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Gnáthamharc

Wednesday, 1 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 181-200

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (181)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent of the current illegal drug prevention measures available to An Garda Síochána; the adequacy of such measures; the degree to which measures taken continue to disrupt the illegal drug distribution system; the extent to which this contributes to overall drug and crime prevention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28208/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and countering criminal activity, and the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other State agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. A concerted effort has been made over the past two years to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been adversely affected by the unprecedented demands placed on policing services by the vital enforcement of public health restrictions. 

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. The Bureau’s work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities. GNDOCB also works closely and productively with international law enforcement partners. Gardaí continue to work closely with local authorities, the HSE, NGOs, community groups and other State agencies to tackle the problems of drug addiction and abuse.

The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025". This strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland. The implementation of the strategy is led by my colleague, the Minister for Health, however, the strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.  

The strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach - reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs - and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this strategy supports vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across Government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs. Sustained action by An Garda Síochána continued unabated throughout the pandemic, bringing significant convictions and ongoing seizures of drugs, firearms and ammunition.

I can inform the Deputy that on 2  July 2021, An Garda Síochána commenced an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

Recent successes of Operation Tara include:

- Gardaí arrested and charged 3 men in Co Louth following the seizure of an estimated €90,000 worth of drugs on 10 May;

- A man and a woman arrested by the Galway Divisional Drugs Unit on 11 May following a seizure of €70,300 of suspected cannabis;

- An estimated €400,000 worth of drugs seized and two persons arrested in Cork on 09 May;

- Approximately €1.5 million found in follow up searches in the Newbridge area of Co Kildare after a man was arrested in Meath on the M1 with €39,750 in cash in his vehicle;

- An estimated €779,450 worth of cocaine was seized during a search on 28 May.

All drugs seized are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

I am advised by the Garda authorities that in 2021, the GNDOCB seized €63.689m in illicit drugs, and seized cash of €5.6m and £38,751 (UK).

I also wish to acknowledge the work of the Gardaí in tackling the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. The reports of further sanctions from the US recently demonstrate the tremendous value and power of international co-operation in tackling organised crime.

The cooperation on this investigation has been ongoing for four years or more, but the actions taken in recent weeks really show the degree to which the international criminal justice sector is focused on tackling the criminality associated with the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. We should not take for granted the huge achievement of the Gardaí in patiently and quietly harnessing this necessary coalition of support for their work to combat this criminal group.

The sanctions enforced internationally should send a very clear message to those involved in the gang, or associated with the gang; that your criminality will not go unnoticed or unpunished.

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (182)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which official Government policy prevails to ensure the deployment of adequate number of gardaí in all areas throughout the country with particular reference to the need to impede crime, potential or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28209/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible policing throughout the country. 

The Deputy will be aware that, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of over €2 billion for 2022.  An Garda Síochána has a strong tradition of community engagement and visible policing, and this funding demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources required to build on this high level of engagement and to ensure our communities are safe. 

In this regard, I was pleased to attend the Garda College in Templemore on 19 May, where 101 new Garda members passed-out. These new members have now completed their training and will be assigned to Garda Divisions throughout the country. A further attestation will take place at the College on 8 July.

As the Deputy may be aware, a Garda recruitment competition recently closed and I was pleased to see the strong interest evident in the over 11,000 applications which were received. It is vital that everyone in our society sees members of their own communities serving in An Garda Síochána and I particularly welcome that 40% of applicants were women and that there is a notable increase in numbers applying from minority backgrounds including Travellers and people from our new Irish communities.  Successful candidates from this competition will begin entering the Garda college later this year, and the new panel will provide the capacity for continued recruitment into next year.

In addition, and as a result of the increasing levels of recruitment of Garda staff to the organisation, over 800 Garda members to date have also been reassigned to frontline policing duties in recent years, where their expertise and training can be best utilised to provide visible policing to our communities.  

Very significant capital investment is being made in An Garda Síochána, including the provision for a capital budget of €147 million for An Garda Síochána’s ICT and Building Programme and ongoing investment in the organisation’s transport fleet. 

