Written Answers Nos. 631-650
631. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an operation in St. James's Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4259/22]
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.
632. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will recommend that hyperemesis medication taken by pregnant women be covered by the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4264/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra687. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if either the drug xonvea or cariban will be reimbursed for pregnant women suffering nausea and hyperemesis which does not respond to conservative management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra745. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has considered including cariban (details supplied) on the medical card and drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4833/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra747. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the actions that are being taken to support women and pregnant persons with hyperemesis who face significant financial costs to access HSE recommended treatment of pyridoxine and doxylamine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4839/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra748. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if there are any licensed brands for treating hyperemesis that have an application for reimbursement on the drugs payment scheme card and the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4840/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra823. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on making a medication (details supplied) for hyperemesis gravidarum to be reimbursed on the drugs payment scheme and medical card. [5171/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 632, 687, 745, 747, 748 and 823 together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
633. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the status of a site for public services for adults with ADHD in CHO6; the timeline for the same; if a consultant psychiatrist was appointed in quarter 4 of 2021 with service provision commencing at the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4265/22]
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.
634. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if the National Immunisation Advisory Committee plan to revisit its recommendation in relation to the interval between the primary vaccine series and booster doses for those who have had a breakthrough infection in terms of reducing the current three-month recommendation further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4280/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
On the 21st December, the NIAC recommended that Those who are fully vaccinated and have had breakthrough laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection should delay their booster vaccination for at least three months in accordance with the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland.
The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines and will make further recommendations if required.
635. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a CT scan at University Hospital, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4283/22]
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.
636. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when the estimated date for a machine (details supplied) will be functional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4292/22]
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.
637. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in implementing each measure from the 2019 Labour Court recommendation on the terms and conditions of nurses and midwives; the amount spent each year on these measures; the estimated full cost for each measure in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4296/22]
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.
638. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he plans to include practice nurses who vaccinated persons in the €1,000 bonus given that nurses who administered vaccinations in the vaccination centres qualify for same. [4336/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.
Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
639. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when dental services will resume in St. Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4337/22]
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.
640. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list with each HSE dental and orthodontic services in County Donegal in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4338/22]
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.
641. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4339/22]
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.
642. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the qualifying criteria for a medical card if a person is undergoing cancer treatment; his plans to extend the medical card to all patients undergoing cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4340/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.
The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
Furthermore, the HSE also has a system in place for the efficient provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e. in circumstances where persons are in need of urgent ongoing medical care or are receiving end of life care. In these cases, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and completed medical report by a healthcare professional. Additionally, patients who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less are also now eligible for a medical card without a means assessment.
Finally, it should be noted that since 2015 medical cards are awarded without the need of a financial assessment to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer, for a period of five years.
643. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 23 September 2021, his plans to roll out the Sligo model of eye-care to areas other than those already implementing the model in the north-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4341/22]
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.
644. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in the north east (details supplied) that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4342/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra645. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in the north east, that is, Drogheda and Cavan and Tullamore, County Offaly that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4343/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra650. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in the north east, that is, Drogheda and Cavan and Tullamore, County Offaly that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4349/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra658. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in the north east, that is, Drogheda and Cavan and Tullamore, County Offaly that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4379/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra661. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in the north east, that is, Drogheda and Cavan and Tullamore, County Offaly that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4385/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra666. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in Tullamore, County Offaly, Drogheda, County Louth and County Cavan that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4402/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra667. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the status of the plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in Tullamore, County Offaly, in the north east, Drogheda and Cavan that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4407/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra672. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans regarding the €3 million funding for the development of specialist palliative care inpatient units in north east Drogheda and Cavan and Tullamore, County Offaly that was announced by his Department in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4446/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra677. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the status of €1 million funding announced in Budget 2022 to be assigned to Tullamore, County Offaly, the north east, Drogheda, County Louth and County Cavan to allow for work to begin on the design and build of specialist palliative care inpatient units. [4498/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra702. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the programme of works that will be undertaken with the recent allocation of funding in respect of the development of healthcare facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4534/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra789. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for the development of the specialist palliative care inpatient unit in Tullamore, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5026/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 644, 645, 650, 658, 661, 666, 667, 672, 677, 702 and 789 together.
In December 2021, I announced a once off allocation of €10million for palliative and end-of-life services. Of the €10 million, €3 million will be equally distributed to progress the development of hospices in Drogheda, Cavan and the Midlands which are currently in the planning stages. An allocation of €1 million for each of these hospice developments will contribute towards planning and development costs. This funding has been approved by the Department of Health. The HSE National Lead for Palliative Care and the respective CHO Heads of Primary Care are fully engaged with the voluntary organisations involved in the three projects and they are working in partnership to progress each of the units.
646. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when free general practitioner visits for children under seven years of age which was committed to in Budget 2022 will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4344/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra742. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the extension of general practitioner visit cards to six and seven year olds as announced in Budget 2022. [4792/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 646 and 742 together.
The Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. At present all children up to and including the age of 5 are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under in three phases: to children aged 6 and 7; to children aged 8 and 9; and to children aged 10,11 and 12. Budget 2022 provides for the initial stage of this phased expansion, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7 and my Department has commenced work to roll the service out this year.
The specific date for commencing the expansion remains under consideration in light of COVID-19 and the additional pressures the expansion might place on general practice in that context and will require consultation with the IMO, representing General Practitioners. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
647. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if nurses working with a general practitioner practice in the community can be considered for receipt of payment of the bonus for frontline healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4346/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.
Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
648. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if the Covid-19 bonus payment for healthcare workers in a clinical environment throughout the pandemic will be extended to section 39 healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4347/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.
Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
649. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if the Covid-19 bonus payment for healthcare workers in a clinical environment throughout the pandemic will be extended to student radiographers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4348/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.
Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
