Written Answers Nos. 786-801
786. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of respite services in Galway city and county; when respite services will be fully restored to pre-pandemic levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8054/22]
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.
788. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the cross-departmental strategic workforce advisory group which will examine workforce challenges in home support and nursing homes; when the group will be operational; the membership of the group; the terms and reference for the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8056/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra814. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to enhance the principle and concept of care in society, thereby promoting care giving as a profession. [8098/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra819. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to meet the challenges that are huge in Ireland with regard to ensuring a quantitatively and adequate long-term care workforce to meet the rising demand for long-term care and providing a choice and support for informal carers. [8103/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 788, 814 and 819 together.
I am committed to establishing a cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group to examine strategic workforce challenges in front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes.
The work of this Group will centre on engagement with the relevant stakeholders in the sector. To this end, a 'Call for Submissions' was issued by my Department to relevant stakeholders in December 2021. Following receipt of these completed submissions in January, my Department undertook a short-life scoping exercise to gather initial data and evidence on the nature and extent of the challenges in the sector to inform the structure and membership of this cross-departmental Group.
This scoping exercise is now complete and invitations to join the Group, along with its draft Terms of Reference, have been issued to all relevant Government Departments and agencies. The inaugural meeting of the Group will be held in the week beginning February 28th 2022.
At this meeting, the Terms of Reference for the Group and action timelines will be agreed. These Terms of Reference will be published once finalised by the Group.
This Group will then progress a structured programme of ongoing consultative engagements with key sectoral stakeholders to further explore and define the issues, listen to stakeholder views, and identify approaches to respond to the strategic workforce challenges.
The Group will provide a forum for agreement on strategic approaches to address the workforce challenges in the sector and develop a report for my consideration outlining the Group’s key findings, recommendations, and a proposed action plan to support implementation of these recommendations to include periodic monitoring of progress.
Potential areas to be considered by the Group include recruitment, retention, training, and the career development of front-line carers in home support and nursing homes into the future. The promotion of care giving as a profession may also be considered by the Group.
789. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 2 December 2021, the status of the construction of the two orthopaedic theatres with ancillary accommodation for the provision of elective procedures in Merlin Park University Hospital; when the new theatres will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8057/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
790. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 183 of 2 December 2021, the status of the proposed primary care centre for Galway city west; the location of same; if a planning permission application has been lodged to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8058/22]
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.
791. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the basis upon which eligibility for personal assistant support for a disabled person is determined; the current statutory basis for this eligibility; if a person requires a medical card or must satisfy a means test in order to qualify for personal assistant support; the eligibility criteria that applies in relation to whether or not the person is cohabiting with another person; and if he will generally set out any qualifying rules that apply. [8060/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.
PA Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers. The majority of specialised disability provision (80%) is delivered through non-statutory sector service providers.
Services are accessed through an application process or through referrals from public health nurses or other community based staff. Individuals’ needs are evaluated against the criteria for prioritisation for the particular services and then decisions are made in relation to the allocation of resources. Resource allocation is determined by the needs of the individual, compliance with prioritisation criteria, and the level of resources available.
As with every service there is not a limitless resource available for the provision of PA services and while the resources available are substantial they are finite. In this context, services are discretionary and the number of hours granted is determined by other support services already provided to the person/family.
As the delivery of Personal Assistance is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy with further information on the eligibility criteria and the criteria for prioritisation.
793. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the section 38 agencies that operate in County Clare; the type of service provided by each; the total grant received by each agency in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8074/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health does not directly fund any charitable voluntary groups. Under Section 38 of the 1970 Health Act funding is provided by the Health Service Executive. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
794. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the section 39 agencies that operate in County Clare; the type of service provided by each; the total grant received by each agency in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8075/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health does not directly fund any charitable voluntary groups. Under Section 39 of the 1970 Health Act funding is provided by the Health Service Executive. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
795. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of the population of County Clare with a medical card or general practitioner visit card in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8076/22]
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.
796. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the percentage and number of the population with a medical card who are receiving a prescription for a chronic health condition in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8077/22]
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.
797. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of practising general practitioners in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8078/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra799. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of general practices in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8081/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 797 and 799 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
798. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of practising general practitioners per 100,000 population by county in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8080/22]
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.
800. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of publicly employed community nurses in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8082/22]
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.
801. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent public and private non-acute physiotherapists in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8083/22]
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.
