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Tuesday, 11 Oct 2022

Written Answers Nos. 640-659

Health Strategies

Ceisteanna (640)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

640. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will remove any roadblocks to the setting-up of the independent radiation therapist review; if he will commit to implementing the recommendations, if any, which could emanate from the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49575/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An independent radiation therapist review has been agreed under the auspices of the WRC. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair.

As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (641, 724)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

641. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if any consideration has been given to providing persons above the age of 16 years suffering with long-term mental illness, to be included in the HSEs long-term illness scheme, which would provide much needed relief to those without medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49580/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

724. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he will alter the entitlement under the long-term illness scheme for children (details supplied) to rectify the anomaly created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50040/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 724 together.

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.

Statutory Instrument No. 277 of 1971 sets out the following limitation on Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970: "Arrangements for the supply of drugs and medicines to persons suffering from mental illness in pursuance of section 59 (3) of the Act shall be made only in respect of persons under the age of 16 years."

Therefore, the HSE must regard 16 years as the upper age limit in terms of eligibility under the LTI scheme for those with a diagnosis of mental illness.

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. However, it is not possible at this juncture to say what the outcome of this review will be.

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.

In addition, 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.

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%.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (642)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Ceist:

642. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic bonus payment for frontline workers will be rolled out to all eligible workers in the State, including those in private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49581/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

The rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment for eligible HSE and Section 38 employees is currently receiving priority. As of Friday 30th of September, 85,463 eligible HSE staff have received payment around the country. This number excludes Section 38 agencies which are estimated to have paid 38,287 staff to date thereby bringing the total number of employees paid to 123,750 .

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:

- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);

- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;

- Agency roles working in the HSE;

- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;

- Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

- 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. At this point, the Department is not in a position to assess or comment on individual cases.

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.

Budget 2023

Ceisteanna (643)

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

643. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to the National Cancer Strategy in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49585/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Budget 2023 sets out a budget of over €23.4 billion, the single largest investment in the Irish Health and Social Care Services in the history of the State. In 2021 this Government invested an additional €32 million in cancer services, including €12 million to help services address the additional challenges of Covid-19 and €20 million for new developments in services. In 2022 an additional €20 million was allocated to cancer services, which was used to drive improvement in services for cancer patients and their families.

This year's allocation will be used to ensure the continued rollout of the National Cancer Strategy, and includes €3.8 million for cancer screening services including BreastCheck, Cervical Check and the National Cervical Screening Laboratory.

The HSE will shortly be submitting its National Service Plan to my Department for approval which will set out the type and volume of cancer care services to be provided.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (644)

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

644. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the no-show rates at chemotherapy appointments at each of the designated cancer centres in each of the years 2017 to 2022, in tabular form. [49586/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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 (645)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

645. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the barriers to training and provision of doctors, general practitioners and consultants in Ireland; the number of students who are studying each discipline of medicine in Ireland for each of the past ten years separately for undergraduate and postgraduate students; the number who have graduated for each of the past ten years; the number of those students that are still working in Ireland five years, ten years, 20 years, 30 years and 40 years after they have graduated; and the role that the Irish Medical Council has in the supply of qualified doctors. [49589/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Health and Social Care workforce planning and ensuring a sufficient supply of suitably qualified healthcare professionals in Ireland is a top priority for the Government.

The table in Appendix 1 shows the number of students who enrolled to study medicine in Ireland across all years for each of the past ten years separately for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The table in Appendix 2 shows the number of students who graduated from studying medicine in Ireland for each of the past ten years separately for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Regarding the number of doctors who are studying each discipline of medicine in Ireland for each of the past ten years for postgraduate students, the table in Appendix 3 provides an overview of the number of doctors undertaking formal postgraduate training in Ireland for each of the past 10 years. For a specialty breakdown for basic and higher specialty training across each of these training years please refer the HSE National Doctors Training and Planning Office annual medical workforce reports available here www.hse.ie/eng/staff/leadership-education-development/met/ed/rep/.

