Written Answers Nos. 447-462
447. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment at Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46654/22]
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.
448. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) and when they can expect an appointment with a surgeon.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46657/22]
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.
449. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1814 of 26 July 2022, if his officials have concluded their consultation with all members of the north inner-city drug and alcohol task force; if a report to identify the next steps has been submitted to him; if he is concerned by the slow pace of progress by his Department in resolving matters first raised by his officials 18 months ago; and the impact of this delay on the normal functioning of the task force. [46658/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health is committed to addressing the drug and alcohol issues affecting the north inner city in conjunction with community-based service providers and has provided significant additional resources for drug and alcohol services in the area and wider north Dublin region.
The Department is continuing to work with stakeholders in the north inner city to establish effective, inclusive, and transparent governance of the task force and of the funding that it allocates.
The Department has recently concluded a consultation process with members of the task force and other stakeholders on the next steps. This involved a series of meetings with public representatives, statutory and non statutory members of the task force, frontline community and alcohol projects funded under the ambit of the task force, community and service user representatives, staff employed by the task force company and other stakeholders in the North East Inner City.
I understand that a report on the consultation process is currently being drawn up to identify the next steps to establish effective, inclusive, and transparent governance of the task force in the north inner city. I look forward to receiving the report in the coming weeks.
450. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a timeframe for when rental income from renting out the family home will be deemed exempt under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46675/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has approved a policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme “Fair Deal”, to incentivise applicants to the Scheme to rent out their principal residence after they have entered long term residential care. The rate of assessment for rental properties will be reduced from 80% to 40% for income from all principal residences. This will be reviewed after six months of operation, with the potential for further amendment after that point. This policy change addresses the commitments made under Housing For All Action 19.8.
The change was made through Committee-Stage amendment to the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022. The Bill was approved by the Oireachtas on 30th June and signed into law by President Higgins in July. The necessary administrative and operational changes are currently being made. Once these are in place, the amendments will be commenced imminently.
451. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce a financial assistance scheme in order that persons who rely on machines to stay alive, for example for oxygen, dialysis etc., will be able to secure support towards the costs of electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46676/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, free of charge to eligible persons (such as medical card holders and people on the Long-Term Illness scheme) following assessment by a relevant health professional. These are provided through community services known as Community Funded Schemes and play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning, and to remain living in their homes and local community. Each Community Health Organisation (CHO) operates processes for the allocation of funding for medical and surgical aids and appliances. Each application within a CHO is assessed by the local Resource Allocation Group and a determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and the funding availability within local budgets.
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 illnesses covered by the scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. The LTI scheme will be included as part of a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
In the meantime, for people who are not eligible for the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medical costs.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
For persons experiencing difficulty paying their electricity costs, financial assistance may be available through the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. Further information on the type of SWA payments available can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/d5554-supplementary-welfare-allowance/.
Finally, individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
452. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) will be given access to occupational therapy in County Monaghan as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46681/22]
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.
453. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the reason for the many anomalies in the payment of salaries, premiums and overtime in the CHO 1 area in disability services since the adoption of a new system approximately 12 months ago; the number of errors that have been made, in tabular form; the reason these errors occurred; the length of time it took for each underpayment to be rectified; the remedial steps that have been taken to prevent the recurrence of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46697/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
454. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE is taking a full 12 weeks to pay overtime to staff, including nurses; the reason this is the case; if he is prepared to shorten the inordinate time healthcare professionals are expected to wait to receive their overtime payments amidst an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46698/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
455. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if paramedics and firefighters in the Dublin ambulance service qualify for the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46700/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment 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. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
At this point, the Department is not in a position to assess or comment on individual cases. Please be assured that work on rolling out payment to non-HSE/Section 38 organisations is being prioritised and once information on which organisations shall be paid is published, you will be able to check your eligibility for payment at that point.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, is hoped that information will be published shortly for those employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
With regard to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6, the Department of Health is engaging with the Department of Defence, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress payments to these cohorts as soon as possible.
456. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the establishment of a haematology day ward in University Hospital Kerry, equipped for ten patients, to facilitate the delivery of chemotherapy and related blood work or infusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46704/22]
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.
457. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will support the installation of an isolator in University Hospital Kerry to facilitate load balancing between University Hospital Kerry and Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46705/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
458. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the laboratory staff in University Hospital Kerry from a rota of one to five to one to ten to ensure that laboratory staff have sufficient recovery time between shifts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46706/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
459. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that haematology patients are often required to travel daily for prolonged periods of time, two hours each way, from parts of north and west Kerry to Cork, in order to receive essential chemotherapy treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46707/22]
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.
460. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out under the drug treatment scheme of the new prescription medication, inclisiran, which is used to treat high cholesterol in persons with an adverse reaction to statins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46710/22]
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.
461. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when paramedics from the Dublin Fire Brigade will receive their Covid-19 bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46712/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment 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. 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, is hoped that information will be published shortly for those employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
With regard to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6, the Department of Health is engaging with the Department of Defence, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress payments to these cohorts as soon as possible.
462. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to speed-up the process of genetic testing for confirmation of TTR genotype, wild-type or hereditary, for transthyretin amyloidosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46721/22]
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.
