Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice if an employment issue will be addressed for persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Staff
Ceisteanna (184)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister, I have no role in internal Garda HR matters, and it would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter raised.
Community Development Projects
Ceisteanna (185, 186)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:185. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to calls from staff and management in organisations (details supplied) regarding pay, contracts and job security; if his Department can engage with the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board directly on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31191/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSteven Matthews
Ceist:186. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to calls from staff and management in an organisation (details supplied) regarding pay, contracts and job security; if his Department will engage with these service providers on these issues directly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31192/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.
The Department of Health provides €1.5m per annum to community-based drug and alcohol services under the remit of the Bray Drug and Alcohol Task Force. The Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and the HSE act as the channels of funding for these services. Of the above amount, KWETB administers in the region of €573,860 to four frontline drug and alcohol projects.
Employees of drug and alcohol projects are in the majority of cases employed and contracted by voluntary drug and alcohol services and are subject to the relevant employment legislation/regulations in force. The Department of Health has no role in relation to the pay and conditions and job security of the employees of projects funded through KWETB or the HSE.
It might be helpful to clarify the situation in relation to pay restoration for section 39 agencies, funded by the HSE. Under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations by means of a grant. Section 39 legally underpins the provision of services similar or supplementary to a service that the HSE may provide.
It should be noted that staff in section 39 organisations were not subject to the provisions of FEMPI legislation and therefore did not receive the cuts that were applied to the pay of public servants. They were not and are not party to the Public Service Agreements and are therefore not covered by the pay restoration provided for in these Agreements. In October 2018, an agreement was reached by the parties at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in relation to a process of pay restoration for staff employed in Section 39 organisations who met certain criteria, rather than types of individual workers that are employed in them. Only organisations who received in excess of an agreed, specified amount from the HSE by way of the Service Level Agreement process were included. It must be acknowledged that Section 39 organisations are voluntary bodies and that their terms and conditions of employment, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between the employer and the employee. Consequently, it would not be appropriate for the Department of Health or the Minister of Health to comment on terms and conditions of employment within the voluntary sector.
Pay restoration is absolutely limited and only applicable to those included in the initial WRC agreement. It is confirmed that there is no scope to revisit the eligibility criteria for the process and that from a Departmental point of view, the process has reached a final resolution.
I appreciate the financial challenges facing community-based drug and alcohol services. To increase access to and the provision of such services, I have established the community services enhancement fund, with an allocation of €2 million, which will be distributed through the HSE community healthcare organisations using a population-based resource allocation model, in conjunction with drug and alcohol task forces.
Question No. 186 answered with Question No. 185.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (187)
Niall Collins
Ceist:187. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will consider correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware of the changes planned for Special Leave With Pay from 1 July referred to in the correspondence provided.
However, it would be inappropriate for me to make a statement on the matter until the current high level engagement between officials and relevant stakeholders that is in train concerning the issue are concluded.
Thalidomide Victims Compensation
Ceisteanna (188)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:188. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to a compensation package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31036/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The matter raised by the Deputy concerns litigation that has been delegated to the State Claims Agency. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for me to comment on matters that are sub-judice.
I am happy to inform the Deputy that I met with members of the Irish Thalidomide Association in February last and assured them of the Government’s commitment to provide them with the necessary health supports to meet their related needs.
Work is underway in the Department to provide these health and personal social supports on a statutory footing as committed to by the Government.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (189, 190)
Colm Burke
Ceist:189. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of home support and homecare within the plans for Sláintecare; the timelines envisaged for the introduction of a statutory homecare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraColm Burke
Ceist:190. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if an increased demand for homecare is foreseen as a result of the introduction of statutory homecare; if this has been included in the implementation plans for Sláintecare; the way these policies will be supported by any process carried out by the HSE to tender for the provision of services by provers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31042/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.
The Programme for Government agreed in 2020 commits the government to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’.
Consequently, work is on-going within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Taking place within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms, this work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.
In April 2021, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined. Development of regulations and quality standards are at an advanced level and public consultation on these draft minimum requirements is planned for Q2 2022.
To enhance the development of the statutory scheme, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) undertook a programme of work on behalf of the Department of Health. On 24th February, the ESRI published a report entitled, Home Support Services in Ireland: Exchequer and Distributional Impacts of Funding Options, examining the anticipated demand for home support due to a statutory scheme and the projected cost of home-support in a range of funding scenarios.
Further information is available here - www.esri.ie/system/files/publications/SUSTAT111.pdf
With regard to your question on the HSE tender for the provision of services, this is an operational issue and has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to you.
Question No. 190 answered with Question No. 189.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (191)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of home help for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31043/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (192)
David Cullinane
Ceist:192. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 616 of 3 February 2021, the number of cancer patients who saw a consultant in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31049/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (193)
David Cullinane
Ceist:193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of cancellations of cancer-related appointments in 2018, 2020 and 2021; the number for each month to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31050/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (194)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:194. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no general practitioner in Newcastle, County Dublin currently accepting patients with a medical card or general practitioner visit card while other nearby practices including at Rathcoole and Saggart are at full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31052/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
GPs are self-employed private practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,551 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of May 2022, there are no GMS vacancies in the areas concerned.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reform and service development will see the Government increase annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. These changes and others make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice.
