Mark Ward
Ceist:169. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the eating disorder service in Mount Carmel Community Hospital, Dublin 14 that was due to open in 2021. [60771/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEating Disorders
Ceisteanna (169)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Eating Disorders
Ceisteanna (170)
Mark Ward
Ceist:170. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the cost overruns for the delay in the eating disorder service in Mount Carmel Community Hospital, Dublin 14 that was due to open in 2021. [60772/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (171)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:171. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for their hip operation in Galway University Hospital given the exceptional circumstances in this case; if the person will be considered for the surgery under the National Treatment Purchase Fund given the severity of the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60825/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an 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.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
Under 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.
Accordingly I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the deputy in relation to the matter raised , as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Tests
Ceisteanna (172)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:172. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to introducing saliva tests for Covid-19 as an alternative testing method for those that struggle with PCR testing such as those with intellectual or mental disabilities. [60826/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Testing and contact tracing continues to be a key component of the Irish Government’s response to the pandemic. Currently, PCR testing is the gold standard for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and it is essential that people who have symptoms of Covid-19 continue to be advised to self-isolate and seek a PCR test from the HSE.
The HSE continues to monitor the evidence for other testing types in conjunction with other public bodies, such as the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA), and having regard to best international evidence and advice.
The HSE has a range of COVID-19 guidance documents for disability services available on their website www.hse.ie/eng/services/covid-19-resources-and-translations/covid19-posters-and-resources/covid-19-hse-approved-guidance-for-disability-services.html
This includes a 'Guidance for testing for COVID-19 in Disability Services' which is available as follows:-www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/guidance-for-testing-for-covid-19-in-disability-services1.pdf
On an ongoing basis, the National Public Health Emergency Team considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to detect, and mitigate the impact of, the virus across the population. This includes keeping Ireland’s national testing policy under continuing review.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (173)
David Cullinane
Ceist:173. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of recruitment for the Children’s Health Ireland paediatric complex pain management service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60827/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (174)
David Cullinane
Ceist:174. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit the full-time paediatric pain consultant; if his attention has been drawn to the current waiting lists for children in chronic pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60828/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (175)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:175. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding access to care for unvaccinated persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60864/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE Guidance on Managing Risk of Transmission of Respiratory Viruses Including COVID-19 in General Practice sets out the measures to manage the risk transmission of Covid-19 in general practice.
General practice has continued to operate during the Covid-19 public health emergency and GPs see patients face to face where necessary, albeit with infection-control measures in place. In response to the pandemic, it has been necessary for GPs to triage patient in-person contact with GP surgeries as much as possible, to help prevent the spread of the virus and for the protection of patients and staff. GPs are performing assessments over the phone to determine if a patient needs to attend the surgery. Where clinically indicated, the GP will arrange an appointment to see the patient in the surgery.
GPs continue to carry out telephone and face to face consultations in line with their clinical judgement. No directive has issued from either the Department of Health or the HSE on this matter. It is expected that normal clinical practice should be accessible to all patients, in line with normal risk assessment procedures.
Question No. 176 answered with Question No. 167.
Covid-19 Tests
Ceisteanna (177)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:177. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the steps a person (details supplied) should take in relation to the requirement to take a PCR test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60875/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As set out in S.I. 135/2021, as amended, a person holding either an accepted proof of vaccination or proof of recovery is also required to hold a relevant test result in the form of-
- a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of arrival or
- a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours of arrival.
The definition of a relevant test result in S.I. 135/2021 does not require the test to be taken in the country of departure.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (178)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Ceist:178. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60876/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Budget 2022
Ceisteanna (179)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:179. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided for the National Gender Service in Budget 2022; the way he plans to expand the service to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60882/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the matters raised by the Deputy refer to operational issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (180)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:180. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to act on the HSE recommendation made in December 2020 to move away from psychological support for children and adolescents presenting with gender dysmorphia to Crumlin Hospital which is currently run by a company (details supplied) and towards a service provided and delivered by the Irish health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60883/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Pension Provisions
Ceisteanna (181)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:181. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with Coillte and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with the view of increasing the pension payments for retired workers given their pensions have not been increased since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60584/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and as such is operationally independent from my Department.
Any pension increases granted are at the discretion of Coillte and are subject to the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
Agriculture Schemes
Ceisteanna (182)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:182. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a BPS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60603/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
EU Regulations governing the administration of Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (e.g. satellite inspections), are completed before any payments issue. The 2021 application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing eligibility inspection. This required verification of the position on the ground by means of a field visit which is complete.
The application of the person named is currently being processed. The inspection results, along with any queries identified, will be communicated to the farmer concerned as soon as they are available. Any payments due to the applicant will issue as soon as this process is complete.
Farm Safety
Ceisteanna (183)
Colm Burke
Ceist:183. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the disbursement of the €2 million fund for farm safety as confirmed in Budget 2022 has been set out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60622/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, in order to highlight the importance of farm safety, the Government assigned my colleague Minister-of-State Martin Heydon TD specific responsibility for Farm Safety.
The Department has a range of measures in place to incentivise and promote farm safety. The proposals for the dedicated farm safety budget of €2 million for 2022 are in the process of being finalised and will be announced in due course.