Written Answers Nos. 2036-2055
2036. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he and his Department have plans to develop a scheme to subsidise the travel, accommodation, food and childcare costs for families with children in hospital; if so, the estimated cost of such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44120/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that there are no specific proposals within my Department at present for the development of a scheme of financial assistance for parents in the circumstances referred to by the Deputy. However, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, administered by the Department of Social Protection, a person may be eligible to apply for an Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, one-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
2037. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the abolition of hospital car parking charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44121/22]
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.
2038. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the full implementation of the Disability Capacity Review 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44122/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability Capacity Review to 2032 – A Review of Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032, published in July 2021, set out the additional capacity required in specialist disability social care services in the light of anticipated demographic change, and to address the gap between available services and the level of need.
The report gives a range of extra spending needed on different scenarios, from minimum to high. Those reflect different possible approaches to tackling unmet need, as well as data gaps where the implications of low and high values were set out. Therefore, the figures show the broad scale of future spending needed, not precise numbers.
Relative to 2018 costs, the Capacity Review found that spending on disability services would need to rise by between a quarter to a half to deliver the capacity required. That is between about €550m extra a year to around €1,000m extra a year, when compared to 2018 funding levels. All estimates were on a pre-Covid-19 basis.
2039. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the provision of free contraceptives as a public health measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44123/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort. My Department has been working with partners, including the HSE, towards ensuring that the scheme will commence in September, 2022.
Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated for this in Budget 2022. The full year costs of the scheme have been estimated at €26m. Costings for wider age cohorts, under various scenarios, have been estimated in more detail in the Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, which was published in 2019 and is available on my Department's website.
- The scheme will be open to all 17-25 year-old women ordinarily resident in Ireland and will provide for:
- The cost of prescription contraception;
- The cost of consultations with medical professionals to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same. Consultations will include both initial discussions of suitable contraception for each patient, and necessary check-ups to provide repeat prescriptions;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which will also be available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
- The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;
The legal framework for the scheme is provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 2022, which was enacted in July, 2022. It is envisaged that the Act will be commenced, and the scheme launched, once the Regulations setting the terms and conditions relating to the provision of services and fees, etc., are expected to be enacted later this week. It is envisaged that the scheme will go live next week (the week commencing 12 September 2022).
The design of citizen engagement information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll out of the scheme is currently being finalised by officials in the Department’s Press and Communications Team, the HSE’s Communications team and relevant subject matter experts in the Department and HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme. Digital information regarding the scheme and how to access it will be available through www.sexualwellbeing.ie shortly and contraceptive choices materials will be placed in GP surgeries from later in September.
2040. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the provision of free sanitary products such as tampons and pads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to the introduction of measures to address period poverty, evidenced by the commitment made in the Programme for Government and by the actions taken more recently to progress the issue.
The Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper was published in February, 2021 and can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/264f4-period-poverty-in-ireland-discussion-paper-period-poverty-sub-committee-national-strategy-for-women-and-girls-20172020-february-2021/
Government has agreed that the recommendations of the Period Poverty in Ireland Discussion Paper be taken into account and that cross-Government, inter-Departmental, interagency and societal support for implementation measures should be sought, including from voluntary and private sector organisations that provide services funded by the State, as well as from public service providers.
The recommendations of the Report include, but are not limited to, consideration of the provision of free period products in public buildings, through publicly funded services and in the context of education.
My Department has established a Period Poverty Implementation Group, with representation from most Government Departments, to achieve cross sectoral input and to co-ordinate oversight of implementation measures recommended in the Discussion Paper. It is envisaged that the work of the Group will address the indignity experienced by those who may need period products every month but cannot afford them.
The Period Poverty IG has now met on three occasions, in July and November, 2021, and in March, 2022. Various bilateral meetings have also been held between officials of this Department, other Government Departments, State agencies and NGOs.
In terms of implementation, the most urgent focus is on supporting those most in need (e.g., the homeless, those living with addiction, minorities including Travellers and Roma, and those experiencing consistent poverty). Funding of €0.71m was allocated for this in Budget 2022.
My Department has reached out to local authorities and to the NGO sector, seeking expressions of interest regarding projects that will improve access to period products.
To date, 26 Local Authorities have been funded to progress period poverty initiatives; initial progress reports are currently being returned. 13 NGOs working with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and/or food poverty have been similarly funded; progress reports for NGO projects will be sought in Q4.
My Department and the HSE are also progressing design and implementation of a period dignity support programme for Travellers and Roma in Community Health Organisation 5 (CHO5, based in the South-East); following initial positive results, the HSE are reaching out to offer additional supports to other CHOs in Q3-4.
Not all women in Ireland are at risk of period poverty - estimates would suggest that those in high-risk categories number approximately 85,000. However, these estimates, published in detail in the Period Poverty In Ireland Discussion Paper, may need further refinement in terms of data from representative Surveys.
