Foundation for assessment of their disability as being attributable to thalidomide. Any Irish person who establishes that their injury is attributable to thalidomide will be offered appropriate supports by the Irish Government, commensurate with those currently provided to Irish thalidomide survivors.
325. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on developing an entirety of life pathway for survivors of strokes; the work that has been carried out in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56702/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
326. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the overall operational spend in each hospital (details supplied) over the past five years; the whole-time equivalent number of staff in each for the period in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56708/21]
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.
327. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will undertake to withdraw a job specification for a position (details supplied) at University Hospital Waterford and readvertise the position for a cardiologist only in order to facilitate filling the post; if not, the clinical reasons this specification is required; the other percutaneous coronary intervention cath lab services nationally that demand and mandate such dual accreditation; the details of the changes that have occurred in the present University Hospital Waterford service delivery plan that require this dual accreditation; the way the retention and filling of this job specification will assist expanding the cardiac cath lab hours at the hospital which have remained static despite a commitment from the Government to provide adequate resourcing for such expansion to begin in February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56709/21]
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.
328. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children on school age team or the new equivalent on the psychology waiting lists that have been also referred to primary care psychology by county in each of the years 2018 to 2020 an to date in 2021, in tabular form. [56713/21]
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.
329. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children on school age team or new equivalent on psychology waiting lists that have been also referred to primary care psychology and that referral was not accepted by county in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form [56714/21]
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.
330. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the actions taken to date to address the longstanding difficulties in recruiting a psychologist to the disability services team in the HSE health centre, Longford Road, Mullingar as acknowledged by the complaints officer that the current staffing levels are not sufficient to provide a full service. [56715/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter , it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
331. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene on behalf of a child (details supplied). [56716/21]
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.
332. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints made to the Your Service Your Say that relate to psychology services in counties Longford and Westmeath in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [56717/21]
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.
333. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress that is being made to reduce hospital car parking charges particularly for those with sick children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56718/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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, consideration is being given to how best to ensure this commitment is addressed, taking account of existing arrangements already in place.
334. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the total number of general practitioner practices in the country; the number of general practitioner practices at the moment that are awaiting the appointment of a permanent general practitioner to them by urban and rural areas; the steps he plans to take to address this issue though additional targeted incentives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56724/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are self-employed private practitioners. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts individual GPs, and not GP practices, to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP.
As of 1 November 2021, there are 2,551 GPs with GMS contracts. Twenty four panels, or less than 1%, are vacant. Thirteen panels are in rural areas and 11 are in urban areas. In each case a locum or other appropriate arrangement has been put in place to maintain GP services to the communities in question.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice in certain areas and a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice have been implemented.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with further increases expected.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
335. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the total number of general practitioner practices located in areas in which the Irish language is used as a common daily means of communication; the number of these that can provide patient services in the Irish language; the steps he plans to take to attract Irish speakers to such positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56725/21]
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.
336. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the opening hours of the Covid-19 testing centre in the National University of Ireland Galway by keeping it open seven days a week rather than five days as at present in view of its accessibility to persons particularly on the west side of the city and from Connemara and in order to increase testing capacity in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56734/21]
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.
337. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if the EU Digital COVID Certificate will be updated to include details of the booster vaccine currently being administered to persons over 60 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56739/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/2014 of 17 November 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1073 laying down technical specifications and rules for the implementation of the trust framework for the EU Digital COVID Certificate established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953 was adopted by the Commission on 17 November and published on 18 November in the Official Journal.
The technical specifications in this Implementing Decision relating to additional Covid vaccination doses are being considered with a view to the issuing of certificates for booster doses.
