Wednesday, 19 Oct 2022

Written Answers Nos. 253-272

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna (253)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

253. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2056 of 8 September 2022, the status of the proposed primary care centre for Galway west; the status of development of the traffic engineering studies; if the pre-planning meeting with the local authority has been arranged to date; the expected timeline for the submission of the planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52326/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (254)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

254. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds currently operational in Galway city and county; the locations of same; when he expects respite provision to be restored to pre-pandemic levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52327/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (255)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

255. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the engagement that he has had with the HSE with regard to the relocation in September 2022 of day care services from St Brendan’s CNU Loughrea to a hotel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52328/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Day-care centres are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population.  They play a key role in enabling older people to live independently in their own communities. Their re-opening has been a priority for me since their necessary closure in 2020.  This process began in the second half of 2021 and continues into 2022.  By the end of October, it is expected that 304 centres will have reopened.  This represents about 91% of Day Care Services for Older People.  The reasons why the remaining day centres have yet to reopen are complex. For example, a service attached to a Community Nursing Unit may not have sufficient space to separate the day service area from the residents’ communal area, which is a HIQA requirement.

In Budget 2023 I secured an additional €4.1 million to ensure the continuation of older persons and dementia day services to a high standard.

While both my officials and I have engaged with the HSE at a National level in relation to the reopening of day care centres I have not engaged directly with the Executive in relation to the relocation of the service referred to by the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (256)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

256. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health when the Government will commence a full public inquiry into the deaths of residents and quality of care in nursing homes during the pandemic, and systemic failures in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52336/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

There has been a clear national commitment to continue to learn from the pandemic and, where necessary, to ensure that the public health-led approach evolves, as evidence and learning materialises.

The Taoiseach has indicated that a comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will be undertaken which will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. The model for this evaluation is under consideration.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been significant and ongoing consideration of the impact of COVID-19 and the evolution of the response to it, as evidence and knowledge emerged and as national and international understanding of the virus evolved. Throughout, this has included a specific and sustained focus on older persons, and in particular, those resident in nursing homes. Various examinations and reports with a focus on COVID-19, its impact on nursing homes and the pandemic learnings that can inform future policy, regulation and the model of care for older persons have been undertaken.

In particular, the independent COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established in May 2020, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort in nursing homes and to provide real-time learnings and recommendations to inform the ongoing approach to the management and mitigation of risk to older persons resident in nursing homes as the pandemic evolved. This report outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes, based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19.

One of the most important things we can take from the experiences of the past two years is our learning and understanding of the challenges facing the nursing home sector. Through engagement with key stakeholders in this sector, including residents, their families and advocacy groups, we are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel and a programme of reform is ongoing across health agencies and stakeholders to ensure an improved quality of service and experience for residents into the future.

Significant progress has already been made in implementing the recommendations of the Expert Panel, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, and work to progress medium and longer term reform recommendations is ongoing. Four Expert Panel Progress Reports have been published, the latest published on 21 June 2022, and all Progress Reports are available on my Department’s website.

Pharmacy Services

Ceisteanna (257)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

257. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the fees paid to pharmacists for the dispensing of medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52342/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I recognise the significant role that community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care. Indeed, community pharmacists have played a central role in the national COVID-19 vaccination rollout – the largest ever undertaken by the State.

I also acknowledge the vital role that community pharmacy will play in the development and implementation of future healthcare reform, especially in regard to the aims and vision of Sláintecare.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Health Service Executive established a Community Pharmacy Contingency Planning working group with relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, to support the implementation of all COVID-19 support measures.

This group – now called the Community Pharmacy Planning Forum – had examined the operational and clinical challenges confronting community pharmacists during the COVID-19 emergency and played a key role in resolving them to the benefit of the people of Ireland.

The work of the Forum has now transitioned to discussing the strategic direction of the community pharmacy profession. This will prove invaluable in the context of future contractual reform.

Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (258)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

258. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to make free contraception available through community pharmacies without prescription; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52343/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

In accordance with the Programme for Government and Women’s Health Action Plan commitments, the free contraception scheme for women aged 17-25 was launched on Wednesday 14th September. 

Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated for the scheme in Budget 2022. Funding of approximately €32 million is provided, through Budget 2023, to support the contraception scheme and to expand it to include 16-30 year olds in 2023. The scheme will be expanded to include 26-year-olds on 1 January 2023, with 16 and 27-30 year olds becoming eligible on 1 September 2023. The expansion of the scheme to 16 year olds is subject to legal advice, detailed consultation and the required legislative amendments. 