Budget 2022 provides €12m for investment in the Garda fleet, which means more high-visibility policing in our towns and cities. This continuing investment is intended to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet and that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime. 

An Garda Síochána continues to implement high visibility policing plans to address public disorder related issues and anti-social behaviour, with particular overt and targeted policing of public places at times when public order incidents and anti-social behaviour typically increase, such as bank holiday weekends. 

The Deputy will appreciate that, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape of issues faced by An Garda Síochána is changing. For example, the increase in fraud offences shows that policing does not only take place on the streets, it must also put a focus on cyber-related crimes.

Finally, and of great benefit to the delivery of modern policing services in the community, the Garda Commissioner is in the course of introducing the new Garda Operating Model which, in line with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, is designed to make changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána to provide for more frontline Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area. 

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (183)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

183. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 22 March 2022, the number of applications for the undocumented migrants' scheme that have been received to date; the number that have been approved to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28213/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department opened the once-in-a generation scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants in the State on 31 January 2022 for a six month period. The scheme is designed, following detailed engagement with the people affected, to give long-term undocumented people without a current immigration permission the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.

The scheme genuinely is a once-off, life-changing opportunity to obtain status in the State. I encourage everyone eligible for the scheme, who has not yet made an application, to do so before the closing date. I can assure people that we are examining applications pragmatically and humanely and we are considering all viable proofs of residence.

If the Deputy is aware of someone who might be eligible for the scheme please encourage them to come forward. Applicants will be supported in a positive way and if they are not eligible for the scheme, other immigration options can be explored. 

To publicise the scheme, my Department recently commenced a targeted social medial ad campaign across all of the main social media platforms directed at the top 10 nationalities eligible under the scheme in their own native languages. This campaign will run until the scheme closes at the end of July and further targeted communications will be rolled out in the coming weeks. 

As of 30 May 2022, my Department has received 4,821 applications in respect of 6,152 people under the scheme and has issued  935 positive decisions so far. Processing of all other applications remains ongoing. These figures relate to the main strand of the Scheme and not the international protection element, which is being processed separately by the International Protection Office of my Department.

Applications can be made online at: https://inisonline.jahs.ie.   

Full details regarding the qualifying criteria, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and the required documentation for the Scheme is available on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme/

The International Protection Office of my Department has written to approximately 4,000 potentially eligible applicants inviting them to apply. This strand of the scheme is open for applications until 7 August 2022.  Further information can be found on the website of the IPO at: www.ipo.gov.ie/en/ipo/pages/whatsnew.  

International Protection

Ceisteanna (184, 186)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

184. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if he will extend the deadline of the immigration and international protection permissions beyond the 31 May 2022, in order to facilitate the many applicants who are waiting on a decision to continue working and living in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28233/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

186. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the situation in which the expiration of short-term visas in May 2022 will lead to a shortage of homecare workers; if she will address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28361/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 186 together.

Since the onset of the pandemic, immigration permissions have been extended nine times, which means that people who held a valid permission to be in the State in March 2020 were legally permitted to remain until 31 May 2022.

These extensions were made in the context of an uncertain health and international travel situation to provide assistance and assurance to people who use our immigration services.

Now that those circumstances are returning to normal, it is important that we also return to a more normal way of doing business. This includes in relation to first-time registrations and renewals, and processes and procedures are in place to allow customers to do so. 

Dublin based customers who are seeking to renew their permission can continue to do so online at: inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login. Since its introduction in July 2020, the online renewal process has completed approximately 125,000 applications.  

Customers wishing to renew an immigration permission may apply online up to 12 weeks in advance and are no longer asked to wait until four weeks in advance of their current permission’s expiration date.  Current processing times are longer than usual because of extremely high demand.  The Registration Office is working to process renewals as quickly as possible. Staff are supporting customers who have travel plans in place through the customer service helpdesk. Customers are asked to email my Department at immigrationsupport@justice.ie  putting ‘Flights booked for Travel’ in the subject box. Customers should also include proof of paid flights in their name so that these applications can be prioritised. 

