Written Answers Nos. 751-770
751. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the provisions that are in place to continue the care of a person (details supplied) who requires home support services but cannot avail of it due to the lack of expressions of interest from approved providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51435/22]
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.
752. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1575 of 14 June 2022, if he will provide an update on the delivery of beds and planned for delivery under the given headers, including any additional beds planned under the winter plan 2022/2023 or funded in Budget 2023, in tabular form; the timeframe for delivery of outstanding beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51445/22]
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.
753. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason that mammograms cease for women at the age of 69 years when the incidents of breast cancer are higher over the age of 70 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51455/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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.
I am pleased to advise, in line within the Programme for Government commitments, that BreastCheck have implemented the age-extension project to women aged from 50 to 69 years. International evidence shows that due to incidence and mortality from breast cancer in this age group, it is effective to screen women in this age range. The evidence also shows that the benefits of screening that can be gained by women in this age group outweigh the harms.
It is important to note that any future decisions about changes to population-based screening programmes, including BreastCheck, will be made on the advice of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This is an independent expert group which considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria and makes recommendations to the Minister for Health. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards.
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, and have been undergoing consideration by the committee at its scheduled meetings during 2022. I am pleased to note, however, that the Committee has already made a decision in relation to breast cancer screening. Following submissions from several sources, including from BreastCheck, the Committee has asked HIQA to begin looking at the evidence for extending the age range from 45 to 49 and 70 to 74 years for breast screening.
Updated EU Council recommendations on cancer screening were recently adopted by the European Commission, and the final recommendations are expected to be formally approved and published by the EU Council in December 2022. The NSAC will consider the final updated Council recommendation and advise the Minister and Department of Health on the evidence as it applies to the population in Ireland.
The NSAC intends to publish its full work programme in the coming weeks.
754. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for surgery in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51461/22]
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.
755. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a child (details supplied) who is awaiting a surgery appointment at University Hospital Limerick to have tonsils removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51469/22]
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.
756. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Sláinte an féidir leis an t-eolas is déanaí a chur ar fáil faoin dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh chun an post buan mar dhochtúir teaghlaigh ar an gCeathrú Rua a líonadh.; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [51477/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs cleachtóirí féinfhostaithe iad Dochtúirí Teaghlaigh agus dá bhrí sin is féidir leo cleachtais a bhunú in áit a roghnaíonn siad féin. Níl aon chóimheas forordaithe dochtúirí teaghlaigh le hothair agus ní rialaíonn an Stát líon na ndochtúirí teaghlaigh is féidir leo dul i mbun oibre i mbaile nó i bpobal.
Sa chás go gceaptar go bhfuil folúntas GP GMS le teacht chun cinn i gcleachtas, cuirtear FSS ar an eolas roimh ré agus bíonn baint ghníomhach aige leis an bpróiseas earcaíochta chun dochtúir teaghlaigh ionaid a aimsiú. Amhail an 1 Deireadh Fómhair, tá 25 folúntas ann ar fud na tíre, díreach faoi 1 faoin gcéad de líon iomlán na bpainéal GMS.
Tá sé curtha in iúl ag FSS gur fógraíodh an post GP GMS ar an gCeathrú Rua, a bhí folamh i mí na Nollag 2021, ceithre huaire ach níor éirigh leis. Tá seirbhís GP ionaid fós sa cheantar agus mar sin níor cuireadh isteach ar sheirbhísí d'othair. Leanfar d'iarrachtaí chun an post a líonadh tríd an Scéim GMS áfach.
Tá an Rialtas ar an eolas faoi shaincheisteanna an lucht saothair a bhfuil aghaidh á tabhairt orthu faoi láthair i gcleachtas ginearálta, lena n-áirítear rochtain theoranta ar sheirbhísí Dochtúirí Teaghlaigh i gceantair thuaithe áirithe, agus tá roinnt beart curtha i bhfeidhm aige chun earcaíocht agus coinneáil i gcleachtas ginearálta a fheabhsú.
