Written Answers Nos. 399-412
399. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the process for patients with rare diseases to obtain accurate and timely diagnoses via European Union cross border genetic testing (details supplied); the number and the cost for the provision of this service in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19024/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this PQ relates to service matters it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply.
400. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the national clinical guidelines which exist for each rare disease to facilitate the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic management of the given rare disease which comply with the European Commission Cross Border Care Directive 2011/24/EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19025/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this PQ related to diagnosis and treatment matters it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply.
401. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when he will extend the national patient disease registries to rare diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19026/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to bring, in April, a Memorandum to Government for approval to prepare the General Scheme of a Health Information Bill. It is envisaged that the Bill will include a provision to enable the operation of disease-specific “virtual” registries, where information on disease diagnoses and treatment from healthcare providers is efficiently collated, combined and quality-checked from administrative records to create a database akin to an active registry for each disease. This will greatly improve the potential to monitor rare-disease prevalence in Ireland.
402. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of staff within his Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities that are presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19036/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department currently has two employees seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs to work in Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels. They occupy the roles of Health Attaché and Assistant Health Attaché. There are no vacancies at the present time.
In 2016 the Department had one person seconded to the role of Health Attaché with no vacancies at that time. The position of Assistant Health Attaché was established in 2021.
403. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19048/22]
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.
404. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the children’s disability network team structure and staff complement in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19049/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the grade and number of vacant positions in Meath children’s disability services including children’s disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19050/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
406. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the respite facilities in County Meath for children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19051/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
407. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the day services in County Meath for children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19052/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy has clarified that his question relates to adult day services in Co. Meath. As this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
408. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the engagements that he, his Department and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer had with Trinity College Dublin prior to and regarding the appointment of a person (details supplied) at their new post at the college; the costs that have been and will be incurred on an ongoing basis such as, the cost of their salary being covered by his Department following their appointment to the new role at the college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19055/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health is committed to the development of public health capacity for the future. While Ireland has fared well in many aspects of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is room for development of our capacity in this regard. The third level sector will play a key role in providing thought leadership, critical analysis, research as well as the development of knowledge and skills to better support public health leadership, policy making and public health practice.Dr Tony Holohan is taking up the Professorship of Public Health Strategy & Leadership in Trinity College Dublin to further this potential. Specifically, the Department intends for Dr Holohan to lead the development and activities of inter-institutional collaboration between universities and the health sector and to develop stronger links with the WHO and agencies of the EU.This secondment to Trinity College Dublin means that Dr Holohan has agreed to relinquish his role as Chief Medical Officer; it is not Dr Holohan’s intention to return to this role at any point in the future.The Department, at a senior level made this decision in order to show innovation and lead by example. All arrangements in relation to staffing are the responsibility of the Secretary General. In making the arrangements for this, the Department was mindful of the general principles of the Civil Service secondment policy which applies to secondments within the Civil Service. That policy provides for specialist sectoral secondment arrangements to be made.
Dr Holohan will take up the role on 1 July 2022. Arrangements are being made between the Department and Trinity College regarding the funding of the post. It is important to note that there is no increase in remuneration or financial benefit accruing to Dr Holohan on foot of this arrangement.The role of CMO will be filled in the usual way for posts at this level subject to the appropriate sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
It is anticipated there will then be an open competition for a new appointment to the role of CMO under the auspices of the Public Appointments Service and the Top-Level Appointments Committee (TLAC).
409. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional places (details supplied) will be provided in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the measures that will be implemented in 2022 to improve services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19057/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
410. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the total number of epilepsy nurses for one-to-one care in the State; the number who are serving in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19059/22]
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.
411. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address the matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to PLAB 1 examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19061/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Medical Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of doctors in Ireland. In order to protect patients, it has a responsibility to ensure that all doctors registered to practise medicine in Ireland meet the requirements to practise, as set out in its legislation.
Doctors who have qualified outside the EU/EEA and whose qualifications do not entitle them to recognition under the EU Directive 2005/36/EC may be required to pass the Medical Council’s pre-registration exam (PRES) unless they are otherwise exempt. I am advised by the Medical Council that in order for a doctor to be eligible to apply for registration via the PRES route, they will need to pass one of the following four overseas exams:
- Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) Part 1
- United States Medical Licencing Exam (USMLE) Step 1 and 2 CK
- Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) or MCCQE Part 1
- Australian Medical Council (AMC) MCQ
I have asked the Medical Council to forward further details on the above named exams directly to the Deputy for his information.
412. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the objectives for the HSEs recent review of the Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19066/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and limit the spread of Covid-19, the Department of Health and the HSE worked together in 2020 to put arrangements in place to allow termination of pregnancy services in early pregnancy to be provided remotely. For the duration of the Covid-19 public health emergency, where the need for social distancing, reducing personal contacts and reducing the burden on medical practitioners are paramount, it became possible for a woman to access a termination under section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (i.e., before 12 weeks) from her medical practitioner by telephone or video conference consultation.
There is ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to monitor service provision, facilitate the smooth-running of the service and resolve any issues that may arise. However, with wider COVID-19 related restrictions eased, the Department is currently reviewing whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post the COVID-19 public health emergency period. It is on this basis that the Department requested the HSE to undertake a review the revised Model of Care adopted during the pandemic.
The findings of the HSE review are currently being examined as part of a deliberative process. The consideration of appropriate next steps will form part of this process.
It is important to reflect that COVID-19 is still with us and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance on Managing Risk of Transmission of Respiratory Viruses including COVID-19, continues to advise, amongst other things, to limit footfall in General Practice settings and support telephone consultations where care that meets the needs of the patient can be delivered - this helps to eliminate the risk of transmission of viral infection. As such the arrangements for remote access to this service in the context of COVID-19 remain in place.