As part of my Department’s ongoing work to meet the current unprecedented demand for first-time registration appointments, on 10 January 2022, a Freephone service (1800 741 741) was introduced for customers.

The current operating hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and all appointments for Dublin based customers to register their immigration permission for the first time are now issued through this service. Operators offer one appointment per call, unless it is for an identifiable family group. To date, the service has provided 17,405 appointments, with a further 10,459 appointments booked to early July 2022.

My Department's Registration Office customer service team is also available to support customers who may have language difficulties or who may need assistance with translation. A number of multi-lingual videos describing the registration process and what to expect are available on my Department's website www.irishimmigration.ie

My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. First time registrations and renewals for customers outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. The allocation of appointments with GNIB is a matter for An Garda Síochána.

I recognised that additional clarity regarding immigration arrangements post 31 May was required for some groups. In particular, for employees who may be awaiting the renewal of their Irish Residence Permit card and for English language students who intend to enrol in third level courses from September.

As I announced last week, non-EEA nationals can continue to work after 31 May if they can provide documentary evidence of their ongoing application to renew their immigration permission to their employer.  For Dublin-based customers, the documentary evidence can include the email that customers receive from the Department’s immigration service confirming that they have submitted a renewal application. An online notice for employers has been published at: 

www.irishimmigration.ie/notice-for-employers-may-2022/.  

As in previous years prior to the pandemic, English language students who have completed their maximum three 8-month courses and who intend to enrol in third level for an undergraduate or graduate course beginning in the autumn, can apply for a short-term letter of permission based on their proof of application or enrolment. This will provide them with a bridging permission over the summer months until they start their course, which they can then register in the normal way.

Residency Permits

Ceisteanna (185)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the steps that can now be taken by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28320/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 1G permission, which was extended until 31 May 2022, under the automatic extension of immigration permissions I announced on 17 December 2021. All permissions were extended on the same terms and conditions to the permission already held.

It is open to the person concerned to write to Unit 1 of the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department, ensuring that they include all the relevant circumstances that apply in their case – including their education, work and family details. Contact details for the Unit can be found below. 

Student permission

Residence Division (Unit 1)

Immigration Service Delivery

Department of Justice

13-14 Burgh Quay

Dublin 2 D02 XK70

Ireland

Email: unit1residencedivision@justice.ie

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Question No. 186 answered with Question No. 184.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (187)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

187. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to fill the positions in the mental health care sector (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28532/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Hospital Admissions

Ceisteanna (188, 189)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

188. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average patient experience time to admission for all patients for emergency department admissions broken down for those under 75 and 75+ years of age, for each emergency department, for each statutory HSE and public voluntary hospital by hospital group in May 2022 totalled for each category and group, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28192/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

David Cullinane

Ceist:

189. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average patient experience time to admission for all patients and for those under 75 and 75+ years of age for emergency department admissions, for each emergency department, for each statutory HSE and public voluntary hospital by hospital group for each month to date in 2022 totalled for each category and group, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28193/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.

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. 189 answered with Question No. 188.

Hospital Admissions

Ceisteanna (190)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

190. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average time to admission for all patients nationwide under 75 and 75+ years of age by each month in each of the years 2015 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28194/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Hospital Admissions

Ceisteanna (191)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

191. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of patients admitted with a PET of 6 or less hours, 6 to 9, 9 to 12 and 12 or more hours, for each hospital by hospital group with averages for each, for each month to date in 2022; the average figure for to date in 2022, in tabular form; the nationwide figures for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28195/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (192)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

192. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons aged over 75 years on hospital waiting lists according to the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund data by wait time band and total, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28196/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.

The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.

The plan builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly.

This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting Lis Task Force. The Task Force will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.

This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached document, provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, outlines the number of patients aged over 75 on Outpatient and Inpatient waiting lists by time-band and hospital at the end of April 2022.