The scheme is currently open to 17-25 year-old women ordinarily resident in Ireland and provides for: 

- The cost of prescription contraception; 

- The cost of necessary consultations with medical professionals to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same; 

- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same; 

- The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs; 

- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which are also available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception. 

The legal framework for the scheme is provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 2022, which was enacted in July and commenced in September, 2022.  Digital information regarding the scheme, how to access it and wider information on contraceptive options is available through www.sexualwellbeing.ie. 

Almost 2,000 GPs and over 1,800 pharmacists have entered into contracts with the HSE to be providers under the scheme. 

The potential to make some forms of prescription contraception available through pharmacies, without prescription by medical practitioners, was considered as part of the work of the Contraception Implementation Group and is wider than the free contraception scheme.

In Ireland at present, accessing oral contraceptives is regulated and requires a prescription from a medical practitioner. In order to enable pharmacists to dispense such products without the need for a prescription, detailed clinical consideration would be required to ensure that various patient safety issues are fully considered. 

Should the expert clinical advice recommend that certain forms of contraception, be made available through pharmacies without the need to attend a GP for prescription, this would require subsequent amendments to current regulatory frameworks.

Following previous engagement with representative groups, my officials have at my direction, submitted a formal request to the relevant clinical experts within the HSE to consider the clinical appropriateness of making some forms of contraception through pharmacies without the need for a prescription.  This process is ongoing and the advice of the relevant clinical experts will be considered once it is received.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (259)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

259. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a nationwide children’s eye-care programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52344/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Sight testing, eye examinations and optical appliances are provided to medical card holders by ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians through the Community Ophthalmic Services Schemes (COSS). Patients may access these services following a referral by a healthcare professional such as their general practitioner.

All children, including those not covered by a medical card, receive a vision screen while in national school from a Public Health Nurse. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides optical services free of charge to pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate consultant for treatment. In such circumstances, these services will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16.

The HSE Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report, published in June 2017, highlighted the limitations of the current model of service delivery and set out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be delivered in a primary care setting. The Report estimated that 60% of existing outpatient activity could be moved to primary care thus enabling hospital services to focus on patients who require more specialist diagnostics or treatments.

The National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology has developed a model of care which details how the realignment of eye services from the acute hospitals to the community will be undertaken. Included in current priorities is transferring the care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists.

As this also involves a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in regards to progress made, as soon as possible.

General Practitioner Services

Ceisteanna (260)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

260. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the crisis due to the lack of availability of general practitioners in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52345/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.

Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,529 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.

Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of October 2022, there are 25 GMS vacancies across the country, approximately 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels. There are no GMS vacancies in counties Kildare, Laois or Offaly.

The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.

Under the 2019 GP Agreement the additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has to date been increased by €206.6m and is set to increase to €211.6m per annum next year when the Agreement is fully rolled out. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.

In addition, a steady increase has been seen in the number of doctors entering GP training over recent 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.

These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (261)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

261. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the crisis due to the lack of availability of dentists in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52346/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. I am aware that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Scheme during the pandemic, which led to difficulties for medical card patients in accessing dental care in some parts of the country, including in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly. The numbers of patients being seen and the numbers of treatments being provided under the DTSS have both increased in recent months following a €26 million package of additional investment in and expansion of the Scheme from 1st May 2022, over and above what was spent on the Scheme in 2021.

The HSE will assist patients who are still having difficulties accessing services and may provide emergency dental services directly to patients where necessary. I have also secured an additional €5 million in Budget 2023 to help enable provision of such emergency care. 

I recognise that there is a need to substantively review and reform the DTSS to align with best international evidence and practice. It is my intention that this is addressed in the context of the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which sets out a body of substantial services reform. Work is underway on a governance framework for this root and branch service reform.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (262)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

262. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on planned works at the Monasterevin day-care centre; when it is expected to re-open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52355/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospice Services

Ceisteanna (263)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

263. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 281 of 28 September 2022 and 682 of 11 October 2022, if he has reconsidered his position regarding creating an elective hospital for the mid-west given that his replies stated absolutely that no elective hospital is planned for the mid-west (details supplied). [52361/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. We are developing additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.

