Written Answers Nos. 620-640
620. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason that a medical laboratory scientist graduate, after studying an intensive course for four years and registering with their professional body (details supplied), has a starting salary of less than a medical laboratory aide who requires a minimum of a leaving certificate. [25951/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country. Their drive and dedication have been key components in our managing of the pandemic.
As part of talks which took place under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, a chairman’s note was agreed by all parties on a Job Evaluation Scheme for support staff grades in the Health Sector, including the Medical Laboratory Aide. Under this scheme, it was determined that the grade of Medical Laboratory Aide would be uplifted from band 2 to band 1. This move has meant that a pay anomaly occurs between Medical Laboratory Aides and Medical Scientists in Year 1 of their tenure only, whereby the starting salary for the Medical Laboratory Aide is marginally more than the Medical Scientist grade. This was an unintended consequence of the implementation of the scheme. In Year 2, the anomaly rectifies itself and Medical Scientists earn considerably more at every point of the scale thereafter. Medical Scientists have a 15-point scale plus one Long Service Increment, while Medical Laboratory Aides have a 7-point scale.
621. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that medical scientists working for the HSE receive parity of pay and career progression with clinical biochemists; his plans to solve the current impasse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25955/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country. Their drive and dedication have been key components in our managing of the pandemic.
I acknowledge the MLSA’s claim for pay parity between medical scientists and clinical biochemists. As you may be aware, the current public pay agreement, Building Momentum 2021-2022, includes the process of Sectoral Bargaining, to address outstanding claims such as this one. The MLSA were granted their own bargaining unit to progress this claim. The size of the Sectoral Bargaining fund available to the MLSA, and to all other cohorts of staff bound by this Agreement, equates to 1% of their basic pay. The MLSA and Health management have been engaged in talks over the last number of months with the aim of finding a way to advance their claim for pay parity through the Sectoral Bargaining process.
The Public Service Agreement Group (PSAG), comprised of union and civil service representatives with an independent chair, met on May 11th to consider this matter. They recommended that the matter be immediately referred to the WRC and that industrial peace be maintained in the meantime.
While the MLSA have agreed to engage at the WRC, they have not agreed to lift their strike action which is a breach of Building Momentum. This engagement between the parties took place on May 17th but, unfortunately, no resolution was reached.
The Department of Health is disappointed that industrial action has been initiated by the MLSA and remains open to engagement with them.
As this is an ongoing IR matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
622. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 277 of 16 September 2021, the status of the first pilot site for a dual diagnosis team planned for CHO3; the breakdown of staffing and costing per team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25965/22]
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.
623. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of participants in each of the individual placement and support services per county in tabular form; if there are waiting lists for any of the individual placement and support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25966/22]
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.
624. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the chronic shortage of staff in a healthcare setting (details supplied) that is leading to lengthy delays in the appointment of key workers; the steps that are being taken to address this; if there is an expected date for a key worker to be assigned to a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26010/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
625. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of his engagements with suppliers in respect of oestrogel. [26011/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently met with key stakeholders involved in the supply of HRT products to the Irish market. Present at this meeting were representatives of suppliers of HRT, the HPRA, PSI, the HSE, clinical representatives from the National Women and Infants Health Programme, and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union.
Based on information provided by companies involved in the recent HRT shortages, we now appear to have entered a stabilisation period in supply. During this stabilisation period, it is essential that patients do not seek supplies of medicines over and above their normal requirements as doing so will disrupt existing stock levels and hamper the supply of medicines for others. Following my meeting with key stakeholders involved in the supply of HRT products to the Irish market it was agreed to establish a multi-stakeholder group to closely monitor the supply of HRT until the issue is fully resolved.
The HPRA publishes a medicinal product shortages list on its website, with the reason for the shortage, the expected dates for the return of supply and in some cases, such as HRT shortages, the HSE’s clinical guidance on the management of patient treatment in response to medicine shortages. The information is made available to assist healthcare professionals in managing medicine shortages when they do arise and reduce their impact on patients. The information relating to shortages on the HPRA website is dynamic and changes depending on the current information the HPRA has to hand, including removal from the list when a shortage has been resolved.
The HPRA will continue to liaise with suppliers of HRT medicines over the coming weeks with a view to securing updates and commitments regarding the restoration of normal supplies for patients as soon as possible.
626. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if respite care can be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26013/22]
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.
627. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when the nine neurology nurses specialists needed in University Hospital Galway will be recruited; if his attention has been drawn to patients that are unnecessarily waiting longer for diagnosis and treatment as a result of this shortfall in the western regional centre for neurology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26016/22]
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.
628. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised by a local health worker (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26099/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country. Their drive and dedication have been key components in our managing of the pandemic.
I acknowledge the MLSA’s claim for pay parity between medical scientists and clinical biochemists. As you may be aware, the current public pay agreement, Building Momentum 2021-2022, includes the process of Sectoral Bargaining, to address outstanding claims such as this one. The MLSA were granted their own bargaining unit to progress this claim. The size of the Sectoral Bargaining fund available to the MLSA, and to all other cohorts of staff bound by this Agreement, equates to 1% of their basic pay. The MLSA and Health management have been engaged in talks over the last number of months with the aim of finding a way to advance their claim for pay parity through the Sectoral Bargaining process.
The Public Service Agreement Group (PSAG), comprised of union and civil service representatives with an independent chair, met on May 11th to consider this matter. They recommended that the matter be immediately referred to the WRC and that industrial peace be maintained in the meantime.
While the MLSA agreed to engage at the WRC, they have not agreed to lift their strike action which is a breach of Building Momentum. This engagement between the parties took place on May 17th but, unfortunately, no resolution was reached.
The Department of Health is disappointed that industrial action has been initiated by the MLSA and remains open to engagement with them.
As this is an ongoing IR matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
629. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the Ministerial contact details for persons (details supplied). [26110/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinisterial contact details are as follows.
|
Minister Donnelly |
ministersoffice@health.gov.ie |
Tel: 01-6354000 |
|
Minister Butler |
ministerbutler_office@health.gov.ie |
Tel: 01-6354740 |
|
Minister Feighan |
ministerfeighan_office@health.gov.ie |
Tel: 01-6354738 |
|
Minister Rabbitte |
minister_rabbitte@health.gov.ie |
Tel: 01-6354426 |
630. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the steps that he will take to ensure the long-term sustainability of the public medical science sector which is dealing with alarming staffing issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26138/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country. Their drive and dedication have been key components in our managing of the pandemic.
I acknowledge the MLSA’s claim for pay parity between medical scientists and clinical biochemists. As you may be aware, the current public pay agreement, Building Momentum 2021-2022, includes the process of Sectoral Bargaining, to address outstanding claims such as this one. The MLSA were granted their own bargaining unit to progress this claim. The size of the Sectoral Bargaining fund available to the MLSA, and to all other cohorts of staff bound by this Agreement, equates to 1% of their basic pay. The MLSA and Health management have been engaged in talks over the last number of months with the aim of finding a way to advance their claim for pay parity through the Sectoral Bargaining process.
The Public Service Agreement Group (PSAG), comprised of union and civil service representatives with an independent chair, met on May 11th to consider this matter. They recommended that the matter be immediately referred to the WRC and that industrial peace be maintained in the meantime.
While the MLSA agreed to engage at the WRC, they have not agreed to lift their strike action which is a breach of Building Momentum. This engagement between the parties took place on May 17th but, unfortunately, no resolution was reached.
The Department of Health is disappointed that industrial action has been initiated by the MLSA and remains open to engagement with them.
As this is an ongoing IR matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
631. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have attended symptomatic breast disease clinics, lung rapid access clinics and prostate rapid access clinics in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [26147/22]
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.
632. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue generated through parking charges within public car parking in St. James's and the Mater Hospitals in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [26148/22]
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.
633. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting one additional full-time consultant anaesthesiologist with a special interest in pain for CHI, Connolly Hospital. [26149/22]
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.
634. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the locations of each sleep apnoea clinic in the public health service; the opening hours of each of these clinics in tabular form. [26161/22]
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.
635. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time cognitive behaviour psychotherapist employed by the HSE in 2021 and to-date in 2022, in tabular form. [26162/22]
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.
636. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time paediatric dieticians working in CHO1 in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to-date in 2022, in tabular form. [26163/22]
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.
637. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve autism services in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [26164/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
638. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason that a child (details supplied) was removed from the public list to have a procedure carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26178/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
639. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) was not provided with a pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26179/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
640. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds that are available for adults with intellectual disabilities in the Fingal area; the number that are occupied at present; if and when additional spaces will be made available for the remainder of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26203/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
