Pearse Doherty
Ceist:691. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2023 if the number of training places for GPs increased to 293. [51237/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Research and Training
Ceisteanna (691)
Freagraí scríofa
The HSE takes several factors into consideration when making its annual assessment of the number and type of specialist training places required within each specialty including but not limited to, future medical workforce planning projections, the number currently in training and the training capacity within the health system.
The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026. Until then, the annual increases in training places will be determined on an annual basis by the training capacity of the health system.
The annual year one cost of a doctor on the GP Training Scheme is approximately €100,000. With 258 places filled for the July 2022-23 training year, an increase to 293 places would create an additional 35 places.
Based on these figures, the cost of increasing the trainee intake to 293 places in 2023 would be approximately €3.5 million.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (692)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:692. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if access to out-of-hours and weekend cover for mental health services is available in the County Donegal catchment area of the HSE, including nursing, psychology and other allied health services; if so, if he will provide details of these services, by WTE, across each discipline. [51238/22]
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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (693)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:693. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the reason counselling psychologists are included in the budget 2023 announcement of €750,000 to support counselling and psychology training places, but not educational psychologists, given they both train and are qualified to work in mental health services post qualification. [51242/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
The Department of Health will continue to work collaboratively with the Department of Education and other Government Departments as required on the issue of workforce planning for health and social care professionals, including on future planning in terms of psychology education, training, and placement. This approach will support the implementation of Sharing the Vision.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (694)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:694. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time and part-time radiographers based at Ennis General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51245/22]
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 Admissions
Ceisteanna (695)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:695. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a place in NRH Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51247/22]
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.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (696)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:696. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the names of all special advisers working in his Department; the Minister and Minister of State who each adviser is associated with and their respective salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51258/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The requested information on special advisers in my Department is available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ad159-special-advisers-pay/
Minister Butler's advisor Kate Mitchell is currently being replaced by Corona Joyce who will be appointed on the first point of the payscale.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (697)
Seán Canney
Ceist:697. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on patients in public nursing homes being charged €100 for transport between one hospital and another for a scope, especially in light of the removal of inpatient hospital charges; if he recognises many such patients are already contributing much of their non-contributory State pension towards their care and are left with little real income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- Bed and board;
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
- Laundry service.
Costs not covered by the NHSS include those individually incurred for items like social activities, newspapers and hairdressing. This may also include medical services such as therapies and some medical equipment. A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home. In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS, as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same service.
It is important to state that residents of nursing homes should enjoy the same levels of support and access to services as when they lived in their own homes. It is acknowledged that the reason they require 24 hour levels of support is due to their level of dependency, which in turn may require access to clinical services including hospital and other outpatient appointments in the community. The HSE provides for a level of Intermediate Care Vehicles, which are used predominantly for non-emergency transport between acute hospitals for admission and discharge purposes. They would be reserved for those who would need specific support in transport. In other cases, normal transport arrangements apply. These arrangements (e.g. wheelchair taxi) are normally funded by the individual.
Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, as set out above. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory).
The Department of Health is currently reviewing the available evidence and considering various policy options with relation to nursing home charges.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (698)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:698. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health when therapies will be reinstated for two children (details supplied) through either an organisation or the east Meath disability team in Ashbourne. [51277/22]
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.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (699)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:699. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the budget 2022 allocations relating to disability services that currently remain unspent, in tabular form; if these allocations will be spent by the end of December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51279/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (700)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:700. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of personal assistant hours delivered each month to date in 2022, in tabular form; the number of people receiving these hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51280/22]
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.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (701)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:701. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of personal assistant hours to be delivered in 2023, in tabular form; the number of people who will receive these hours; the budgetary allocation for these hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51281/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question concerns service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (702, 703)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:702. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of new day support services that were delivered each month to date in 2022 to disabled persons, in tabular form; the number of people receiving these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51282/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMary Lou McDonald
Ceist:703. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of new day support services to be delivered in 2023 to disabled persons, in tabular form; the total number of people who will receive these service hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 702 and 703 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 703 answered with Question No. 702.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (704, 705)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:704. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of people moved out of congregated settings each month to date in 2022, in tabular form; the cost of this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51284/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMary Lou McDonald
Ceist:705. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of people who moved out of congregated settings in 2023, in tabular form; the cost of this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51285/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 704 and 705 together.
As the particular issues raised are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 705 answered with Question No. 704.
Care Services
Ceisteanna (706)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:706. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of people inappropriately living in nursing homes who were supported to move to appropriate living options in each month to date in 2022, in tabular form; the details of these options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51286/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this relates to a service matter, I am referring it to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Care Services
Ceisteanna (707)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:707. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of people under the age of 65 years to be supported to move out of inappropriate nursing home settings in 2023, in tabular form; the cost of this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51287/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Ombudsman’s Report ‘Wasted Lives’ looks at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.
We know that nursing homes are an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home. However, for some people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
A range of services are being supported that can facilitate young people with serious disabilities live fuller, more independent lives. Measures to prevent young persons from entering nursing homes continue to be supported through a range of services including respite, home support and personal assistance services.
There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes. In this context, work has been ongoing with the HSE to address nursing home care of people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere. In 2021 this Government provided for a Pilot Scheme as part of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) to enable 18 people, with an investment of €3m, under the age of 65yrs to transition to their own home with support.
The HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5 million in 2022 to support further transitions to more appropriate placements in the community. Discussions on the HSE National Service Plan 2023 will commence shortly with the HSE and activity for 2023 will be determined in that context.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (708)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:708. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the €29.3 million budget 2023 disability funding for new developments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51288/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032 and it is intended to address the capacity deficits in a phased approach over this period. This reflects the obligation under the UNCRPD for progressive implementation of social, cultural and economic rights.
In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services. This Group has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan, which will be an implementation plan for the first phase, is currently being finalised for approval.
In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. This year, the overall Budget for disability services in 2023 will be €2.4 billion, including a significant level of funding for specialist disability services. Building on the previous year, this is an unprecedented level of funding for Disability services. It follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.
The following increased funding has been provided for 2023.
|
Funding |
Measure |
|
€109m |
To support existing levels of service |
|
€4.3m |
Digital Initiatives/Disability Awareness and Participation Fund |
|
€25m |
Building Capacity (Core Services) |
|
€39m |
One off Costs associated with activity during Covid-19 |
A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based voluntary organisations who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country. This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs. These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community. Details of the fund including its administration are being finalised.
The HSE, in preparing its National Service Plan, will examine how services, including relevant KPIs, can be progressed in 2023 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.
Ministerial Responsibilities
Ceisteanna (709, 710)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:709. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the completion of the transfer of disability functions from his Department to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51289/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMary Lou McDonald
Ceist:710. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason the transfer of disability functions from his Department to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has been delayed; when the matters related to this delay will be resolved; if he will provide a timeframe for the transfer of disability functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51290/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 709 and 710 together.
Officials in the Department of Health and the officials in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) have been working intensively to give effect to the transfer of the Specialist Community Based Disability Services (SCBDS). This has been a complex process involving primary legislation, the development of administrative arrangements and a financial governance model.
The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 was signed by the President on the 12th of April 2022 and provides the overarching legislative framework for the transfer.
The Department of Health and DCEDIY are working together with the HSE, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to finalise outstanding governance and policy matters in order to facilitate the transfer within the shortest possible timeframe.
Question No. 710 answered with Question No. 709.