Written Answers Nos. 201-215
201. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline the number of additional mental health beds funded in budget 2023, excluding beds previously funded and not yet delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50656/22]
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.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions will now take place with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023, including that for Mental Health.
202. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of additional community beds funded in Budget 2023, excluding beds previously-funded and not yet delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50657/22]
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
203. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a line-item breakdown, beyond the summary of measures, of the €254.4 million in new measures funding allocated to his Department, detailing the cost estimate and implementation timelines for each measure to which new measures funding was allocated in Budget 2023, in tabular form. [50658/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe additional Core allocation to the Health Vote in Budget 2023 was €1,150m, comprising €896m to maintain Existing Levels of Service (ELS), and €254m for New Service Developments. Of the €254m allocated to New Service Developments, €240m relates to the Health Service Executive, and €14m relates to the Department of Health and other (non-HSE) agencies. Along with my response to the Deputy’s question, I have provided a separate breakdown of the additional funding allocated to these developments in 2023.
204. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the conversion of multitask assistant and household domestic staff and catering grades to healthcare assistant grades at Dungarvan Community Hospital; the number of posts which have been converted; the number of outstanding posts; the number of domestic grade posts which have been converted; the number of outstanding claims from domestic grade posts; the manner in which claims from domestic grade posts is being handled; if domestic-grade post workers who are performing HCA work and hold the requisite FETAC level 5 qualification will be upgraded to HCA posts; the number of meetings held with trade unions regarding this; the outcome of said meetings; the number of occasions on which Dungarvan Community Hospital management has requested upgraded posts for domestic-grade workers; the number of occasions on which these were refused, and by whom they were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50659/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
205. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an urgent hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50660/22]
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.
206. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a child (details supplied) who is awaiting an autism assessment at a centre in Limerick following a referral ten months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50664/22]
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.
207. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients under the GMS that are registered with a primary healthcare centre (details supplied); the number of GPs registered at this centre; the number of patients per GP; and the average waiting time for an in-person consultation. [50667/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract for the provision of GP services without charge on behalf of the HSE for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. People who do not have a medical card or GP visit card attend their GP on a private basis, as such the HSE does not hold information on the number of private patients listed with individual GPs. Furthermore, as GPs are private practitioners, the HSE has no role in relation to the scheduling of consultations at individual GP practices.
I have ask the HSE to provide the Deputy with information regarding the GP service at the primary care centre concerned, as soon as possible.
208. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the rates of the blind welfare allowance, in view of the 12% increase in taxi fares which came into effect on 1 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50669/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supplementary Blind Welfare Allowance is a means tested weekly payment paid by the HSE to eligible recipients who are blind or visually impaired and who are aged 18 years and over.
The adult weekly rate is of this Allowance in under review in the context of Budget 2023 measures.
209. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the engagements that he has had with the Mental Health Commission on the proposed closure of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton in either 2021 or 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50670/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mental Health Commission is an independent statutory body established under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 2001. Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the Mental Health Commission is required to inspect and regulate all approved centres across the country at least once a year.
The Mental Health Commission in its recent inspection reports identified numerous risks associated with this centre.
The decision not to proceed with refurbishment of Owenacurra was made by HSE CHO 4, in consultation with HSE Estates. The Deputy will appreciate that as the HSE has statutory responsibility for the planning and delivery of health services, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, to become directly involved in this operational matter. However, since I was informed of the HSE decision to close Owenacurra, I have been liaising with them as appropriate to ensure all decisions and actions taken are made with the best interests of the residents in mind, both from a health and safety viewpoint and from the provision of appropriate treatments and supports.
On the broader front, Department of Health officials have regular Governance meetings with the Mental Health Commission to review relevant issues at a high level, including monitoring the issue raised in this instance.
I acknowledge that mental health services must evolve to ensure they are in line with international best practice and regulatory requirements. It is positive to note that there has been an overall improvement in Mental Health Commission compliance among approved mental health centres in recent years. However, I and the HSE recognise that further improvements are required generally in our approved centres to meet appropriate regulatory requirements. This objective is in line with the objectives of Sharing the Vision and the significant funding given to Mental Health over recent years, including under Budget 2023.
The Government and I value the role of the Mental Health Commission as an independent regulator and their commitment to promoting high standards and good practice in mental health services. We remain, in conjunction with the HSE, fully committed to the delivery of high-quality, person-centred, and recovery oriented mental health care. This needs to take account, as appropriate, of many factors including a balance between promoting high standards, operational requirements and identified service needs.
The Deputy can rest assured that I will continue to closely monitor, as appropriate, this issue.
210. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the engagements that he has had with the Mental Health Commission on the inpatient acute psychiatric ward in Bantry Hospital in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50671/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Mental Health Act 2001, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) is required to inspect and regulate all approved centres across the country at least once a year. The Government values the independent role of the MHC, which is to promote high standards and good practice in mental health services.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission has made a decision to put a restriction on the registration of the Mental Health Care and Recovery Approved Centre in Bantry General Hospital, reducing its total number of registered beds from 18 to 11, due to their concern over the size of resident’s bedrooms. Since I was informed of the Commission’s decision, I have been liaising with the HSE to ensure all decisions and actions taken are made with the best interests of the residents in mind, both from a health and safety viewpoint and from the provision of appropriate high quality treatments and supports.
On 16 September 2022, I was advised by the HSE of their intention to appeal the MHC decision to put a restriction on the centre in Bantry. The Deputy will appreciate that as this is now a matter before the District Court, and in light of the independent role of the MHC, it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister, to become involved in individual cases involving the Commission.
On the broader front, I acknowledge that mental health services must evolve to ensure they are in line with international best practice and regulatory requirements. It is positive to note? that there has been an overall improvement in compliance among approved mental health centres nationally in recent years. However, I recognise that further improvements are required generally in our approve?d centres to meet appropriate regulatory requirements. The Government and the HSE are therefore fully committed to the delivery of high-quality, person-centred, recovery oriented mental health services. This needs to take account, as appropriate, of many factors including a balance between promoting high standards, operational requirements and identified service needs.
The Deputy can rest assured that I will continue to closely monitor, as appropriate, this issue.
211. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 14 September 2022, the dates that clinical staff members based in Garnish House, Cork were informed of the decision by the HSE to vacate the property in Q1 of 2023; the format and context that this information was conveyed to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50672/22]
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.
212. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 14 September 2022, the dates that residents of Garnish House, Cork were informed of the decision by the HSE to vacate the property in Q1 of 2023; the format and context that this information was conveyed to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50673/22]
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.
213. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 593 of 14 September 2022, the dates that senior clinician managers of allied health disciplines and nursing managers, for example, with responsibility for Garnish House, Cork were informed of the decision by the HSE to vacate the property no later than the end of Q1 of 2023; the format and context that this information was conveyed to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50674/22]
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.
214. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 529 of 20 September 2022, if members of the national HSE executive management team were offered first dose Covid-19 vaccines in 2021 as part of the national roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine programme to HSE staff, or as part of a separate scheduling process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50675/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if senior HSE management, including chief officers, heads of service and area administrators, across CHOs were offered first-dose Covid-19 vaccines in 2021 as part of the national roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine programme to HSE staff, or as part of a separate scheduling process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50676/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if mental health service heads of discipline across CHOs were offered first dose Covid-19 vaccines in 2021 as part of the national roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine programme to HSE staff, or as part of a separate scheduling process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50677/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 216 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
