Tuesday, 1 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 613-632

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (613)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

613. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding endoscopic waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10857/22]

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 (614)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

614. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of (details supplied) nationwide and in particular an area that accept medical cards patients; the location of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10859/22]

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.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (615)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

615. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists (details supplied) signed up nationwide to accept medical cards patients in each of the years 2010 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10862/22]

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.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (616)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

616. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when the construction of two new orthopaedic operating theatres at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway will be completed; when they will be brought into use; the details and cost of the project; the number of additional procedures that will be undertaken once they are operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10864/22]

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.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (617, 743, 750, 765)

John Lahart

Ceist:

617. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will give an indication of when voretigene neparvovec, Luxturna, will be added in line with the Health Act 2013 and the national framework agreed with the pharma industry in which a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10868/22]

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

743. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the reimbursement of Luxturna. [11451/22]

Mick Barry

Ceist:

750. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will take measures to ensure that the gene therapy Luxturna which treats sight loss will be made available in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11501/22]

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

765. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide for the reimbursement of Luxturna for a child (details supplied) in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11563/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 743, 750 and 765 together.

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.

Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost-effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.

HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).

The HSE has advised that on 23 September 2019 an application was received for the reimbursement of Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna) for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients with vision loss due to inherited retinal dystrophy caused by confirmed biallelic RPE65 mutations and who have sufficient viable retinal cells.

On 29 October 2019, following the completion by the NCPE of a rapid review, the HSE commissioned a full pharmacoeconomic assessment with respect to this indication.

On 3 April 2020, the NCPE received the applicant’s submission for this assessment. On 18 September 2020, the NCPE completed its assessment and recommended that Voretigene neparvovec not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness could be improved relative to existing treatments.

The HSE engaged in commercial negotiations with the applicant company in November 2020.

The HSE Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE Drugs Group includes public interest members and clinicians.

The HSE Drugs Group considered Voretigene neparvovec at its February 2021 meeting, and requested Patient and Clinician Engagement input via the Rare Diseases Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) to assist the group in making its recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT) regarding reimbursement of Voretigene neparvovec.

The HSE has advised that, on 23 March 2021, the RDTRC held a meeting at which Voretigene neparvovec was the main agenda point.

The Committee met on 26 August and concluded its patient and clinician engagement with respect to Voretigene neparvovec. The Committee submitted a statement in December regarding this review for the Drugs Group’s consideration.

The Drugs Group had specifically requested a Prescribing Guideline to inform their deliberations. This guideline is currently under development. The Drugs Group will review the output of the RDTRC and the Prescribing Guideline with a view to making a recommendation at the earliest opportunity to the HSE EMT.

The HSE EMT is the decision-making body for the reimbursement of medicines under the Health Act 2013 and it will, following receipt of the outcome of the HSE Drugs Group's deliberations, make the decision on whether Voretigene neparvovec will be reimbursed.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (618)

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

618. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in the medical card scheme in County Kildare in each of the past five years; the number who have left the scheme in each of those years; the number of persons waiting in each year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10869/22]

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.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (619)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

619. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the status of the rebuild and refurbishment of the lakeview unit at Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10871/22]

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 (620)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

620. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if home help staff employed by services (details supplied) who worked throughout the pandemic will received the Covid-19 recognition payment for frontline healthcare workers [10874/22]

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 last, 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 (eg: nursing homes and hospices that are private, public, section 39, voluntary etc.) 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. 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 (621)

Verona Murphy

Ceist:

621. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the financial supports that are available to persons on HSE orthodontic wait lists for longer than 36 months in cases in which the prolonged wait time gravely impacts on the best age to start corrective treatment; if a scheme to assist with private treatment within a persons own county or neighbouring counties has been considered as a measure to address the critical and excessive wait times within the HSE orthodontic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Dental care for children under 16 is provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE. Emergency care is provided for all children under 16. In addition, targeted screening and prevention is provided for school children at certain dental developmental milestones and for special needs groups.