Appendix 4 shows the number of doctors who have graduated each discipline of medicine 2016- 2022.

In relation to the number of doctors that are still working in Ireland five years, ten years, 20 years, 30 years and 40 years, HSE-NDTP have recently commenced a review of doctors who complete Internship in Ireland. Early provisional data shows that a high percentage of interns who graduate leave Ireland for at least one year. However, the data shows that 82% of interns who commenced one year intern training in July 2015 subsequently commenced a Basic Specialist Training (BST) or General Practice (GP) training programme in subsequent years (2016-2021). A small number of the 2015 group also remain in the Irish system either in service grade posts or employed within the Private Sector. Data used in this project is collected from the NDTP Doctors Integrated Management E-System (DIME), implemented in the 2015/2016 training year.

The Medical Council is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of doctors in Ireland. To protect patients, it has a responsibility to ensure that all doctors registered to practise medicine in Ireland meet the requirements to practise as set out in legislation. The Medical Council also plays a role in the supply of doctors through setting and monitoring standards and guidelines which all basic medical degree programmes, intern and specialist training programmes in Ireland are required to meet and has the role of assuring the quality of undergraduate education of doctors and quality of postgraduate training of specialists.

The Medical Council also supports workforce planning by the research projects it undertakes annually, such as the Medical Workforce Intelligence Report. This report provides a detailed analysis of the Medical Council’s registration data, focusing on demographics of those retaining and withdrawing from the medical register in Ireland. The Medical Workforce Intelligence Report is a central document in informing workforce planning and improved patient safety in Ireland.

In relation to the number of students who are still working in Ireland after they have graduated the Deputy may be aware that the CSO has developed a statistical framework known as the 'Educational Longitudinal Database' (ELD) in collaboration with Irish public sector bodies to examine learner outcomes. The ELD is produced by matching datasets on learners that have completed courses or programmes to other datasets which describe their outcomes in subsequent years. The data sources used to describe learner outcomes include employment and self-employment datasets from Revenue, benefits data from the Department of Social Protection, and data on educational participation from the Department of Education and several state agencies, including the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and SOLAS. As part of the strategic workforce planning function in my Department, officials are exploring the potential of this database to examine the outcomes, including employment outcomes, for students of health and social care courses in Ireland.

Medical students

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (646)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

646. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the barriers to training and provision of nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists in Ireland; the number of students who are studying these disciplines in Ireland for each of the past ten years; and the number who have graduated for each of the past ten years; and the number of those students who are still working in Ireland five years, ten years, 20 years, 30 years, and 40 years after they have graduated. [49590/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Health and Social Care workforce planning and ensuring a sufficient supply of suitably qualified healthcare professionals in Ireland is a top priority for the Government.

The tables in Appendix 1 show the number of students studying nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy in Ireland across all years for each of the past ten years together with the number who have graduated for each of the past ten years.

Regarding the barriers to training Health and Social Care Professionals and the provision of nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists in Ireland the HSE’s National Office for Health and Social Care Professionals published a report on Health and Social Care Professions Practice Education During and Post COVID-19 (HSE, 2021) which is available here. www.beai.ie/sites/beai/files/publications/%283%29%20HSCP%20Report%20on%20HSCP%20Practice%20Education%20During%20and%20Post-COVID-19.pdf

This report informs the Department and the HSE in its efforts to remove barriers to training. Officials from my Department engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we train enough graduates with the skills necessary to support the delivery of our health and social care services and to develop a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector.

Ongoing discussions between both Departments are in relation to increasing domestic supply on health-related courses in the short term to medium term, through the immediate provision of additional places, and the longer-term planning being undertaken around future skills needs in the context of future demand for health and social care services.

In relation to the number of students who are still working in Ireland after they have graduated the Deputy may be aware that the CSO has developed a statistical framework known as the 'Educational Longitudinal Database' (ELD) in collaboration with Irish public sector bodies to examine learner outcomes. The ELD is produced by matching datasets on learners that have completed courses or programmes to other datasets which describe their outcomes in subsequent years. The data sources used to describe learner outcomes include employment and self-employment datasets from Revenue, benefits data from the Department of Social Protection, and data on educational participation from the Department of Education and several state agencies, including the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and SOLAS. As part of the strategic workforce planning function in the Department, my officials are exploring the potential of this database to examine the outcomes, including employment outcomes, for students of health and social care courses in Ireland.