The locations chosen will allow for new facilities of a size and scale to implement a national elective care programme that will tackle waiting lists on a national basis. This means that the new facilities will be designed to maximise their capacity and in doing so will operate to cover as wide a catchment area as possible, extending beyond existing and future health areas including the mid-west.

The locations were also chosen in line with good practice which suggests that, in order to maximise economies of scale, dedicated, standalone elective centres should be “as big as is reasonably possible” to meet identified demand while providing appropriate population coverage. Locating the new facilities in Cork, Dublin and Galway will enable the provision of a national service while aiming to maximise the coverage of the ECCs as far as is reasonably possible. A central point of introducing these new facilities is not that they will only benefit the subset of the population that sit within their direct catchment but rather that the introduction of this new delivery capability into the Public Healthcare System will benefit the whole population, including those who do not fall within the immediate geographical catchment. It is envisaged that the Cork and Galway facilities combined will cater for up to 350,000 patients/procedures annually.

While the Government decision is very clear on strategic interventions to be progressed under the Electives Proposal, my officials, working with the HSE, are considering any and all proposals with a view to tackling our elective waiting lists across the country.

Mental Health Policy

Ceisteanna (264)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

264. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of educational psychologists who are currently employed by the Health Service Executive; if the HSE intends not to employ educational psychologists in primary care and CAMHS services moving forward, given that trainee educational psychologists were excluded from the new funding provided for professional psychology training introduced in Budget 2023; his plans, if any, to ensure the recruitment and retainment of suitably qualified educational psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52370/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (265)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

265. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of open beds in each HSE and voluntary hospital on 13 October in each of the years 2019 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52381/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (266)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

266. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the amount of money that has been allocated to a third-party contractor to administer the pandemic recognition payment to non-HSE staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52382/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (267)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

267. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the merits of extending the Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up scheme to women up to age of 35 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52383/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.

Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage.

In October 2021, my Department asked the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to consider the clinical effectiveness of providing the HPV vaccine to:

- girls and boys in secondary school who were eligible to receive HPV vaccine in 1st year but who did not receive it; and

- women up to the age of 25 years who have left secondary school and who did not receive the vaccine when eligible.

The NIAC submitted advices in relation to the HPV Vaccination Programme to my Department which noted that HPV vaccination should be prioritised for unvaccinated second level students and females under the age of 25 years.

In line with the NIAC's advice, I have asked the HSE to facilitate and operationalise the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme.

This programme, which is expected to launch in mid-November 2022, will offer free HPV vaccines to all boys and girls in second level education who were previously eligible to receive the HPV vaccine and who have not yet, for whatever reason, received it.

Young women, up to the age of 25, who have now left secondary school, and who did not receive the vaccine, will also be eligible to receive the vaccine as part of the catch-up programme.

Departmental Consultations

Ceisteanna (268)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

268. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the engagements that he or his advisers have had with organisations (details supplied) in relation to winter planning for 2022/2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52384/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Winter Plan 2022/23 was prepared by the HSE and published on the 11th of October 2022. As Minister for Health, I requested that the HSE consult with a wide variety of stakeholders while developing the plan to ensure that their experience's informed the Plan. As the development of the Winter Plan is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Assisted Human Reproduction

Ceisteanna (269)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

269. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the fine detail of fertility treatments will be moved from primary legislation to AHR Regulatory Authority regulation and medical guidelines, in order that nothing in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction Bill) 2022 will stop Irish patients from being able to receive new fertility treatments as they become available in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52385/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 (“the 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. 

The focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices undertaken within the jurisdiction.

Ireland is currently very much an outlier internationally and we do not have a specific regulatory framework in place in respect of this area of health care. This means that individuals are currently availing of complex and sometimes risky procedures, at present predominately provided through the private sector, in what is effectively a legal vacuum.

The provisions outlined within the AHR Bill generally will ensure that AHR practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way and with the necessary oversight, and it is specifically the establishment of the AHR Regulatory Authority (or the AHRRA) which is of central importance in this regard.

I am not certain as to whether the Deputy has specific types of ‘fine details’ of AHR treatments in mind, but I can assure him that my officials are very aware of the balance which needs to be struck between establishing a robust regulatory framework, on the one hand, and seeking to ensure that the legislation is flexible enough to keep up with developments in such an innovative and fast-moving area of medicine, on the other.

