Written Answers Nos. 543-558
543. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason that the south east regional drug and alcohol task force has not had a full-time co-ordinator for almost three years; if all parties are acting with appropriate haste to resolve the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47128/22]
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.
544. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE mental health clinical staff in County Donegal that have not been provided with appropriate accommodation in the county to meet their clients. [47129/22]
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.
545. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his views on the increase in respiratory syncytial virus cases in 2022; when RSV season will officially be opened; the date that vaccines will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47131/22]
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.
546. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the total medicines budget over the period 2019 to date in 2022, by year; if he will provide details of the specific amount of expenditure which was allocated to rare diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47132/22]
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.
547. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the specific drugs that have been considered by the rare diseases technology review committee of the HSE to date, in tabular form; the outcomes of these decisions; the specific drugs to be considered by the committee; the number of meetings that have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47133/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
548. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the growing trend of disposable e-cigarette use among teenagers; the measures that his Department and the HSE will implement to ensure that these products comply with all relevant regulatory requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47136/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent data on the use of electronic cigarettes among young people is from the European Schools Project on Alcohol and other Drugs 2019 report. Almost 2,000 Irish students aged 15 and 16 years completed the survey in 2019 and it found that 39% of students reported having ever used an e-cigarette with 16% of these reporting using one in the last 30 days.
The Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill which is currently being drafted will prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products including disposable e-cigarettes to, and by, persons under 18 years of age. It will also require that any retailer of e-cigarettes must have a licence which must be renewed annually. These measures together are likely to reduce the availability of e-cigarettes to young people.
The main legislation currently regulating e-cigarettes in Ireland is the EU Tobacco Products Directive which was transposed into Irish law by the EU (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016. The Directive regulates e-cigarette devices, the ingredients of e-cigarettes, the packaging in which e-cigarettes are sold and the marketing of the product. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation sits with the Environmental Health Service of the HSE. The Tobacco Products Directive is currently being reviewed as part of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and discussions to date indicate a strengthening of the Directive in relation to e-cigarettes and novel tobacco products.
549. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of prosecutions and-or fines made against manufacturers or importers of e-cigarette products for breaches of restrictions within SI 271/2016 in the past 12 months (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47137/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis has been referred to the HSE for a response.
550. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list to access CAMHS in counties Galway and Roscommon, respectively; the number of children directly engaged with each service; his plans to expand both services; his plans, if any, to address the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47140/22]
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.
551. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) will open; the staffing and bed complement at this refurbished facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47159/22]
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.
552. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to construction contractors by the HSE in respect of large infrastructure projects at Tallaght University Hospital in the past four years to date, by amount, year and project, in tabular form; and if he will provide a schedule of projects that required a tender process to be undertaken. [47161/22]
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 you directly in relation to this matter.
553. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the staff turnover of audiologists within children's disability services in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [47162/22]
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.
554. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the staff turnover of orthotists and prosthetists within children's disability services In each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [47163/22]
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.
555. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he has received an invitation to meet with the families who lost loved ones in a nursing home (details supplied) during the third wave of the pandemic at the start of 2021; if he has considered and or responded to the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47175/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented challenge across our health services and none more so than in our nursing homes. The pandemic has been a hugely difficult time for all residents, relatives, and staff of nursing homes and I would like to express my condolences to all those who have lost a loved one during this period.
In relation to the meeting requests referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that my colleague the Minister for Mental Health and Older Persons, Mary Butler T.D., held a meeting with the group Care Champions and some of those who had lost loved ones in the nursing home specified by the Deputy on Monday 12 July 2021. The concerns raised by family members were heard at the meeting and a comprehensive response issue.
556. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will consider abolishing the consumer-directed home support grant, given that the criteria to fulfil the grant are too onerous for elderly and vulnerable citizens and encourage dangerous practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47178/22]
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.
557. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1766 of 26 July 2022, the timeframe for paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to receive their pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47205/22]
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 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.
It is hoped that 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 front-line 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.
Regarding cohorts 5 and 6, the Department and HSE are engaging with other Departments involved to progress payments as soon as possible for eligible staff.
558. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the appointment of a chief pharmaceutical officer; and if he will expedite the recognition of non-European Union pharmacy qualifications, such as those from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. [47208/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra567. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a chief pharmaceutical officer to ensure strategic direction for this jurisdiction’s pharmacy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47293/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra571. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a chief pharmaceutical officer will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47309/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 558, 567 and 571 together.
Pharmacists wishing to practise in Ireland must be registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI — The Pharmacy Regulator). It is the PSI’s responsibility in the public interest to ensure that Pharmacists as healthcare professionals are competent to practise. The role of a pharmacist is a significant and responsible one, and patients must be assured that pharmacists are capable of providing a safe and effective pharmacy service.
The PSI operates three routes of recognition/registration depending on where the pharmacy qualification has first been acquired – the national route, EU route and non-EU (third country qualification recognition - TCQR) route under established processes based in Irish and EU law, and cognisant of obligations emanating from Community Membership, and other legislative frameworks including Equality legislation. Currently, each individual applicant going through the TCQR process has the qualification presented assessed through a defined process, which may/may not include the requirement for completion of a period of adaptation, based on the outcome of the individual’s performance in an Equivalence Examination, and conducted on behalf of the PSI by a third party, currently UCC.
The PSI has recognised that its Third Country route of qualification recognition and registration is complex for applicants and is currently in a process to review it so that it is more streamlined and easier to navigate, with the aim being to have an improved TCQR route in place. This is a strategic project being progressed as part of the PSI Service Plan for 2022.
My Department has professionally qualified pharmacists among its staff and does not have plans to appoint a chief pharmaceutical officer at the present time. The matter will be kept under review in the context of wider workforce planning considerations.
I am aware that there is interest currently in discussing the potential post of Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and I have asked my officials in the Medicines, Controlled Drugs and Pharmacy Legislation Unit to engage directly with the Irish Pharmacy Union in the first instance, to offer the IPU an opportunity to outline their position and to listen to their perspective and insights on this matter.
