Written Answers Nos. 714-727
714. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if there is a pathway for the reimbursement of the cost of a PCR test taken privately by an elderly medical card patient where the test was required for hospital admission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31787/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic the HSE have provided PCR testing free of charge to everyone who required a test, and it continues to do so according to the prevailing public health guidance in place. Swabbing centres have been open for this purpose around the country and remain open at this time.
Individuals who have concerns about an underlying condition and/or their level of risk in relation to COVID-19 should continue to seek advice from their GP or treating clinician in relation to the appropriate actions that should be taken and, in particular, should discuss the issues relating to testing, such as those described by the Deputy, with their GP or treating clinician who can arrange a free test via the HSE at their closest swabbing centre.
There is no process for reimbursement of a test taken privately as there is no charge for such a Sars-Cov-2 test provided by the HSE for public health or clinical purposes, there never has been and there are no plans to introduce any such charge in the future.
715. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if it is proposed to have an inquiry, public or otherwise, into the State’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31788/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra716. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he intends to establish a review of the State’s response to Covid-19 for the purpose of preparing for any future pandemics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31789/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra717. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that any review and-or inquiry into the State’s handling of Covid-19 need not seek to apportion blame or criticise persons involved in the State’s response to this unprecedented event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31790/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 715, 716 and 717 together.
The Deputy is advised that since March 2020, Government has focussed its response to COVID-19 around controlling the spread of the virus and breaking the chains of transmission and protecting those who are most vulnerable from infection.
Government has previously acknowledged the importance of reviewing the response to the pandemic. There has been a clear national commitment to continue to learn from the pandemic as the national and international understanding of the virus evolves, and where necessary to ensure that the public health-led approach evolves, as evidence and learning materialises.
For example, during the pandemic, Government established the Nursing Home Expert Panel which examined and advised on the COVID-19 response in long-term residential healthcare settings.
The establishment of an enquiry or review into the State's response to the COVID-19 pandemic would be a matter for Government.
I wish to underline that Government has demonstrated that it values the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the pandemic. In recognition thereof and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to COVID-19, the Government held a National Day of Recognition and Commemoration on 18 March of this year. Furthermore, an additional permanent public holiday will be in place from 2023. The Government also announced the payment of a COVID-19 recognition payment of €1,000 for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.
718. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators reported to him in respect of the child and adult mental health service; and his views on the throughput of patients, the level of the services delivered and the pattern of discharges. [31819/22]
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.
719. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason that the BreastCheck mobile unit has moved from the Cork Road, Waterford to Dungarvan; if it is to be permanently relocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31827/22]
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.
720. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays in registering dentists from other EU member states, from Britain and others who have trained in Ireland and are now seeking to relocate back to Ireland; if he will ensure that sufficient resources are put in place to rectify this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31847/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dental Council is not aware of any systemic delays in registering dentists. Applications are generally processed within the timeframes provided in the Professional Qualifications Directive.
721. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays in registering dentists from Ukraine; if he will ensure that sufficient resources are put in place to rectify this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproximately 90 dentists who have left Ukraine have enquired about registration with the Dental Council. It should be noted that some of these are presently living in other EU countries and not all are Ukrainian nationals.
The Dental Council is establishing a new pathway to registration to process applications from those who have been granted either permanent or temporary protection in Ireland. This pathway is under the General Systems provisions of the Professional Qualifications Directive which differs to the system that is usually used for most registration applications.
These General Systems provisions are more complex as they involve a detailed assessment of the applicant’s qualification, and they provide for applicants to be allowed to undertake compensation measures if considered deficient in some areas of practice. The Dental Council is establishing a system to allow it to comprehensively assess applications and to provide for appropriate compensation measures if required. It takes time to establish a new registration pathway and this work is almost complete. The Council expects to commence processing applications shortly.
722. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists who have applied and have been registered, respectively, with the Dental Council from 2021 to date in 2022; the average amount of time that it takes to be registered in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dental Council registered 184 dentists and dental specialists in 2021. It has registered 95 to date in 2022. The Dental Council advises applicants to apply at least 3 months before they are due to take up a position. The Dental Council is obliged to process applications within this timeframe under the Professional Qualifications Directive (PQD). Applications are generally processed within the timeframes provided in the PQD.
723. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health the number of Ukranian dentists in Ireland who have applied for or inquired about registration with the Dental Council; the number who have registered to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31850/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproximately 90 dentists who have left Ukraine have enquired about registration with the Dental Council. It should be noted that some of these are presently living in other EU countries and not all are Ukrainian nationals. The Dental Council is establishing a new registration pathway to process applications from these dentists. This pathway is being established in accordance with the provisions of the EU’s Professional Qualifications Directive. The Dental Council is presently finalising this work and it will open to receive applications then.
724. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons aged under 18 years who have been referred to hospitals and HSE run centres for testing for sexually transmitted diseases and infections in each of the past ten years and if this figure can be broken down by age in tabular form. [31853/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
725. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the protocols that in place in instances in which an underage person presents to a hospital or HSE-run facility pregnant; if a referral is made to Tusla in such a circumstance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31854/22]
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.
726. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the date upon which his Department became aware of a validation report in relation to suspected sexual abuse in a centre for persons (details supplied) with disabilities in County Donegal. [31856/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe independent Look Back Review and a further review by the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP), related to a period in a certain residential service for adults with a disability at Ard Greine Court, Stranorlar, Co Donegal. A further file review was then conducted covering the period 1991 to 2002, the purpose of which was to screen all relevant records for any notations referring to alleged or actual sexual conduct during this time frame.
The external validation was commissioned in December 2021 with a validation team, including an external subject expert, appointed to oversee the validation team’s approach.
I was informed by the HSE of the validation exercise in December 2021, and on May 31 2022 received a copy of the File Review and Validation Exercise Reports.
727. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has engaged with the gardaí in relation to the validation report regarding suspected sexual abuse in a centre for persons (details supplied) with disabilities in County Donegal; if so, the dates upon which these engagements took place; the date that the 11 new sexual abuse allegations in the report were reported by the HSE to the gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31857/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question relates to an operational matter, I am referring this question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
