Written Answers Nos. 367-386
367. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a matter regarding the lack of personal assistance hours for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28564/22]
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.
368. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of offices operated by his Department that are in high-risk areas for radon; the number that have been tested for radon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28577/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has only one office, located at Miesian Plaza, Baggot Street, Dublin 2, a low risk area for radon.
The site was tested before occupation in 2018, and it confirmed the recorded levels as being significantly below the national reference level for workplaces.
369. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of occupational therapist posts assigned within the primary care services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28591/22]
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.
370. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of speech and language therapist posts assigned within the primary care services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28592/22]
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.
371. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will request his Department to launch an awareness campaign for patients and general practitioners to ensure that those with long-Covid can be supported and helped. [28599/22]
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.
372. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will re-categorise intermediate care operators from general support staff to ambulance staff or a more appropriate category which reflects the changing nature and responsibilities of the role and enhanced skills this requires, in view of the increasingly enhanced role which intermediate care operators perform within the National Ambulance Service and the increasing frequency of ICOs being dispatched to emergency calls rather than patient transportation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28602/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra373. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned by the increasing use of modified intermediary care vehicles (details supplied) as makeshift ambulances by the National Ambulance Service; if the use of such vehicles as ambulances is consistent with national policy, safety standards or Road Safety Authority standards in relation to medication policy and emergency lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28603/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
374. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has signed the agreements with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital; if not, the expected timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28608/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, on 17 May last, the Government approved the legal framework that will underpin the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to the St Vincent’s campus at Elm Park.
In terms of next steps in relation to the legal framework documents, the Co-ordination Agreement between the three signatories – the HSE, the NMH and St Vincent's Healthcare Group - sets out the practical arrangements for finalisation of the documents. I understand that the HSE will be engaging with the NMH and SVHG with a view to completing the signing and execution of this document within the next month or so. The remaining legal framework documents will subsequently be signed at the relevant time as the project progresses.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the detail of next steps, as soon as possible.
375. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the National Maternity Hospital Board of Governors has approved the agreements to facilitate the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to another campus (details supplied) and the creation of the NMH at a location; if not, the expected timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28609/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, on 17 May last, the Government approved the legal framework that will underpin the relocation of the NMH to the St Vincent’s campus at Elm Park. In approving the legal framework, the Cabinet was satisfied that the framework achieves the State’s objectives and:
- Ensures that all legally permissible services will be available in the new NMH
- Prevents any influence, religious or otherwise, on the operation of the new hospital
- Safeguards the State’s significant investment in the hospital.
The legal framework had previously been approved by the HSE Board, the Board of the NMH and the Board of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group.
376. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the final business case for the new National Maternity Hospital; the expected timeframe for completion; when he expects the next stage to begin; the expected timeframe for the project to go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28610/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Spending Code (PSC) is designed to ensure that capital investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities. The PSC also provides detail on the business case requirements at each stage of the new project lifecycle.
All capital development proposals must progress through several approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated PSC, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.
The National Maternity Hospital (NMH) relocation project was initiated prior to the publication of the updated PSC, and therefore the NMH Project Board undertook additional work on the business case to ensure full compliance with the new PSC requirements.
A Final business case for relocation of NMH has been submitted to the Department by the NMH Project Board for review at Gate 2 of the PSC. The Business Case is now subject to technical review by the Department of Health, including through the External Assurance Process recently introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Pending favourable review under the Spending Code, a Memorandum for Government will then be brought forward to progress the programme for the NMH. If approval in principle is granted by Government, the project can move to deployment of a tendering strategy.
In the interim, I have asked the Project Board to identify opportunities to accelerate or parallel certain activities related to the development of the project that can be undertaken without presupposing the outcome of the Government decision on the pre-tender final business case. The Project Board will take steps to ensure that it can act quickly to progress the project through the next stages, should approval in principle be granted.
Based on the results of public procurement process, an updated Final Business Case will then be prepared by the NMH Project Board, seeking Government sanction for to proceed with the main capital project to construct the new NMH.
The final decision to proceed with the construction and therefore to estimate the cost or key dates for the new NMH cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure that the proposal delivers value for money and remains affordable.
377. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic special recognition payment of up to a maximum of €1,000 per person will be made to non-HSE frontline healthcare workers; when staff in private nursing homes will receive the payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28615/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn January 19th, the Government announced a 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 announcement also made provision for a pro-rata application of the payment.
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.
Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published by the HSE on 19th April and are available on the HSE website, while payment to eligible HSE and Section 38 staff is currently in progress.
Separately, the Department of Health is preparing information for those other certain healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff.
This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage
The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply to the above list.
378. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason that insulin pump upgrades have been paused in Cork University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28621/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
379. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will list all contracts that an architectural firm (details supplied) has been awarded by his Department; the amounts of these contracts; the dates that these were awarded; the project definitions and locations; and their current status in tabular form. [28624/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has had no contracts with the company detailed.
380. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their approved appliance; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28640/22]
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.
381. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when the approved three personal-assistance hours will be implemented in the case of a child (details supplied) who has been waiting nearly one year for implementation; if this case will be urgently prioritised given the needs of the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28641/22]
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.
382. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts across Children’s Disability Network Teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28265/22]
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.
383. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in updating the IT systems for assessments of need and children’s disability services; if a new assessment of need system has been procured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28266/22]
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.
384. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if detailed consideration will be given to issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to healthcare provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28652/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
385. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if the HSE sought additional funding for St. Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar, County Donegal in order to provide a more secure environment (details supplied); if so, the number of times that additional funding was requested; and the response of the HSE in relation to same. [28669/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe quantum of services to be provided by the HSE is considered as part of the Budgetary and National Service Planning process. The HSE National Service Plan (NSP) for 2022, sets out, at a high level, the health and social care services to be provided within the HSE's allocated budget of €20.7bn.
The HSE manages its expenditure in line with its annual funding determination.
As the Deputy's question relates to the funding of a specific service, I am referring the question to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
386. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28670/22]
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.
