Thursday, 24 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 355-369

Health Services

Ceisteanna (355)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

355. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will address the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10611/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (356)

Richard O'Donoghue

Ceist:

356. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if discussions are expected to provide additional appointments for children waiting for audiology appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10624/22]

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.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (357)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

357. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE primary care eligibility and reimbursement service to release details regarding the range of payments received by individual dentists for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10629/22]

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 Staff

Ceisteanna (358)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

358. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason that the HSE applies dual qualification criteria to the recruitment of therapists that disregard the length of time that a therapist has studied and instead place an emphasis on additional qualifications in the fields of social work, psychology and medicine. [10631/22]

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.

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (359)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

359. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has responded to correspondence (details supplied) from an organisation; if he will address the matters raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10633/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The correspondence referred to was referred to the HSE for response as it requests amendment of clinical guidelines for treatment of ME/CFS. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (360)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

360. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health if he will address a query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10634/22]

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.

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (361)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

361. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he has responded to correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the request to establish a working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10635/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I understand that my colleague Mary Butler, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, recently met with officials in the Department of Health and the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland to discuss matters concerning people with Huntington's Disease. Officials in my department have made enquiries with the HSE on foot of correspondence from Huntington's Disease Association Ireland and a response will issue in due course.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (362)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

362. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the action that has being taken and the proposals to address the significant delay in the recruitment of podiatry staff in acute and community services following the recent launched Model of Care for the Diabetic Foot by the HSE and the highlighted intention to increase the number of podiatrists via the planned HSE chronic disease management community hubs; and the current vacancies for same in each CHO area in tabular form. [10639/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (363)

James O'Connor

Ceist:

363. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the pandemic bonus payment. [10640/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Firstly 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.

The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. The Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases, but can offer reassurance that 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.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (364)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

364. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the controls or checks that are in place to ensure dentists in the dental treatment services scheme are accepting new medical card patients; the number of dentists who are accepting new medical card patients in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10652/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (365)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

365. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the nursing home support scheme with a view to expanding current supports under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10660/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

Last year the Department published the NTPF Review of the Pricing System for Private Nursing Homes, as well as the Value for Money Review of nursing home care costs. Significant work is underway to deliver the recommendations of both reviews. This will involve significant research, policy analysis and development work, and an extensive input from clinical, economic, and legal sources. The implementation of the recommendations will also have regard to other recent reports, including the final report published by the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel.

Following a similar review process, the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021, was signed into law on 22 July 2021 and became operational in October, which introduced further safeguards into the NHSS to further protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses. It also includes an amendment in relation to applying the 3-year cap to the proceeds of sale of a house while a resident is in long-term care. This removed a disincentive against the sale of properties that might otherwise remain vacant. The Department of Health has also agreed to action 19.8 in the Housing for All Strategy to develop a mechanism in relation to the rental of vacant properties "in a way that is targeted, equitable, evidence-based and provides appropriate safeguards for vulnerable older people".

The Department of Health and I remain committed to ensuring that the NHSS will continue to deliver value for money in the provision of nursing home care as well as ensuring the provision of care which is affordable for residents and their families and appropriate to the needs of nursing home residents.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (366)

Verona Murphy

Ceist:

366. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current level of HSE podiatry staff servicing acute and community services in County Wexford; if he will provide an update on plans to improve these services for persons with diabetes in County Wexford and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10667/22]

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.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ceisteanna (367)

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

367. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the refurbishment and new building development planned for Abbeyleix Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10669/22]

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.

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (368)

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

368. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the status of the reopening of daycare services at St. Vincent’s Community Nursing Home and Abbeyleix Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10670/22]

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.

Emergency Departments

Ceisteanna (369)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

369. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting in emergency departments for more than 24 hours, broken down by day, hospital and by under 75 and over 75 years of age, respectively, in January 2022, in tabular form. [10671/22]

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.