Nursing details

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (647, 775)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

647. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health pursuant to Budget 2023, the timeline for when cariban will be made available on the drugs payment scheme and through the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49614/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

775. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if pregnant women and persons suffering from hyperemesis will need a prescription from an obstetric consultant prescription in order to access cariban free of charge; and the reason that the drug considered as a first-line treatment in HSE guidelines will not be free if prescribed by a GP. [50381/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 775 together.

As part of Budget 2023, I announced €32.2 million in funding for Women’s Health Initiatives in 2023, to include dedicated funding for Cariban. The dedicated funding for Cariban will help women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, during pregnancy.

The HSE asked the Medicines Management Programme to examine the appropriateness and feasibility of a patient specific arrangement for the product.

The HSE Medicines Management Programme assessment for Cariban has now been completed, and their recommendations will be followed in providing access to patients. Cariban will be funded from January 1st 2023.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (648)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

648. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of when non-HSE workers entitled to the Covid bonus payment will receive this payment. [49637/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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:

- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);

- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;

- Agency roles working in the HSE;

- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;

- Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

- 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.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (649)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

649. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the way young women who did not receive the HPV vaccine in schools can access the vaccine. [49638/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.

Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage.

In October 2021, my Department asked the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to consider the clinical effectiveness of providing the HPV vaccine to:

- girls and boys in secondary school who were eligible to receive HPV vaccine in 1st year but who did not receive it; and

- women up to the age of 25 years who have left secondary school and who did not receive the vaccine when eligible.

I can confirm that the NIAC has submitted its advices in relation to the HPV Vaccination Programme to my Department. As part of its advices, the NIAC noted that HPV vaccination should be prioritised for unvaccinated second level students and females under the age of 25 years.

In line with that advice, I have asked the HSE to provide an opportunity for all boys and girls in secondary schools who were previously eligible to receive the HPV vaccine and who have not yet, for whatever reason, received it, to now be offered the vaccine.

I have also asked the HSE to provide options on how best to introduce a catch-up programme for young women who have now left secondary school and who did not receive the vaccine when they were eligible.

I will be in a position to outline timeframes once the HSE has completed its examination of potential implementation options.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (650)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

650. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide mental health beds within County Tipperary; his further plans to ensure that persons in need of secure psychiatric beds are not transferred to services outside County Tipperary due to a lack of availability of these beds within the county; his views on such a case in County Tipperary in which persons have been transferred to facilities in Ennis or Kilkenny due to the fact there were no secure mental health beds available in the County; the measures that are being taken to alleviate these irregularities and to address the lack of mental health beds in general including secure mental health beds within County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49644/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (651)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

651. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the details of the current 12 month wait times for each children's disability network team in CHO9 that is, the number of children that are waiting for one, two, three, four and five plus years. [49658/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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 Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (652)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

652. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the reason for delay in a family (details supplied) receiving an appointment for a replacement paediatric neurology consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49659/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under 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.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (653)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

653. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies for the post of paediatric neurology consultant at University Hospital Limerick; the length of time that these positions have been vacant for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49660/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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 (654)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

654. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of positions for the post of paediatric neurology consultant at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49661/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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 (655)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

655. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed in the post of paediatric neurology consultant in each model 4 hospital in Ireland in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49662/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna (656)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

656. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the services that are currently being provided in each primary care centre in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49663/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí 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 (657)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

657. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the annual salary of a trainee clinical psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49665/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra
Awaiting reply from Department.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (658, 659)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

658. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the annual salary of a trainee counselling psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49666/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

659. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the annual salary of a trainee educational and child psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49667/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra
Awaiting reply from Department.
Question No. 659 answered with Question No. 658.
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