Written Answers Nos. 784-803
784. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO2; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17810/22]
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.
785. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO3; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17811/22]
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.
786. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO4; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17812/22]
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.
787. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO5; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17813/22]
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.
788. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO6; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17814/22]
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.
789. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO7; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17815/22]
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.
790. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO8; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17816/22]
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.
791. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post at a hospital in CHO9; the location and specialty of the post in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17817/22]
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.
792. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that in a case in which a Parliamentary Question is asked which seeks information across the public health service and which is then referred to the HSE, that the reply is wholly sufficient by providing information sought which is available at hospital, hospital group or CHO-level or otherwise held by a body such as a public voluntary hospital but not centrally reported, which is relevant to answering the question; if he will ensure that this information is sought by the HSE in preparing a response for the question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17819/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring the accuracy of responses to Parliamentary Questions is a priority for me, my Department and for the HSE. To this end, I and my Department work closely with the HSE to ensure that all Parliamentary Questions are responded to properly and that all appropriate information is included in the response to any given Parliamentary Question.
Where it is not possible to provide a wholly sufficient response within the standard time-frame, either my Department or the HSE, as appropriate, will notify the relevant TD’s office of this and identify a revised timeframe for the provision of the response. Please be advised that the sourcing of relevant information from third parties may give rise to such an eventuality.
My Department has brought your particular concern, regarding information which may be relevant to a given Parliamentary Question but which is not centrally reported, to the attention of the HSE, and will engage with them on this matter.
If there are specific response(s) to Parliamentary Questions with which you were not satisfied, or which did not contain the required level of detail, officials in my Department are available to engage with your office and the HSE to address this matter and come to a resolution.
793. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic recognition payment will be paid to frontline healthcare workers; the eligibility and other details and terms and conditions of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17821/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. 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.
This payment will be made to those eligible public sector frontline healthcare staff (inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE) who worked in clinical settings, noting this list is not exhaustive: those Doctors / Nurses / Health Care Assistants / Porters / Cleaners etc. that work in clinical settings. This includes those eligible workers seconded or assigned to the HSE (for example: Defence Forces staff seconded/assigned to HSE testing centres). The measure encompasses Health Care Support Assistants (also known as Home Carers / Home Help) employed by or carrying out duties contracted to the HSE.
The measure also encompasses those eligible working on site in long term residential care facilities for people with disabilities (inclusive of those facilities whether HSE or section 39). The measure further extends to those equivalent healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices. Arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health.
The Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions. This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly. Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars shall be published by the HSE. It is intended that payments will be instructed in the coming days.
794. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions since 2013 to date on which there was no applicant for a hospital consultant post which was recruited via the Public Appointments Service; the location and specialty of the post, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17822/22]
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.
795. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the share of consultant posts filled via the Public Appointments Service recruitment compared to the share of consultant posts filled by local direct recruitment; the share otherwise filled; the method by which they were filled in each of the years since 2015 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17823/22]
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.
796. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he has been informed of the planned closure of a nursing home (details supplied); if he has made an intervention to prevent the closure; if he is satisfied that in the event of such as closure that alternative accommodation can be sourced for the residents of this home in the Clones area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17824/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to close the nursing home referred to by the Deputy was made by the private provider. The HSE has advised my Department that the residents are all being relocated and accommodated in another private nursing home outside Monaghan town that is owned by the same provider.
797. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions on which the panel announced in January 2022 related to the pandemic recognition payment have met; the dates on which they met; the membership of the panel; if the panel will address disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17829/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. 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.
The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. Additionally, the Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions on this matter.
This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly.
Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars shall be published by the HSE. Noting that the details will be finalised once this consultation has concluded, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
798. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the way he intends to manage disputes relating to the payment or non-payment of the pandemic recognition payment; the body or panel which will adjudicate on such matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17830/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. 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.
The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. Additionally, the Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions on this matter.
This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly.
Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars shall be published by the HSE. Noting that the details will be finalised once this consultation has concluded, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
799. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who was employed as a Covid-19 vaccinator did not have their employment contract extended; when they will be paid their final wages, bank holiday entitlements and holiday pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17837/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
800. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will issue for a person (details supplied). [17850/22]
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.
801. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the delivery of paxlovid in view of its availability in other European Union countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17884/22]
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.
802. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to media reports (details supplied) of difficulties for patients accessing sotrovimab; the steps he is taking to address shortcomings in the treatment pathway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17885/22]
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.
803. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans, if any, for a communications campaign in respect of accessing Covid-19 antiviral treatments; the steps he has taken to ensure patients are aware of the pathways to treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17886/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
