Written Answers Nos. 171-185
171. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of radiation therapists in Ireland; the steps that he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50495/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been agreed under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. 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.
172. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will conduct an independent review of radiation therapy to tackle issues of recruitment and retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50496/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been agreed under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. 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.
173. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who awaits an appointment with the neurology department of Cork University Hospital following a referral by the Bons Secours Hospital, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50520/22]
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.
174. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the role that his Department has played in the integration of Ukrainian refugees in communities; if his Department and agencies under his remit have had an involvement at local or national level in the response; the further steps that his Department intends to take to ensure that services are provided to assist with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50523/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response. Upon arrival, refugees from Ukraine are granted temporary protection status. Under this measure, they are considered ordinarily resident in Ireland for a limited time period and are entitled to access health care services, in line with other refugee groups and Irish citizens.
It is a priority for my Department and the HSE to ensure that Ukrainian refugees are provided with appropriate health and social care services. Ukrainian refugees are entitled to apply for a medical card to access primary care services for each adult and child dependent as well as ongoing care of priority medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illness. Over 40,000 medical cards have been granted to Ukrainian refugees to date. Ukrainian Refugees can also seek medical care while awaiting a medical card.
For those with urgent medical needs, healthcare services are provided through the public hospital system. Ukrainian refugees can also receive health care services including access to Covid-19 vaccinations, GPs, community care and hospital or emergency care, as well as access to services for children’s health, mental health, disabilities, maternity care, older people and many more.
The HSE has arranged a range of bespoke GP services for those accommodated in hotels and other settings. The exact model for each site varies, however all have access to GP Out-of-Hours services, while those staying in private accommodation can register with local GPs.
In addition, Ireland has organised 27 medical evacuations of Ukrainians in need of emergency care and provided €4.3 million in medical humanitarian donations for the Ukraine health system as part of the EU health response.
A HSE digital health questionnaire is now live for Ukrainian refugees to register. Medical cards are now linked with an Individual Health Identifier (IHI), through the PPS number assigned to the individual , which in turn will be linked in with the HSE digital health questionnaire. This will enable GPs to access information regarding their own individual patients.
Department of Health and the HSE officials maintain regular contact with counterparts in other Departments and agencies on an ongoing basis on a wide range of issues concerning the provision of services to Ukrainian refugees.
They meet representatives from the local authorities on a regular basis to discuss issues in relation to accommodation and services in the area, to support Ukrainian refugees, i.e. availability of Housing, GP services etc. The HSE is also represented on the Ukrainian community forums convened by local authorities.
The HSE assists Irish NGOs in the planning to bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and in the movement of people with disabilities from Ukrainian conflict zones. It meets with Disability Workstream (Umbrella Bodies, Red Cross, TUSLA, Heads of Disability HSE etc.) on a bi-weekly basis.
It is vital that we continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. My Department and the HSE will continue to work with colleagues across Government to ensure every health support we can provide is made available.
175. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment process for a centre (details supplied) to hire psychiatric nursing staff; the roles that are vacant; the stage that the recruitment process has reached; when the process is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50524/22]
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.
176. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if additional payments for pensioners announced in budget 2023 will be reflected in an increase in the threshold for applying for a medical card, or that additional cost-of-living payments will be disregarded in the calculation of means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50530/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the provisions that will be put in place to allow for the upcoming social welfare pension increases and for those over 70 years-old full medical card holders who will now exceed the threshold due to this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50546/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 178 together.
Medical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. The HSE assesses each 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 and is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Regarding persons aged 70 or older, the medical card assessment is based on gross income. The weekly gross income thresholds for eligibility to a medical card for those aged 70 and over were increased in November 2020 and are currently €550 per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple. However, It should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
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. The means assessment determines an applicant’s eligibility allowing for taking account of one’s eligible expenses from their income. Given that this is a net assessment, it means that where one’s income or allowable expenses change there will be an impact on the decision about one’s eligibility. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, insurance, childcare, maintenance, nursing home costs, (detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/file-library/medical-cards/medical-cards-national-assessment-guidelines.pdf).
It is important to note that certain social welfare payments are not included in the means assessment for a medical card. Changes to the rates in Budget 2023 include changes to these non-assessed payments and, therefore, changes will not have any bearing on the outcome of a medical card assessment. For other social welfare payments that are assessed as income for a medical card, it is noted that the increase in the rates in Budget 2023 would not be expected to make a substantial difference to the outcome of the assessment process.
I can assure the Deputies 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 are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
177. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently provide home help hours to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has recently been discharged from hospital. [50541/22]
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.
179. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of senior occupational therapists who work with the children’s disability network teams, CDNTs; the number of days that they are employed; the number of children who attended this service; the number waiting to be seen by the occupational therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50552/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of individual family service plans that have been produced within the CDNT 5 and south Tipperary to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50553/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
181. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when the National Screening Advisory Committee is expected to present its recommendations for the expansion of population-based screening programmes following its annual call for changes to screening services in November 2021; if he intends to accept NSAC's recommendations; the likely timeframe to implement any expansion of the screening programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50555/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra182. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when the National Screening Advisory Committee is expected to make its second annual call for changes to be made to population-based screening programmes in Ireland; if the recommendations from the first annual call launched in November 2021 will be available before the second call is announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50556/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.
I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Any decisions about changes to the screening programmes, such as further widening the age eligibility, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The Committee's first Annual Call in 2021 for proposals for new screening programmes or changes to our existing programmes, received a significant response with a total of 53 submissions received. Submissions were received from various sources, including members of the public and patient advocates, and have been undergoing consideration by the committee at its scheduled meetings during 2022. The NSAC intends to publish its full work programme in the coming weeks.
I am pleased to note, however, that the Committee has already made some decisions, including in relation to the existing national cancer screening programmes. Following submissions from several sources, including from BreastCheck, the Committee has asked HIQA to begin looking at the evidence for extending the age range for breast screening. It has also asked HIQA to look at the age range for bowel screening.
Additionally, the Committee made a recommendation to me for the adoption of a clinical guideline in the BowelScreen programme, that was submitted by BowelScreen via the Annual Call, which I approved in March 2022.
Progress has also been achieved in the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) programme. A ninth condition (ADA-SCID) was added to the NBS programme in May 2022, following a recommendation from the National Screening Advisory Committee which I approved in 2020.
A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to look at the evidence for the addition of a tenth condition (called SCID) is currently underway, and I am looking forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee before the end of 2022.
The second NSAC Annual Call is expected to open in November 2022 and will welcome proposals from the public and healthcare professionals. Further details will be published on the NSAC website shortly.
183. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive his or her full allocation of 15 hours per week home support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50575/22]
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.
184. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 12 October 2021, the status of proposed legislation for parents who have children through surrogacy; if such legislation will include a provision for maternity leave for mothers through a streamlined service that ensures both parents are legally recognised as such, retrospect parentage for those mothers who have been granted just guardianship to date and measures to reduce the substantial legal costs involved for the parents concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50576/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra185. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 12 October 2021, the status of proposed legislation for parents who have children through surrogacy; if such legislation will include a provision for maternity leave for mothers through a streamlined service that ensures both parents are legally recognised as such, retrospective parentage for those mothers who have been granted just guardianship to date and measures to reduce the substantial legal costs involved for the parents concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50577/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 (AHR Bill) passed Second Stage in the Dáil on March 23rd 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage.
This legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction, including domestic altruistic surrogacy. I wish to progress this much-needed and long-awaited piece of historic legislation as quickly as possible to ensure that a robust regulatory framework for AHR is in place.
It is not within the scope of the AHR legislation to include provisions in respect of statutory leave. Responsibility for various forms of family-related leave comes under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth and that Department has informed my officials that legislative changes in respect of all forms of family leave must be developed in the context of the broader legal situation concerning parentage or pertaining to any other relevant issue.
As Minister for Health, I have no role in the matter of the level of legal costs which may be incurred in relation to the undertaking of an individual surrogacy agreement or any court applications arising from such an arrangement. I am of the view that matters of such importance as the determination of the parentage of a child born through surrogacy should be decided by an appropriate court.
The published Bill does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions. International surrogacy raises complex ethical questions concerning areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments and require detailed examination. The issues which arise from Irish people engaging in cross-border surrogacy primarily relate to parentage, guardianship, citizenship and, potentially, adoption.
Following the publication of the Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy’s Final Report, a working Inter-Departmental Group was established to review the Report’s recommendations, along with other relevant matters, with the aim of determining an agreed policy position and suitable next steps, in the form of a unified Policy Paper and, as appropriate, legislative proposals.
Any policy and legislative proposals that may arise following the completion of the Departments’ examination of the Committee’s recommendations will require consideration and approval by Government. However, the clear intention of the Group, and Minister McEntee, Minister O’Gorman and myself, is that the appropriate vehicle for accommodating legislative proposals in respect of international surrogacy will be through the insertion of relevant provisions into the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 at Committee Stage.