Faoi Chomhaontú Dochtúirí Teaghlaigh 2019 tá méadú €206.6m tagtha ar chaiteachas bliantúil ar chleachtas ginearálta agus táthar ag súil leis go méadófar é go €211.6m in aghaidh na bliana an bhliain seo chugainn nuair a chuirfear an Comhaontú i bhfeidhm go hiomlán. Foráiltear leis an gComhaontú do mhéadú ar tháillí caipitíochta do dhochtúirí teaghlaigh, do sheirbhísí breise, do shocruithe teaghlaigh feabhsaithe chomh maith le ciste €2 milliún spriocdhírithe chun tacú le cleachtais i limistéir uirbeacha díothacha.
Tugadh isteach pacáiste tacaíochtaí feabhsaithe do chleachtais GP tuaithe roimhe seo chun tacú le Dochtúirí Teaghlaigh tuaithe; tá méadú 10% tagtha ar na tacaíochtaí sin faoi Chomhaontú Dochtúirí Teaghlaigh 2019. Ina theannta sin, meallann na cleachtais a fhaigheann tacaíochtaí cleachtais tuaithe na huasrátaí incheadaithe le haghaidh fóirdheontais tacaíochta foirne cleachtais agus ranníocaíochtaí ionaid le haghaidh saoire a thógáil.
Ina theannta sin, tá méadú leanúnach tagtha ar líon na ndochtúirí atá ag dul faoi oiliúint mar dhochtúirí teaghlaigh le blianta beaga anuas, ag ardú ó 120 in 2009 go 258 in 2022. Tar éis aistriú oiliúna Dochtúirí Teaghlaigh chuig an ICGP anuraidh, tá sé mar aidhm ag an ICGP 350 áit oiliúna a bheith ar fáil d'iontrálaithe nua gach bliain faoi 2026.
Tiocfaidh méadú ar líon na nDochtúirí Teaghlaigh atá ag obair sa Stát mar thoradh ar na bearta sin, rud a fheabhsóidh an rochtain ar sheirbhísí Dochtúirí Teaghlaigh d'othair ar fud na tíre.
757. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Citizens’ Assembly on drug use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51481/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has established two concurrent citizens' assemblies; one dealing with biodiversity loss and the other with the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. It is proposed that a Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use and the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education will directly follow these two assemblies, if learnings from the concurrent running of assemblies suggest that this operational model is the best way forward.
In line with this decision, the Department of Health has commenced preparations for the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use, and, to this end, detailed discussions regarding the assembly took place at recent meetings of the National Oversight Committee for the National Drugs Strategy.
Officials from the Department of Health have engaged with counterparts in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine how the voices and perspectives of young people on issues regarding drug policy may be collated and presented to the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use. Topics under consideration include an examination of how drug use impacts young people’s lives, and that of their families, friends and communities, as well as their own views on the use of drugs and how young people could be better informed regarding drug use.
These preparations are being undertaken to ensure that there will be no delay in establishing the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use when the two existing assemblies complete their work.
It is a strategic priority for the remaining four years of the national drugs strategy to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. The Government is implementing the health diversion programme, which offers compassion, not punishment to people who are in possession of drugs for personal use. This programme aligns with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan, 2021 – 2025, which actively encourages Member States to scale up alternatives to coercive sanctions and to monitor and evaluate their effectiveness for drug using offenders and for people arrested, charged with or convicted for drug-related offences or people found in possession of drugs for personal use.
I welcome the contribution of the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use to the government's health-led response to drug use. Drug use affects all members of society, whether directly or indirectly, and imposes very significant social and financial costs. I believe that involving citizens in decision-making on drugs policy is relevant and informative.
758. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of long-Covid care for young persons and children. [51482/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra759. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of members of multidisciplinary teams by speciality who are supporting young persons affected by long-Covid in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51483/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra760. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 12 years diagnosed with long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51484/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 758 to 760, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
761. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he and or the HSE plans to modernise and or update the mental health protocols for public health nurses in the course of engaging mothers of newly born children in the post birth care and follow-up care. [51491/22]
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.
762. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will have this reviewed in view of recent tragic events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51493/22]
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.
763. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details with respect to a previous statement on Section 56 organisations that pay restoration in relation to organisations funded through section 39 was applied to organisations who met certain specific criteria (details supplied); if he will detail the way this criterion was developed and the person or body that was involved in developing it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51497/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2018, an agreement was reached by the parties at the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a process of pay restoration for staff employed in Section 39 organisations who met certain criteria, rather than types of individual workers that are employed in them. Only organisations who received in excess of an agreed, specified amount from the HSE by way of the Service Level Agreement process were included.
The criteria were developed as part of the Industrial Relations process and agreed between the parties.
764. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation regarding beneficiaries of the nursing home support scheme; the way in which the balance of nursing home fees under the scheme are eligible for tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51499/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone, and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.Participants within the NHSS contribute up to 80% of their income (40% if part of a couple) and 7.5% per annum of the value of their assets (3.75% if part of a couple). The first €36,000 (€72,000 if part of a couple) is excluded from assessment. The value of a person's principal residence is only assessed for contributions for their first three years on the scheme.Provisions exist in the legislation to allow certain deductions from the financial assessment when calculating an applicant’s contribution to care. The definition of ‘Allowable Deduction’ in relation to income as per the legislation includes the following:(i) income tax required by law to be deducted or paid from income(ii) social insurance contributions(iii) levies required by law to be paid(iv) payments in respect of interest on monies borrowed for the purchase, repair or improvement of the principal private residence of the person (v) health expenses to which Section 469 of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 applies(vi) payments in respect of the maintenance of a child, a spouse or a former spouse under a separation agreement less the amount of any relief from income tax which may be claimed in respect of such payments(The above should be read in conjunction with the Legislation and the National Guidelines. The full text of the legislation can be accessed by following this link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/15/enacted/en/print.html).
A range of health expenses can be deducted by the HSE when calculating the weekly contribution. These expenses must meet Revenue guidelines on qualifying health expenses. The full list of allowable expenses is available in the Revenue Commissioners “Tax and Duty Manual – Health Qualifying Expenses” which is available at the following link: www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/health-and-age/health-expenses/what-are-qualifying-expenses.aspx. The Revenue Commissioners is responsible for the collection, oversight and management of income tax and specific queries in relation to taxation and tax reliefs should be addressed directly to Revenue or made in consultation with an accountant/tax professional.
765. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation as regards the revised arrangements under the fair deal nursing home support scheme as regards the treatment of working farms and the way this asset is assessed in circumstances where the farm is in a long-term lease as part of a farm partnership arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51500/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted in July 2021 to cap contributions on farm and business assets at three years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset. The stated policy objective of the legislation is to introduce additional safeguards in the NHSS to protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses that will be passed down to the next generation of the family to continue to work them as productive assets to provide for their livelihood. In order to qualify for the relief offered under the legislation, a member of the family would have to be actively working the farm and also commit to working the productive asset for a substantial part of their working time for a period of six years. The reliefs offered are also subject to certain other conditions being met. Regarding a long-term lease arrangement, whether a farm partnership arrangement is eligible to receive the reliefs offered is conditional upon the criteria outlined in the legislation being met. Further advice in respect of this can be obtained from a local Nursing Homes Support Scheme Office.
766. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the figures for occupancy and waiting lists for a palliative care bed at a hospital (details supplied) in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51507/22]
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.
767. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to recruit more radiotherapy nurses in hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51515/22]
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.
768. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to there being no adult speech and language therapy for adults with intellectual disabilities in south Tipperary resulting in no referrals to the service being accepted; and his Department’s plans to address this lack of service. [51521/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
769. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if a disabled person will lose their entitlement to their medical card if they are accepted for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51533/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. 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.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
I can assure 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 proposed changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
I can advise the Deputy that, since 1st December 2018, the medical card earnings disregard for persons in receipt of a Disability Allowance was increased from €120 to €427 per week and applies to the assessment process for both single persons and to family assessments. This measure gave effect to one of the key recommendations of the Make Work Pay for Persons with Disabilities Report and enables persons in receipt of the disability allowance to have a higher level of earnings and still retain their medical card.
770. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the National Information Management System for the CDNT’s will be in operation; the timeline; the reason this is taking so long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51542/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question refers to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