In 2015 the Department of Health approved a Treatment Waiting List Initiative, with an allocation of €1million per annum, to target patients who were waiting over 4 years for treatment. A procurement commenced in 2016 and ended in 2020.  It resulted in 1,996 patients having treatment with private Specialist Orthodontists at a total cost of €5.65m.

In 2021, the HSE commenced a new procurement that allows patients to have treatment with private Specialist Orthodontists. It replaces the previous procurement that ended in 2020. Under the new procurement the first patients were allocated to private Specialist Orthodontists in Q3 of 2021.  By the end of 2021, 870 patients had commenced treatment under these arrangements.  The allocation of patients to private Specialist Orthodontists is continuing in 2022.

The HSE advise that children who are 16 or under have access to treatment through the HSE for emergency treatment.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (622)

Dessie Ellis

Ceist:

622. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels and waiting lists for the Finglas children’s disability network team; the number of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists who are currently working as part of the team; if each member of the team is working with the Finglas team full-time; the number of vacancies for each position; the number of children who are currently attending the services; the number of children who are currently on the waiting list for each of these services; the current waiting times for each service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10880/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to an operational issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (623)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

623. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when those in the 12 to 15 years of age cohort who received their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine over three months ago will be given access to booster vaccines [10883/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Ireland's COVID-19 vaccination programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to the Department of Health based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.

Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.

You can view the updated guidelines here: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf

On February 22nd the NIAC recommended that:

- a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine be offered to all children and young people aged 12-15 years.

- A booster dose of the mRNA vaccine Comirnaty, the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech, should be given at an interval of six months or longer since completion of the primary vaccine series.

- For those children and young people aged 12 – 15 years who have experienced a breakthrough infection, the booster dose should be deferred for at least six months following the onset of infection.

I have accepted these recommendations and the HSE are now working to operationalise these updates.

The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.

Primary Care Services

Ceisteanna (624)

Paul Donnelly

Ceist:

624. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to address the backlog in developmental checks on children in primary healthcare centres; if nurses are still being redeployed to Covid-19 vaccination centres; and, if so, when this practice will cease [10885/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Child development checks are provided by Public Health Nurses alongside a range of other community healthcare services. 

In relation to service capacity, since March 2020, many Public Health Nursing staff have been redeployed to support COVID-19 related clinical activities including providing clinical leadership and direct support in the establishment of COVID-19 vaccination clinics. This redeployment of staff has had a significant impact on the capacity of the Public Health Nursing service to deliver the core child health screening and surveillance programme.  However, as public health nursing staff returned to their core duties the child development check services were prioritised.  Any parents with a concern should contact their GP or local HSE Public Health Nursing service.

In respect of additional resources, the Government is investing €195m in 2022 under the Enhanced Community Care programme which will support recruitment of around 3,500 primary and community staff, including more nursing staff.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (625)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

625. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount of time that must pass before a healthcare professional is eligible to reapply for inclusion on the National Recruitment Service panel in cases in which they were removed from the panel during the recruitment process. [10892/22]

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 (626)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

626. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if assistance and treatment can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10897/22]

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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna (627, 629, 630)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

627. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of an application for a discretionary medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10898/22]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

629. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10900/22]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

630. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10901/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 627, 629 and 630 together.

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 (628)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

628. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the result of an assessment that was due to be carried out by the public health nurse for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10899/22]

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.

Question No. 629 answered with Question No. 627.

Question No. 630 answered with Question No. 627.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (631)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

631. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10903/22]

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.

Pharmacy Services

Ceisteanna (632, 815)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

632. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of the drug Cariban; if it can be made available on the GMS and drugs payment schemes; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10909/22]

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

815. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health when the review from the HSE medical management programme on the drug Cariban was completed; if it will be published; and if he will provide a timeline for the decision for reimbursement to be made in relation to the drug. [11790/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 632 and 815 together.

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