Martin Browne
Ceist:238. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the payment of the Covid healthcare bonus to non-HSE workers; and the date for the commencement of same. [47660/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCovid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (238)
Freagraí scríofa
Firstly, 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 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.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, in order to progress the payment of the Pandemic Recognition Payment, the HSE has published an invitation to tender for a third-party contractor to assist with the payment process. It is expected that once a contract is in place, information will be published shortly thereafter to facilitate applications and payment. Once this process is in place, 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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (239, 240, 241)
Bríd Smith
Ceist:239. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of specialist, multidisciplinary treatment and care for children with long-Covid; the reason there are currently no long-Covid clinics for children in Ireland, given those affected are being treated by general paediatricians and general practitioners without the necessary level of expertise to manage this debilitating illness; if there are plans to assemble multidisciplinary teams, including physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, dieticians et cetera within dedicated long-Covid clinics; if so, when these will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47666/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:240. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no multidisciplinary team, including paediatricians' expertise in post-viral illnesses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and dietitians, in any of the children's hospitals to deal with long-Covid among children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47673/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:241. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of children being treated in the children's hospitals as inpatients or outpatients with symptoms of long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47674/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 241, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
Question No. 240 answered with Question No. 239.
Question No. 241 answered with Question No. 239.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (242)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:242. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no outpatient dietitian appointments in Our Lady's Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. [47675/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (243)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:243. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no outpatient psychologist in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. [47676/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (244)
Marian Harkin
Ceist:244. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the lack of on-call services for the HSE in the community at weekends from Friday evening until Monday morning (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47678/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Sports Organisations
Ceisteanna (245)
Mark Ward
Ceist:245. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of sports organisations that have received mental health and well-being training, by sport, club and gender, in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47681/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Regulatory Bodies
Ceisteanna (246)
Mark Ward
Ceist:246. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the regulations for counsellors and psychotherapists through CORU will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47682/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act) provides for the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training & competence through the statutory registration of health and social care professions designated under the Act.
As you are aware, regulations under SI No. 170 of 2018 were made by my predecessor in 2018. The effect of these regulations is to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act and to establish one registration board for both professions. Members were appointed to the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board in February 2019 and they held their inaugural meeting in May 2019.
The work of a registration board includes consideration of the titles to be protected and the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.
Owing to the significant body of preparatory work that the Registration Board is required to undertake; it is not possible to say with any degree of accuracy when the professions will be fully regulated. I would anticipate that the Registration Board will require a number of years to complete its work.
I hope that this information is of assistance to you.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (247)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:247. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the name and location of each section 38 and section 39 organisation; the number of staff employed at that location and their grades; and the disparity between those staff and directly employed HSE staff at the same grade, in tabular form. [47690/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (248)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:248. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will inform this Deputy whether he will meet trade union representatives on the issue of pay equality for section 39 workers. [47691/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department acknowledges the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to older people and people with disabilities.
While the Government does provide assistance, under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, to organisations that provide services similar or ancillary to services that the HSE may provide, it must be acknowledged that these organisations are privately owned and run and that their terms and conditions of employment, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between private sector employers and their employees.
These organisations were not and are not party to the Public Service Agreements. Consequently, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on pay or terms and conditions of employment within the private sector.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (249)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:249. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1899 of 8 September 2022, the category private cleaning staff who were working in a hospital during the pandemic fall under, regarding the pandemic recognition payment (details supplied). [47700/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, 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 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.
Please be assured that work on rolling out payment to non-HSE/Section 38 organisations is being prioritised.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (250)
Michael Creed
Ceist:250. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to pay a significant interim payment to all those awaiting payment of the €1,000 Covid pandemic payment in the private, voluntary and section 39 organisations pending the outcome of a HSE tendering process to assist with the payment of this pandemic bonus; the current timelines anticipated for payment under this HSE arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47707/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, 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 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.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, in order to progress the payment of the Pandemic Recognition Payment, the HSE has published an invitation to tender for a third-party contractor to assist with the payment process.
It is expected that once a contract is in place, information will be published shortly thereafter to facilitate applications and payment. Once this process is in place, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (251)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:251. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number, size and cost of properties owned by the HSE or his Department that are not in use. [47721/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
Pharmacy Services
Ceisteanna (252)
Colm Burke
Ceist:252. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the plans he will put in place to ensure prescribed medication can be accessed by patients who would otherwise need to go into accident and emergency units after 10 p.m. in Cork due to the fact there are no longer late-night pharmacies open past 10 p.m.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47744/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Pharmacists wishing to practise in Ireland must be registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). The PSI is also the registering authority for retail pharmacies in Ireland in order that they may open and operate. Opening times are a commercial matter for each retail pharmacy based on the market demand in their respective local areas. The provision of late-night opening times is not a contractual obligation in respect of the operating times of individual pharmacies.
I understand that there are reports of workforce issues facing community pharmacies which may also be impacting on their decisions in respect of opening times. The PSI has been liaising with stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmacy Union, on efforts being taken within the sector to address these issues. This a complex problem with many contributing factors and multiple stakeholders which re-enforces the need for robust data to be best able to determine the current landscape, assess future health system needs and understand existing sectoral challenges now and into the future. The PSI are currently undertaking a project, entitled ‘Emerging Risks to the Future Pharmacy Workforce’, which is set to “assess emerging risks to the continued availability of a professional pharmacy workforce within community and hospital pharmacy in Ireland”. The PSI has also committed in its Service Plan 2022 to complete a review of the Third Country Qualification Route (TCQR) and propose changes to the Council.
Given that some pharmacies do extend their opening hours, it would only be in rare circumstances that a person would be unable to access their medication at a community pharmacy and would need to present at their nearest Accident and Emergency Department for that purpose.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (253)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:253. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will consider opening procurement for private companies to tender to help with recruitment of much-needed nurses and doctors from countries such as India (details supplied). [47773/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (254)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:254. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of the availability of evusheld to immunocompromised patients in Ireland; the reason it is not available; when it will be made available; the cohorts of patients to be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47775/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (255)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:255. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of staff on the paid leave for public health service employees unfit for work post-Covid-infection scheme; the breakdown of staff numbers by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47776/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (256)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:256. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions the WestDoc service has been extended to include an additional general practitioner rota group; the groups involved; when they were incorporated into the service; if he will list the GP rota groups currently not part of WestDoc or similar groups in the adjoining counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47777/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (257)
Niall Collins
Ceist:257. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if advice will be provided to a person (details supplied) in relation to the pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47780/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, 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 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.
Please be assured that work on rolling out payment to non-HSE/Section 38 organisations is being prioritised.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.