Written Answers Nos. 129-138
129. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the HSE recommendation to limit home births to women who live within 30 minutes of a maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55785/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
130. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in accessing the child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, service in Galway city and county; the urgent action being taken to provide a quality service to young people in the county who require these services urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55787/22]
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.
131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when home care workers employed during the Covid-19 pandemic will receive their €1,000 bonus payment; the reason for the delay in paying this; if he can assure this Deputy that all outstanding payments of the bonus to all entitled to it will be paid by Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55788/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
132. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason that pensioners who used to work for the HSE and received their salaries on a fortnightly basis receive their pension on a monthly basis in arrears; if he intends instructing the HSE to pay these pensions at the same frequency as they were paid their salaries while working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55794/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the payment of pensions is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
133. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of district medical officers on salary from the HSE in the State; the location of each; the increase in salary for these in the past ten years; the basis on which their salary is set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55795/22]
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.
134. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he has raised concerns at EU level in relation to the short-term effect of the medical device regulation, which came into effect on 26 May 2021; if subject to a risk-based roll-out he will be looking for the deferment of the implementation of the directive from 2024 to 2027 and allow the use of existing stock after 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55796/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices (‘MDR’) has been fully applicable as of 26 May 2021 and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (‘IVDR’) became fully applicable as of 26 May 2022.
The overarching objectives of these new regulations is to significantly strengthen the regulatory system for medical devices and provide a framework that is robust and consistent and serves to enhance public health across the EU by ensuring that medical devices are safe, perform as intended and afford benefits to patients and healthcare systems.
Implementation of the new regulations has not been without challenge, and I am aware that one of the key challenges in implementing these regulations relates to the capacity of the system in certifying devices under the new framework, which has been compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. There are indeed other challenges associated with implementation of the new regulatory framework.
My officials are kept in full brief on these issues through engagements with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and EU fora and my department is working via these fora in considering and addressing these challenges and working towards the effective implementation of the regulations, ensuring that healthcare systems and patients have access to safe medical devices. My Department is fully committed to continuing to work with key stakeholders in this regard, in identifying and reaching pragmatic and necessary solutions to these challenges.
It is important to recall Minister Feighan’s intervention at the EPSCO Health Council meeting in June earlier this year, in which he spoke to Ireland’s concerns regarding implementation of these new regulations. Ireland’s lead Member State intervention was well-supported. The European Commission committed to keeping EPSCO informed of progress on the response to the matters raised, including to report back on same at the next EPSCO in December. It must be noted that considerable work has been ongoing since June at EU level in response to the certificate capacity issue including the much welcomed publication of an action plan by the Medical Devices Coordination Group (MDCG), implementation of which is imperative and a responsibility incumbent on all stakeholders.
Ireland continues to work actively and collaboratively with our EU partners on monitoring this situation and considering whether any further actions are required. I can assure you that this remains a priority for my Department and our commitment in this regard is unwavering. It remains imperative that we continue to work collectively across the EU in harmonized solutions to these challenges in order to ensure that the new regulatory system is effective in practice and delivers on its objectives.
The full and effective implementation of these important regulations remains a key priority for my Department and I. We will continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to address and overcome the challenges faced with the overall objective of ensuring that the benefits of these regulations are ultimately achieved in practice.
135. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to consultants by his Department in each of the years 2011 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the name of each organisation used; the reason that each organisation was appointed; the cost to the State, and the person who approved these appointments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55805/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe PQ has been deferred in order to compile a comprehensive response and a reply will be issued to the Deputy within 10 working days.
136. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1079 of 2 November 2021, the progress made regarding the preparation of a care plan for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55808/22]
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.
137. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the engagement that the national oversight group for the HSE national home birth service had with women's health stakeholders such as midwives, clinicians, representative organisations (details supplied) or women's health advocate groups; if the national oversight group for the HSE national home birth service can confirm if its engagement with women's health stakeholders impacted by its decision to recommend a restriction on home birth deliveries to women who do not reside within 30 minutes of a maternity hospital; if the national oversight group for the HSE national home birth service took into account that the proposed changes would have the greatest impact on those living in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55817/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
138. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when persons working in non-HSE nursing homes will receive the pandemic bonus of €1,000; the reason for the delay with these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55822/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