Period poverty related questions and modules are included in the 2022 Healthy Ireland and Health Behaviours in School Aged Children Surveys, which will be published later this year and in late 2023 respectively. Once results from these are available, it will be possible to estimate need with much greater accuracy.
Meanwhile, the initial projects funded by the Department of Health and HSE, and by other Departmental members of the Period Poverty Implementation Group will provide reporting regarding the costs of provision at local level.
In summary, current estimates, based on the number of estimated women in need (85,000) and the CSO's 2020 cost estimates regarding the cost of period products per woman per annum (€96.72) would suggest that the annual cost of provision may be €8.2m approximately. However, this is a very rough estimate; the 2020 estimated CSO costs don’t take account of significant recent inflation.
A number of additional sources of information will be required to refine previous estimates. These include:
- Census 2022 results
- Results of the Healthy Ireland Survey and HBSC, 2022
- 2022 reporting from local authorities, HSE and NGOs
- 2022 reporting from wider pilot schemes being undertaken by other members of the Period Poverty Implementation Group.
Work on this is ongoing and we envisage being able to provide more accurate information in 2023.
2041. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the provision of HRT patches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) do not have access to data on the expenditure of patients receiving products privately in community pharmacies or whose expenditure for medicines falls below the threshold of the Drug Payment Scheme. This prevents the HSE from giving a robust estimation of the costs of providing HRT patches free to all who may need them. In 2021, the provision of all HRT products under the statutory schemes cost €5.4m – €3.9m under the General Medical Services (medical card) scheme and €1.5m under the Drug Payment Scheme.
The HSE have estimated that the cost to the state of providing all HRT products free would likely be in the region of €8.2m per annum, at a minimum. The provision of HRT patches would be a subset of this overall cost. This estimation does not take account of any associated loss of prescription charge income, any relevant future demographic changes, or how the introduction of free provision could impact on uptake.
2042. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional supports will be provided without further delay to meet additional costs being incurred by nursing homes, particularly by small-scale providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44151/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the specific challenges faced by the Nursing Home sector related to price inflation and increased energy costs. I am currently working on proposals to support smaller and voluntary nursing homes in relation to the specific challenges they are experiencing and hope to make an announcement soon.
I engage consistently on an ongoing basis with Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), the representative organisation for private and voluntary nursing homes. I have met directly with NHI and updated them in detail on progress being made in relation to this matter. I have also met with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to request that they consider the matter alongside departmental officials. I have visited a number of Nursing Homes to discuss this issue with management of both public and private/voluntary nursing units. It is imperative that nursing homes manage potential cost pressures in line with their regulatory and contractual responsibilities, maintaining their quality of care so that residents’ lived experience and comfort is not affected.
The Government has also provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €143 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the TAPS scheme since spring 2020, and the scheme continues in effect. Substantial additional supports have been provided by the HSE in terms of serial testing, PPE, the deployment of specialist teams and other services. Many of these supports continue.
2043. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there is equal treatment of private nursing homes in relation to subvention payments regardless of their location; if the sizeable divergence in payments at present will be removed without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44152/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health acknowledges that there are variations in the cost of care across public centres as well as across private nursing homes, with public nursing homes generally having a higher cost of care to the Exchequer. However, it is important to note that regardless of whether it is a private, voluntary or public nursing home, the resident's financial contribution is the same; the price of care only affects levels of state funding and has no direct impact on the resident.
Funding to support people to access services in the sector continues to be provided in line with the long-established statutory mechanisms under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This is the mechanism established by the Oireachtas to provide for the processes relating to funding under the NHSS and the negotiation of prices for services for private and voluntary providers with the designated State agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). Maximum prices for individual nursing homes are agreed with the NTPF following negotiations and based on the NTPF’s cost criteria. These criteria include:
- Costs reasonably incurred by the nursing home
- Local market prices
- Historic prices
- Overall budgetary capacity
The NTPF carry out this role independently under the NHSS Act 2009 and there is no role for Ministers or the Department in these negotiations.
It should also be noted that the department continues to work with the NTPF to take forward the recommended actions that emerged from the review of the NTPF pricing system published in June 2021. One of these actions relates to exploring a new geographical pricing model for the sector. The Department is also forward the nine recommendations of the Value For Money Review on Nursing Home costs published last December.
2045. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health when free contraception will be commenced under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44165/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort. My Department has been working with partners, including the HSE, towards ensuring that the scheme will commence in September, 2022. Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated for this in Budget 2022.
The scheme will be open to all 17-25 year-old women ordinarily resident in Ireland and will provide for:
- The cost of prescription contraception;
- The cost of consultations with medical professionals to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same. Consultations will include both initial discussions of suitable contraception for each patient, and necessary check-ups to provide repeat prescriptions;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which will also be available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
- The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;
The legal framework for the scheme is provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 2022, which was enacted in July, 2022. It is envisaged that the Act will be commenced, and the scheme launched, once the Regulations setting the terms and conditions relating to the provision of services and fees, etc., are expected to be enacted later this week. It is envisaged that the scheme will go live next week (the week commencing 12 September 2022).
