Written Answers Nos. 1551-1570
1552. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the action plan for the implementation of the 2021 disability capacity review to 2032; if funding for the action plan has been requested as part of budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42157/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group, whose membership consisted of senior officials from the Departments of DCEDIY, Social Protection, Housing, Further and Higher Education, Health, and the Health Service Executive, has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised and is informing relevant engagement in the estimates process.
1553. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to colon cancer detection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42167/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1554. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the level of dental care that can be provided within an appropriate timeframe given the nature of the treatment required in the case of a person (details supplied) who meets the criteria for treatment but cannot receive the appropriate treatment given that there is no dentist in the area dealing with medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42171/22]
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.
1555. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health when free general practitioner care will be extended to six- and seven-year-olds as announced under budget 2022. [42172/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials and the HSE are engaged in preparatory work for the commencement of the initial stage of the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7. Consultations with the IMO, representing GPs, are currently underway with the intention of introducing this service this year.
1556. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to work with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to address the discrepancy between training for educational psychologists and clinical psychologists with the latter receiving a substantial payment of college fees by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42174/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Psychology Review Implementation Group in 2017 expanded the care group employment available to counselling and educational psychologists. The report’s recommendation led to the establishment of a Project Team to implement this recommendation.
In February 2019, HSE Community Operations convened a Project Team, chaired by Dr Cathal Morgan, comprised of representatives from Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychology; Social Care, Disability, and Mental Health services; Community and Acute services; Operational and National HR; and the Health and Social Care Professions office.
The Project Team was tasked with, inter alia, considering the preparation of a workforce plan for psychological services in the HSE, including an examination of the current framework for training psychologists for the health service, and the type, and skill-mix, required for the future. The work of the Project Team was informed by a thorough stakeholder consultation process.
Clinical Psychology Trainees, on the doctoral programme, are HSE employees and are in receipt of partial funding (60%) of HEI fees each year. Traditionally the educational and counselling psychologists’ courses have not been funded by the HSE. The HSE does not employ or contribute to HEI fees for Counselling and Educational Psychologists during their doctoral training.
The Report of the National Psychology Project Team – Establishment of a National Psychology Placement Office and Workforce Planning was completed in January 2021. The Report contains a plan to address a range of matters in relation to psychology through establishment of a placement office and workforce planning. Implementation of the report’s recommendations and the creation of a National Psychology Placement Office are a matter for the HSE in the context of available health resources.
1557. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the 35 children with cystic fibrosis whose age and genotype were not included in the initial deal with a drug manufacturer will now be included to provide access to the life-changing medication, kaftrio (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42184/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
1558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42191/22]
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.
1559. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if Irish front-line healthcare workers who contracted Covid-19 in their workplace, particularly those suffering from long-Covid, will be considered to have contracted a prescribed occupational disease in view of the opinion of the European Union Advisory Committee on Health and Safety at Work that Covid-19 caused by work in disease prevention, health and social care contexts should be included in the European schedule of occupational diseases annexed to Commission Recommendation 2003/670/EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42195/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1564. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of an agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42201/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1559 and 1564 together.
The EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recently recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.
In Ireland, Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) is available for the recommended isolation period, for civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid. SLWP provides for paid leave, including full pay, any fixed allowances payable as well as premium payments.
For those who remain unfit to attend the workplace and are suffering from long-Covid, a scheme, specific to the public health service has been developed to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.
The HSE have issued the full details of the Scheme to all public health service employers by circular, and employees who meet the criteria for eligibility for the Scheme will be notified promptly by their employer that they will transfer to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022.
I am advised by officials from the Department of Social Protection who operate the national Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, that Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and that they do not intend on revising this position.
1560. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the number of full-time and part-time occupational therapists in each county; if there are specific hours assigned to early intervention services; if there are specific hours of service assigned to children and adults with autism, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42197/22]
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.
1561. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the number of full-time and part-time speech and language therapists in each county; if there are specific hours assigned to early intervention services; if there are specific hours of service assigned to children and adults with autism in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42198/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1562. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 772 of 12 July 2022, the date on which the CHO 4 HSE chief officer ascertained that they had support for the closure of a centre (details supplied) from local senior clinical managers prior to finalising the decision to close the service at a later meeting on 22 June 2021; the details of each of these consultations and meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42199/22]
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.
1563. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question 772 of 12 July 2022, the date on which the consultant psychiatrist of the Midleton-Youghal Adult mental health team was first informed of the proposed closure of a centre (details supplied); if the consultant psychiatrist's opinion on the decision and its clinical implications for the local HSE catchment was sought prior to that decision being finalised; the details of the management staff who were involved in these communications with the consultant psychiatrist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42200/22]
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.
1565. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for HIV PrEP appointments in Dublin; the number of persons who been unable to get anointments at PrEP clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42222/22]
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.
1566. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the outcome and action points of the meeting he attended between the HSE, his Department officials, relevant local stakeholders and some local public representatives on 29 July 2022 regarding the future of a home (details supplied). [42224/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with met with a number of interested local stakeholders on Friday 29th July 2022 to discuss the future of Dean Maxwell CNU. The Minister for Health and myself, along with officials from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health, were also in attendance.
I am acutely aware of the depth of feeling associated with the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit and the desire to keep it fully operational. As Minister with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, I am committed to redeveloping services for older people at Dean Maxwell CNU and providing services appropriate to the needs of the local community.
I am currently considering all available options for the site, and I am working with the HSE and local stakeholders to identify proposals for the centre’s future, whilst also being cognisant of the need for all Community Nursing Units (CNUs) to be fully compliant with Regulations made under the Health Act 2007 and in line with National Standards. I wish to inform you that all avenues are currently being explored and it is envisaged that a plan for the future of Dean Maxwell CNU will be finalised in due course.
I also wish to inform you that an additional multi-stakeholder meeting is expected to take place in approximately three months’ time to discuss progress with regard to planning for the future of Dean Maxwell CNU.
1567. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of home help for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42237/22]
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.
1568. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place for the reimbursement of CoaguChek meters and self-test monitors for long-term oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42250/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. The Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.
The HSE have advised that CoaguChek® meters and International Normalised Ratio (INR) self-testing strips are not reimbursable under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme, the Community Drug Schemes, or the Community Funded Schemes.
Whilst a range of diagnostics are available on the HSE's formal Reimbursement List for use in Diabetes, a change in HSE policy would be required to expand this to other therapeutic areas such as INR testing ancillaries.
The HSE have further advised that on very rare occasions, CoaguChek® strips were approved for reimbursement in the most exceptional circumstances under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements where it was clear that there was no other option for the patient i.e., the person was bed bound or could not travel to the INR clinic.
1569. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42254/22]
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.
1570. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the key areas contained within the pre-budget submission of an organisation (details supplied) for services and funding required for persons living with sight loss will be included in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42263/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister wishes to thank the TD for his question.
The delivery of services for people with disabilities is a matter for the HSE, funding is provided by way of the agreed annual National Service plan.
At this time, engagement continues between The Department of Health and key stakeholders, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE, in relation to the 2023 Estimates.
These discussions will inform the finalisation of the Estimate for the Health Vote for 2023 over the coming weeks and the final position will be announced in the Budget Communications/speeches on Budget Day (27th Sept 2022).
Pending this, it would be inappropriate for the Minister to comment on specific funding proposals.