It is important to reflect that this new framework will regulate how AHR treatments are provided. In the first instance, for example, the legislation provides for a licensing system and treatment providers will be required to hold the requisite licence in order to provide treatments. The AHRRA will oversee and monitor this system, including to ensure that providers operate within the scope of the law and their licence. This regulatory framework will help bring guidance, clarity and peace of mind to service users, as well as to providers.

I wish to reiterate my commitment 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.

Budget 2023

Ceisteanna (270)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

270. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the qualifying criteria for the €100 million one-off health sector fund announced in Budget 2023; when section 39 organisations, nursing homes and hospices will be provided with information regarding this funding; if he will outline the arrangements for applying; the timeline that he is working towards for issuing funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52440/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based service providers 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. The details of the plan are being finalised. It is proposed that the inflation support fund will be administered by the HSE utilising the mechanisms in place for funding eligible organisations in receipt of Service Level Arrangements and Grant Aid Agreements. These arrangements are already in place with organisations that provide key health and social care services for people in Ireland. It is proposed that payments will be made to eligible organisations in the final quarter of 2022 to meet the pressures of this coming winter. Many eligible organisations may be already operating within a context of increased inflationary pressures.For providers of long-term residential care who participate in the Nursing Home Support Scheme, funding will be allocated through the established mechanism of the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme. Precise details will be communicated in the coming days.

Budget 2023

Ceisteanna (271)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

271. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if Section 56 and 10 agencies and other community and voluntary organisations will be eligible to apply for the €100 million one-off health sector funding announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52442/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based service providers 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.

 The details of the plan are being finalised. It is proposed that the inflation support fund will be administered by the HSE utilising the mechanisms in place for funding eligible organisations in receipt of Service Level Arrangements and Grant Aid Agreements. These arrangements are already in place with organisations that provide key health and social care services for people in Ireland.  It is proposed that payments will be made to eligible organisations in the final quarter of 2022 to meet the pressures of this coming winter. Many eligible organisations may be already operating within a context of increased inflationary pressures, while others may only begin to experience same as winter progresses.

For providers of long-term residential care who participate in the Nursing Home Support Scheme, funding will be allocated through the established mechanism of the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme. Precise details will be communicated in the coming days.

With regards to payments to Section 10 agencies, this would be a matter for the Minister for Housing, while payments to Tusla-funded bodies should be directed to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Queries on payments for community employment schemes should be addressed to the Minister of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (272)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

272. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the severe impact of inflation on rural nursing homes, in light of the number of rural nursing homes which are closing; the steps that he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52443/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I am aware that a number of nursing homes have closed this year, with several new closures notified in recent weeks. I know that these closures can be very upsetting for staff and residents. The closure of any nursing home reduces bed capacity and puts pressure on other local health and social care facilities, including acute hospitals. Ensuring the welfare and safety of residents is secured when nursing homes close is the most important thing and work to alleviate the concerns of residents must continue. They and their families remain my continued focus. It is essential that when nursing homes are intending to close, residents and their families must be consulted with and given appropriate notice so that new homes can be found and they can be moved in a safe, planned way. Furthermore, there is a legal requirement that providers must notify the regulator of their decision. They must give at least 6 months’ notice to HIQA if they intend to close. This provides residents, their families and public health authorities appropriate time to respond effectively.The Government has provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €144 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) since its introduction in 2020. The Government has now agreed to extend TAPS to the end of the year by maintaining the availability of Outbreak Assistance support. Substantial additional supports have also been provided by the HSE in terms of serial testing, PPE, the deployment of specialist teams and other services. Many of these supports continue.

A significant fund of up to €100 million has been allocated this year to support community-based service providers 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 Health Service Executive (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.

For providers of long-term residential care who participate in the Nursing Home Support Scheme, funding will be allocated in parallel with the established mechanism of the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme. Precise details of the scheme are being finalised and will be communicated in the coming days.It should also be noted that the Department continues to work with the NTPF to take forward the recommended actions that emerged from the review of the NTPF pricing system published in June 2021. In addition, the Department is also taking forward the nine recommendations of the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home costs published last December.

In response to the strategic workforce challenges in the nursing home and home care sector, a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) has been established. The Group has been working to a tight timeline and published a report outlining a set of recommendations on 15 October which I strongly endorse. These recommendations will be progressed immediately via a dedicated Implementation Group.