The design of citizen engagement information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll out of the scheme is currently being finalised by officials in the Department’s Press and Communications Team, the HSE’s Communications team and relevant subject matter experts in the Department and HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme.
The campaign will target 17-25 year olds with a broader reach to all adults through an extensive media engagement and outreach programme on broadcast and video on demand services; digital out of home advertising in a variety of locations including third level institutes, retail settings etc; targeted and an organic social media campaign. Digital information regarding the scheme and how to access it will be available through www.sexualwellbeing.ie shortly and contraceptive choices materials will be placed in GP surgeries from later in September.
2046. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the action he has taken on foot of the 2021 Ombudsman’s report entitled Wasted Lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44167/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ombudsman’s Report ‘Wasted Lives’ looks at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.
We know that nursing homes are an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home. However, for some people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
A range of services are being supported that can facilitate young people with serious disabilities live fuller, more independent lives. Measures to prevent young persons from entering nursing homes continue to be supported through a range of services including respite, home support and personal assistance services.
There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes. In this context, work has been ongoing with the HSE to address nursing home care of people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere.
In 2021 this Government provided for a Pilot Scheme as part of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) to enable 18 people, with an investment of €3m, under the age of 65 yrs to transition to their own home with support.
The HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5 million in 2022 to support further transitions to more appropriate placements in the community.
The HSE is currently developing a National Survey of persons under 65 in nursing homes, initiated as part of the “Planning appropriately for Younger People in Nursing Homes” Service Reform Project. The aim of this two-part project is to gather key baseline data on this population, to allow the HSE advance planning and implementation of a coordinated programme, to support transitions back to the community to lead supported self-directed lives.
2047. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the provision of additional capacity at a healthcare facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44180/22]
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.
2048. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment will be made to healthcare staff, other than those employed directly by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44181/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its website: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 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:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
2050. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1941 of 26 July 2022, the amount of the €557 million budget sanctioned for the Covid vaccination programme in 2022 that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44212/22]
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.
2051. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1943 of 26 July 2022, the status of the development of the new outpatients department in Merlin Park Hospital; if a building contractor has been appointed to date; if construction has started to date; the expected timeline for the new outpatients department to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44213/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
2052. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the information available from the HSE regarding uterine fibroids; his plans to ensure that accurate, up-to-date information on fibroids and fibroid treatments in Ireland is accessible to all women, and in particular those in marginalised communities; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE website does not list fibroids in its A-Z list of conditions, despite the high prevalence of the condition among women, and its potentially debilitating side effects; the reason for this omission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44214/22]
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.
2053. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); the engagement that he or his Department has had with the affected patients and their families; the engagement that he has had with the Dental Council in relation to resolving this issue; his plans to provide an alternative care plan to the affected patients as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44215/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very concerned at the situation that has arisen at the orthodontic practice in Oranmore and the dreadful consequences for patients and their families.
Since this situation first came to the attention of my Department in the middle of August, my focus has been the ongoing care of patients, and my officials have been reaching out to all stakeholders including the Dental Council and the Dental Profession in that regard.
The Deputy will be aware that this case is the subject of “in camera” High Court proceedings so there are restrictions on the extent of information that can be made available.
What I can say is that I have been given assurances by the Dental Council and the Orthodontic Society of Ireland that every effort is being made to encourage dental practitioners to do whatever they can to support these patients, and I am meeting with patient representatives and local representatives on Thursday 8th September next to explore what more can be done in that regard.
I appreciate that these patients need ongoing care and reiterate the call to action on the Dental community to respond positively.
2054. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress to date of negotiations on a special scheme of paid leave for public health service employees with long-Covid; the expected timeline for the commencement of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44216/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform introduced Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) for Covid at the start of the pandemic as a temporary measure to assist in the prevention of the onward spread of Covid in the workplace.
The most recent change to this introduced by DPER means that all of those currently out on SLWP who remain unwell, will have moved to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme from 1 July 2022.
Both the Government and I recognise that the staff of the public health service have gone beyond the call of duty, providing patient care in frontline Covid clinically exposed environments, treating Covid positive patients throughout the most challenging phases of the pandemic. Many of those frontline public health sector workers contracted Covid and continue to suffer from long-Covid and remain unfit to attend the workplace.
On this basis 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.
This Scheme will ensure that eligible public health sector employees who remain absent from the workplace re long-Covid, do not experience a ‘cliff edge’ in respect of the revision of SLWP provisions from 1 July 2022.
The HSE have issued the full details of the scheme to all public health service employers by circular, and eligible employees will have been notified by their employer that they are transferred to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1 July 2022.
2055. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 942 of 12 July 2022, if he will provide an update on the delivery of a primary care centre on Inisbofin; the details of any engagement that his Department or the HSE has had since June 2022 with the Department of Media, Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht and Sport as well as Galway City Council with a view to progressing the purchase of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44217/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.
