Written Answers Nos. 791-810
791. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the HSE roles that will be put forward for social care worker registration; and the level three qualifications that will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51759/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator. Its role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals.
As service providers that employ Social Care Workers, such as the HSE, determine the qualifications for employment by the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this aspect of the question raised.
CORU will open the Social Care Workers Register on 30 November 2023. This will begin a 2-year transition period during which existing practitioners may apply to register with CORU. On 30 November 2025, the title 'Social Care Worker' will become a legally protected title in Ireland. This positive milestone will ensure all service users receive the highest standards of care and empower CORU to act when any deficiencies are identified.
CORU has engaged extensively, since 2017, with education providers on the standards required by Social Care Worker education programmes including undertaking a stakeholder consultation on the required education standards, holding meetings and information days with all education providers, and conducting site visits.
The 2005 Act currently provides that during the two-year transition period, an existing practitioner who has been practising the profession of social care work for a continuous two-year period out of the previous five years, and whose employer states that they meet the standards for that profession may be eligible for entry into the register.
CORU remain available to support existing practitioners and provide guidance on the entry routes to the Social Care Workers Register.
I would like to thank you for raising a matter of understandable concern.
792. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when a paediatric neurologist will be assigned to University Hospital Limerick, appreciating that the last paediatric neurologist left UHL in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51760/22]
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.
793. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the names of each special adviser employed by his Department since 2015, the relevant Minister they worked under and the date that their employment with the Department/Minister ceased where applicable. [51782/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the table below.
|
Minister/Minister of State |
Special Adviser |
Start Date |
DOH End Date if Applicable |
|
31st Dáil |
|||
|
Leo Varadkar T.D |
Brian Murphy |
12/07/2014 |
07/05/2016 |
|
Dominik (Nick) Miller |
12/07/2014 |
07/05/2016 |
|
|
Kathleen Lynch T.D |
Patricia Ryan |
11/03/2015 |
07/05/2016 |
|
32nd Dáil |
|||
|
Simon Harris T.D. |
Joanne Lonergan |
25/05/2016 |
28/06/2020 |
|
Majella Fitzpatrick |
30/05/2016 |
14/06/2017 |
|
|
Kathyann Barrett |
14/06/2017 |
07/09/2018 |
|
|
Sarah Bardon |
20/9/2018 |
28/06/2020 |
|
|
Finian McGrath T.D. |
Damian O’Farrell |
09/05/2016 |
28/06/2020 |
|
Gerard Maguire |
12/09/2016 |
28/06/2020 |
|
|
Jim Daly T.D. |
Darren Hourihane |
07/09/2017 |
28/06/2020 |
|
Catherine Byrne T.D. |
Nicola Clavin |
01/05/2018 |
28/06/2020 |
|
33rd Dáil |
|||
|
Stephen Donnelly T.D |
Susan Mitchell |
23/7/20 |
|
|
Colette Sexton |
17/8/20 |
14/04/2021 |
|
|
Páraic Gallagher |
18/1/2021 |
||
|
Mary Butler T.D |
Kate Mitchell |
05/10/20 |
06/9/22 |
|
Darren Hourihane |
28/02/22 |
18/8/22 |
|
|
Corona Joyce |
07/9/22 |
||
|
Anne Rabbitte R.D |
Noel Byrne |
06/7/20 |
794. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be assessed by CDNT as they have yet to receive an assessment and post-primary application dates are quickly approaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51791/22]
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.
795. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the work of his Department towards enhancing the provision of community-based vasectomy services; if he will provide an update on the work to develop a standard GP contract for the provision of vasectomy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51792/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of a standard contract for the provision of vasectomy services is a component of the HSE streamlining and coordination agenda in line with the 2019 Agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE, and the IMO on Contractual Reform and Service Development. Pending the development of the standard contract, as an interim measure local health areas can utilise the HSE’s National Service Arrangement documentation with schedules particularised to the service in question, thereby bringing to bear some degree of standardisation in approach and moving in a meaningful way towards compliance with HSE’s governance framework for service arrangements with external service providers.
796. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his plans to tackle the waiting lists times for children in foster care for services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51793/22]
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.
797. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51794/22]
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.
798. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS pharmacists throughout Ireland; the location that each pharmacist is based; if there is any data on the number of people each pharmacist serves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51811/22]
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.
800. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies in the CAMHS service in County Wexford by profession, in tabular form; the length of time that each vacancy has existed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51816/22]
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.
801. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on the CAMHS waiting list in County Wexford; the average waiting time and the number waiting more than six and more than 12 months respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51817/22]
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.
802. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new 96-bed ward block at Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51818/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
803. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new MRI scanner for Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51819/22]
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.
804. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if additional funding for radiographers to staff the new MRI scanner for Wexford General Hospital has been ringfenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51820/22]
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.
805. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when it is scheduled to begin the independent review of radiation therapy, as committed to by his Department at the Workplace Relations Commission in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51826/22]
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.
806. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the cause of the delay in setting up the independent review of radiation therapy, as committed to by his Department at the Workplace Relations Commission in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51827/22]
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.
807. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy rate, that is the number of WTE posts, for radiation therapists in each of the hospital groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51828/22]
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.
808. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time to start radiation therapy in each of the hospital groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51829/22]
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.
809. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting to start radiation therapy in each of the hospital groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51830/22]
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.
810. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will remove any roadblocks by Government Departments to the setting up of the independent radiation therapist review (details supplied) in addition to his commitment to implement any recommendations which could emanate from the review dealing with the crisis in recruitment and retention of radiation therapists and or service improvements like advanced practice and safe and adequate staffing levels. [51843/22]
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. Outcomes of the review will be given due consideration by the Department of Health. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
