Tuesday, 25 Jan 2022

Written Answers Nos. 575-592

Health Services

Ceisteanna (575)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

575. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the wait time for a dermatology appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3088/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Inquiries

Ceisteanna (576)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

576. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1947 of 27 July 2021, if he will provide an update in relation to the proposed inquiry into the licensing of sodium valproate; when the inquiry will begin; when engagement with families affected by the drug will commence; and the timeline for the delivery of the report. [3099/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (577)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

577. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive equipment from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3105/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (578)

Gino Kenny

Ceist:

578. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 924 of 2 November 2021, the status of the discussions and consideration mentioned in the reply regarding the availability of the EU Digital Covid Certificate for those who have been medically advised not to take the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3106/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Deputy will be aware that on 21 January, the Government announced the removal of most public health measures. From 22 January, the requirement to have a Digital COVID Certificate to enter various premises in Ireland has been removed.

There is no change to the current measures in place regarding international travel, including the requirement for a Digital COVID Certificate.

Further detail on the Government’s announcement is available here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0fc0d-government-announces-that-most-of-the-public-health-measures-currently-in-place-can-be-removed/

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (579, 580)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

579. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will revise the block grant funding model dispersed via the HSE mental health service in order that section 39 residential addiction support and treatment centres such as Bushypark in Ennis, County Clare receive a set amount each year rather than an allocation linked to bed nights (details supplied). [3109/22]

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

580. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a multi-annual budget to support the ongoing running of section 39 residential addiction support and treatment centres such as Bushypark in Ennis, County Clare to replace the current annual model based on service level agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3110/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 and 580 together.

The process for allocating funding for current expenditure processes currently operates as an annual budget cycle with the current expenditure allocations for each Government Department being confirmed for the following year at Estimates time in October each year. The detailed allocations for each Vote across Government are then published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume in December each year.

Under the Health Act 2004 as amended, the HSE is responsible for the provision of health and personal social services and either provides such services directly or contracts agencies to provide them on its behalf. As the detail in relation to the provision of services relates to operational and service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 580 answered with Question No. 579.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (581)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

581. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will give consideration to the provision of additional staffing resources in order to ensure that sufficient staff are in place in hospital wards in order that inpatients with Covid-19 can be facilitated with a family video call in the cases in which family members are not allowed visit due to Covid-19 being on the ward given that ward staff are unable to facilitate video calls as a result of their existing workload; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3111/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (582)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

582. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of cancelled appointments in the past year for hospitals for services for disabled persons; his plans to ensure disabled persons can access services and appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3121/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (583)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

583. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the steps the HSE is taking to provide a full-time doctor in the dispensary premises at Ballynacargy, Mullingar, County Westmeath to replace the doctor who has recently retired and ensure that persons in the area can continue to avail of medical services and attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3122/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Service Executive

Ceisteanna (584)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

584. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the HSE building and property department has plans in place to upgrade, refurbish and extend the HSE dispensary premises at Ballynacargy, Mullingar, County Westmeath to modernise same and ensure it has adequate capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3123/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (585, 587, 605, 606, 613)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

585. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) will receive their updated EU Digital COVID Certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3126/22]

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

587. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their updated EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3128/22]

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

605. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when an updated EU Digital COVID Certificate with booster vaccine will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3214/22]

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

606. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when an updated EU Digital COVID Certificate with booster vaccine will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3215/22]

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

613. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their updated EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3284/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 585, 587, 605, 606 and 613 together.

Following the rollout of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland, and the successful COVID Booster Vaccination Programme, updated Digital COVID Certificates are now issuing to those who have received an additional vaccine dose.

If eligible people have not received their updated certificate, they can use the online self-service portal at www.covidcertificateportal.gov.ie or call the dedicated helpline on 1800 807 008

Question No. 586 answered with Question No. 535.

Question No. 587 answered with Question No. 585.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (588)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

588. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason medical graduates from the UK or Northern Ireland are no longer eligible to apply for internships with the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3129/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy may be aware, eligibility for access to medical intern training posts is set out in the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. While registration with the Medical Council is an entirely separate process to applying for employment as an Intern, all applicants for internship posts must be eligible for registration with the Medical Council at application stage and must be registered with the Medical Council prior to commencing their internships. As a consequence of Brexit, the Medical Practitioners Act currently precludes graduates from UK medical schools from applying for intern posts in Ireland. I am aware of this issue and officials in my Department have been engaging with the Medical Council to establish the required legislative changes to the Medical Practitioners Act to restore the pre-Brexit position. Significant progress has been made on this and I expect to be in a position to seek Government approval to draft the General Scheme of the Bill shortly, with a view to enactment later this year.

The Deputy may wish to note that while UK medical degree holders are currently ineligible for Internship in Ireland, following successful completion of the first Foundation year in the UK, these individuals are of course eligible for registration on the General/Trainee division of the Medical Council Register and eligible to continue with a medical career in Ireland should they so wish.

Home Help Service

Ceisteanna (589)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

589. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if home help hours will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3137/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 (590)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

590. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to cease the use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate; the timeline for the lifting of domestic restrictions related to the use of the certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3139/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Deputy will be aware that on 21 January the Government announced the removal of most public health measures. From 22 January, the requirement to have a Digital COVID Certificate to enter various premises in Ireland has been removed.

There is no change to the current measures in place regarding international travel, including the requirement for a Digital COVID Certificate.

Further detail on the Government’s announcement is available here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0fc0d-government-announces-that-most-of-the-public-health-measures-currently-in-place-can-be-removed/

Health Services

Ceisteanna (591)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

591. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for hearing aids by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3141/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (592)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

592. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a medical card holder can apply for a chiropody treatment card; if not, if this is only available to medical card holders in certain areas; the way the scheme works; if it will be rolled out to those living in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3150/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Chiropodists/podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat conditions and abnormalities of the foot and lower limb. Podiatry services can significantly improve a person's quality of life by alleviating painful symptoms and maintaining mobility.

The availability of chiropody services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) varies across the country. Where chiropody services are provided by the HSE the following groups usually get priority:

- Medical card holders who are aged 65 and over

- People who have Health Amendment Act Cards

- People who have illnesses such as diabetes or arthritis

- People with disabilities

People can make enquiries with their GP, Public Health Nurse, or Local Health Office for information about which chiropody services are available in their area.

In County Dublin and County Wicklow primarily, there has been a long-standing chiropody treatment card scheme, where qualified podiatrists can apply to be on a register as a HSE approved chiropodist/podiatrist. Once approved, patients can request to attend the private podiatrist clinic or request a domiciliary visit from a private podiatrist. Medical Card holders over the age of 65 years or people with Diabetes who hold a medical card (or in some cases, a long term illness card), are entitled to apply for a chiropody treatment card. Each person under this scheme can avail of 3-6 treatments per year. The HSE pays the private podiatrist €33.41 for a domiciliary visit and €22.88 for clinical visit. The patients then top up the payment themselves and the fee is determined by the podiatrist.

The HSE has been working on developing a national standardised podiatry service across the country. This is being developed with the recruitment of podiatrist positions in the community health networks as well as specialist podiatrists to provide care to persons diagnosed with diabetes. The HSE are also developing appropriate governance structures throughout the country within the podiatry service, to meet the needs of the population.