Written Answers Nos. 660-678
660. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken by his Department to address the disparity in funding for trainee psychologists in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49683/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health services. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short and medium-term measures in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, enhancing the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enabling us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2023.
In relation to the HSE Mental Health care programme, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training. Further detailed discussions will now take place between the Department and HSE to progress both this and wider commitments of the 2023 Budget in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023. In addition, the Department of Health has been advised by the Department of Education that the Minister for Education and her Department very much value the work of all educational psychologists across the education system. I understand they are working proactively and intensively to find a positive resolution for the issue of fees for trainee educational psychologists.
661. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his proposed exclusion zones of 100 metres surrounding abortion-providing buildings would have the impact of banning a pro-life march, such as an annual march (details supplied); if the high volume of potential exclusion zones in a compact area such as Dublin city centre would effectively result in banning any future pro-life marches in a scenario if such a march were to pass along a public thoroughfare which was within the reach of one of the designated 100-metre zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49687/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to ensuring that anyone needing a termination of pregnancy can access services in safety, and with privacy and dignity.
Safe Access Zones Legislation has been prioritised in the Government’s Autumn Legislative Programme, and the General Scheme of a Bill was referred to the Health Committee for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on 19th September 2022.
In advancing this legislation, careful consideration has been given to developing proposals that balance a range of rights, including the right to protest, while ensuring the legitimate aim to protect the right of a woman to access termination of pregnancy services with privacy and dignity is achieved.
Officials in my Department are engaging intensively with the Office of the Attorney General and relevant stakeholders to progress this legislation as expeditiously as possible.
662. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a private conversation in which one party advised a third-party known to them not to proceed with having an abortion were to happen within a coffee shop or other neutral setting which happened to fall within his proposed 100-metre exclusion zone of abortion-providing buildings would be considered in breach of the proposed law and lead to possible criminal penalty. [49688/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to ensuring that anyone needing a termination of pregnancy can access services in safety, and with privacy and dignity.
Safe Access Zones Legislation has been prioritised in the Government’s Autumn Legislative Programme, and the General Scheme of a Bill was referred to the Health Committee for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on 19th September 2022.
In advancing this legislation, careful consideration has been given to developing proposals that balance a range of rights, while ensuring the legitimate aim to protect the right of a woman to access termination of pregnancy services with privacy and dignity is achieved.
Officials in my Department are engaging intensively with the Office of the Attorney General and relevant stakeholders to progress this legislation as expeditiously as possible.
663. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered funding trainee HSE child psychologists as is done for clinical psychologists and those on counselling doctorate courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49707/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health services. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short and medium-term measures in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, enhancing the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enabling us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2023.
In relation to the HSE Mental Health care programme, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training. Further detailed discussions will now take place between the Department and HSE to progress both this and wider commitments of the 2023 Budget in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023. In addition, the Department of Health has been advised by the Department of Education that the Minister for Education and her Department very much value the work of all educational psychologists across the education system. I understand they are working proactively and intensively to find a positive resolution for the issue of fees for trainee educational psychologists.
In terms of the issues raised by the Deputy, it should be noted that there is no specific professional grade of ‘child psychologist’ within the HSE. Only three types of psychologist are recognised by the HSE, namely Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist and Educational Psychologist.
664. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he plans to increase medical card thresholds in line with the recently announced increase in social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49726/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account, i.e., mortgage payments, which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. On 1 November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple. This increase ensures that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over now qualify for a medical card.
However, I can advise the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues, including the current medical card income thresholds under review and any changes that may be required are considered in the context of Government policy, and other issues which may be relevant.
665. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he intends to remove carer’s payments from the income calculations for over 70s medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49727/22]
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.
666. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of nursing registration for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49735/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to an operational matter, I have asked the NMBI to respond directly to the Deputy.
667. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an emergency medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) who suffers from a life-threatening illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49736/22]
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.
668. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when agency staff that are still waiting on their Covid bonus payment will receive same (details supplied). [49739/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. 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.
669. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the average length spent on the waiting list for PrEP after a referral has been sent to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49764/22]
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.
670. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for when rental income from renting out the family home will be deemed exempt under the fair deal scheme, given the significant number of persons who are holding applications back until the commencement has been announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49791/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has approved a policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, also known as “Fair Deal”, to remove disincentive for participants in the Scheme to rent out their principal residence after they have entered long term residential care. The rate of assessment for rental income from all principal residences will be reduced from 80% to 40%. 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. It is expected that the necessary administrative and operational changes will soon be in place and the amendment will become fully operational shortly thereafter.
671. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the special pandemic recognition award will be paid to the eligible private sector and section 39 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49807/22]
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 frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/non-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.
Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
672. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will remedy the lack of services provided to a child (details supplied) after being privately diagnosed with ASD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49815/22]
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.
673. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when the independent radiation therapist review will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49817/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn 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.
674. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when the review process in relation to the role of radiation therapists will be concluded; if his attention has been drawn to there being no review of the service and working conditions for radiation therapists for 20 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49819/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn 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.
675. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the funding that is available within his Department for charitable organisations that provide support for persons suffering from mental health illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49826/22]
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.
676. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the trainee educational and child psychologist programme is now the only type of psychologist training programme which is not Government funded; his plans to deal with this very unfair anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49828/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health services. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short and medium-term measures in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. It will enhance the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery. The funding will enable us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2023.
In relation to the HSE Mental Health care programme, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training. Further detailed discussions will now take place between the Department and HSE to progress both this and wider commitments of the 2023 Budget in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023. In addition, the Department of Health has been advised by the Department of Education that the Minister for Education and her Department very much value the work of all educational psychologists across the education system. I understand they are working proactively and intensively to find a positive resolution for the issue of fees for trainee educational psychologists.
In terms of the issues raised by the Deputy, it should be noted that there is no specific professional grade of ‘child psychologist’ within the HSE. Only three types of psychologist are recognised by the HSE, namely Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist and Educational Psychologist.
677. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49831/22]
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.
678. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on funding the PhD in educational psychology to emulate the subsidised training for clinical psychologists during which trainees and related doctorate programmes are paid in order to ensure that all trainees and students are treated fairly financially to help address the shortage in psychologists in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49832/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health services. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short and medium-term measures in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, enhancing the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enabling us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2023.
In relation to the HSE Mental Health care programme, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training. Further detailed discussions will now take place between the Department and HSE to progress both this and wider commitments of the 2023 Budget in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023. In addition, the Department of Health has been advised by the Department of Education that the Minister for Education and her Department very much value the work of all educational psychologists across the education system. I understand they are working proactively and intensively to find a positive resolution for the issue of fees for trainee educational psychologists.