The number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021. Responsibility for training has transferred last year from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners and an intake of 258 trainees is planned for this year, with further increases expected for future years.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (195)
Pa Daly
Ceist:195. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the start date for a dietitian within the north Kerry CAMHS team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31064/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (196)
Pa Daly
Ceist:196. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the current resources within the north Kerry CAMHS team noting those shared from other teams or areas and those which are full-time resources for north Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31065/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (197, 211, 216)
Colm Burke
Ceist:197. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the work that his Department and the HSE are undertaking in order that 35 children with cystic fibrosis whose age and genotype were not included in the initial deal with the drug manufacturer will now be included to provide access to the life changing medication kaftrio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31066/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSteven Matthews
Ceist:211. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign by the families of 35 children with cystic fibrosis seeking access to a medication called kaftrio that had been promised to these families by their medical teams previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31093/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Duncan Smith
Ceist:216. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason there are 35 children in Ireland that have cystic fibrosis are excluded from the pipeline deal for the drug kaftrio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31155/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 211 and 216 together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (198)
David Cullinane
Ceist:198. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of a statutory right to homecare as outlined in the Programme for Government; the proposed timetable for the introduction of statutory homecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31069/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government agreed in 2020 commits the government to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’.
Consequently, work is on-going within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Taking place within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms, this work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.
With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory framework will comprise: (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home-support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (i.e., regulations); and (iii) HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services.
In April 2021, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined. A regulatory impact analysis will be undertaken by the Department in 2022 to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks.
In collaboration with HIQA and in consultation with the Health Service Executive and other key informants, the Department developed draft regulations and a targeted stakeholder consultation was undertaken in January 2022. Evaluating the feedback of this consultation is informing amendments in the draft regulations in advance of a public consultation planned in Q2 2022.
On 24th February, the ESRI published a report on the demand for and cost of home support. This is the final output from a programme of research that the ESRI has undertaken to support the Department of Health to progress the development of the new home support scheme. This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population. Government approval will be sought in due course on any proposed legislation to provide for a financial support scheme, taking into consideration the cost associated with the various options.
In addition, work is ongoing in relation to the development of a reformed model of service delivery for the new scheme. In 2021, funding was secured for the Health Service Executive to: (i) progress the roll-out of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs in the community; (ii) pilot a reformed model of service-delivery for home-support; and (iii) establish a National Office for Home Support Services.
The Pilot for testing of a reformed model of service for the delivery for home-support is fully operational. It commenced in November in CHO 8, which is the first of the four pilot sites. The three other sites CHO2, CHO 4 and CHO 7 became operational in January 2022. Funding has been approved for 128 interRAI Care Needs Facilitators to progress the national rollout of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluation will be critical to the development of the new home-support scheme. A National Home Support Office is in the process of being established.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (199)
David Cullinane
Ceist:199. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the HSE’s process of tendering for homecare support providers will be updated; if this will take into account the commitments in the Programme for Government towards a statutory entitlement to home care and the ongoing implementation of Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31070/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (200)
David Cullinane
Ceist:200. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the Department of Health and the HSE have sufficient resources to meet an increased demand for home care alongside Sláintecare; if plans are being put in place to address future need in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31071/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Abortion Services
Ceisteanna (201)
Michael Collins
Ceist:201. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health further to a reply received by a person (details supplied) from the HSE on 20 May 2022 in which it was claimed that a majority of abortion providers within primary care agree that a blended approach of telemedicine is optimal, if he will identify the polling data upon which said claim is based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31077/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
Abortion Services
Ceisteanna (202)
Michael Collins
Ceist:202. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if external organisations have been contracted by the HSE to provide manual vacuum aspiration training for hospital staff involved in abortion provision; the organisations that were contracted; the details of the contracts including timeframes and sums payable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31078/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply to the Deputy.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (203)
Colm Burke
Ceist:203. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the implementation of a national genetics and genomics medicine network as promised in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31083/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health is currently working with the HSE on a Steering Group for the development of a National Genetics and Genomic Strategy. As part of this work, this group is exploring the best direction forward to enhance Irish genetic and genomic infrastructure. This will include outlining what is necessary to establish a National Genetics and Genomics Medicine Network, as outlined in the Programme for Government. This work is still in its initial phase and we look forward to its outcome.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (204)
Colm Burke
Ceist:204. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way that his Department is supporting the medical genetics service in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31084/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Clinical Genetics service at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin was founded in 1995 and provides a diagnostic, counselling and clinical genetic testing service for children and adults affected by or at risk of a genetic condition.
The service is the main provider of general genetic counselling to the population of the Republic of Ireland. It cares for and manages families with genetic conditions, rather than simply focusing on individual patients.
Currently there are four Consultant Geneticists in CHI at Crumlin. I am pleased to advise that two vacant posts have been approved by the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee and have been advertised with a closing date of 22nd of July 2022. A locum post is also currently in place.
To support the progression of Genomics and the development of a national genomics network work a single vision for the future of genomics is required. The Department of Genomic Medicine at CHI is in a central position to build on the foundations of the clinical genomics service in CHI at Crumlin to support clinical teams in understanding and managing disease through precision medicine. CHI are progressing the recruitment of a Genomics Medicine Lead (consultant) across CHI who will link and advise on a national strategy.
I fully support the development of a national strategy for Ireland, and I am pleased to advise that Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer, has recently set up an international group to review and advise on the national strategy for genomic medicine. This group will be reporting on its outcomes later this year and I look forward to hearing its progress.