Patients aged over 75 on Outpatient and Inpatient waiting lists by time-band and hospital at the end of April 2022

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (193)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments by type cancelled across each hospital due to the hospital being unable to provide the service, as opposed to patient initiated cancellations, due to unscheduled care and other reasons to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28197/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (194)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

194. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that have experienced a cancellation in the last 6 months for an outpatient, inpatient, or diagnostic appointment; the number of patients where the number of cancellations was greater than 2, 3, 4, and 5 for each, for that appointment, across the relevant time period where greater than a 6 month period in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28198/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

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.

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna (195, 196)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

195. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the healthcare services which a medical card does not cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28199/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

David Cullinane

Ceist:

196. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the healthcare services which a medical card does not cover in full but provides an entitlement to a discount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28200/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.

Persons with full eligibility (i.e., medical card holders) are entitled to a range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all public hospital in-patient services including consultant services, all public hospital out-patient services including consultant services, home nursing, dental, ophthalmic, and aural services and appliances, a termination of pregnancy service and a maternity and infant care service. Other services such as allied health professional services (e.g. therapy services) may be available to persons with full eligibility by the HSE.

Apart from prescribed drugs and medicines, which are subject to a prescription charge, public health services are provided free of charge to persons with full eligibility. Medical card holders, therefore,  are not required the pay any of the following hospital charges - Emergency Department Charge €100, Acute Public In-Patient Charge €80 per night up to a maximum of €800 in a rolling 12 months and Minor Injury Unit/Urgent Care Centre Charge of €75.

Question No. 196 answered with Question No. 195.

Qualifications Recognition

Ceisteanna (197)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

197. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which medical professionals, dentists and general practitioners who are Ukrainian nationals now living here can have their Ukrainian qualifications recognised in Ireland in order to take-up employment in the health services; and if such professionals meet the criteria to qualify for the critical skills list. [28205/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war have been granted temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive and this allows them to reside in the EU and enter the labour market. Ukrainian medical doctors and dentists do not require an employment permit.  The ability of Ukrainian doctors and dentists to practise will be dependent on the recognition of their professional qualifications and subsequent registration with the relevant regulatory body. 

The Medical Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of doctors in Ireland. It is committed to supporting doctors arriving from Ukraine seeking to work in this jurisdiction.  The Medical Council has established an internal working group to examine ways in which it can support these doctors and has a dedicated email address and webpage for doctors arriving from Ukraine. It is working with a range of stakeholders to examine ways in which it can further support doctors arriving from Ukraine into Ireland. 

The Dental Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of dentists in Ireland and is establishing a new pathway to registration to allow it consider applications for registration from dentists fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The Council is in regular communications with these dentists, and it recently addressed a meeting of Ukrainian dentists in Ireland to advise on its processes.  The Council is assessing the possibility of providing adaptation periods or allowing Ukrainian dentists to work under supervision if gaps in training are identified. It will only be possible to fully assess the pathway to practise for Ukrainian dentists once the Council commences processing applications.  The Dental Council will also utilise the resources made available by the EU to assist in determining how Ukrainian dental qualifications match against the EU minimum training standards for dentists, which are harmonised across the EU and EEA by the Professional Qualifications Directive.

Officials from my Department form part of a co-ordination group established by the European Commission to examine the registration of Ukrainian health and social care professionals arriving in EU States because of the conflict.  This group shares knowledge and best practice and is examining methods to streamline and expedite recognition of Ukrainian professional qualifications for these professionals, including the use of electronic databases, the EU information centres for academic recognition and machine translation tools. My Department, along with the Medical and Dental Councils, will continue to ensure that all avenues are being explored with a view to enabling Ukrainian qualified doctors and dentists to apply for registration, always conscious of the need to ensure that patient safety is to the fore of any decisions regarding registration.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (198)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

198. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the temporary mental health art classes and other associated activities at a community centre (details supplied) have been cancelled and that these services were originally part of mental health day services; the rational for cancelling these classes; if these classes will be reinstated in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28206/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (199)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an urgent hospital appointment for a child (details supplied); if the appointment will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28227/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under 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.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (200)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

200. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28229/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The HSE Capital Plan 2022 includes funding for the extension to the Radiology Department to accommodate an MRI at Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar. This project is currently under construction and is indicated for completion of construction in 2023.

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