Written Answers Nos. 491-508
491. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his Department has ever considered the need to look at public procurement in view to retention of staff in the HSE (details supplied). [56783/22]
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.
492. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation regarding GP services in a rural area in County Wicklow (details supplied); if these services can be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56058/22]
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.
493. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied). [56115/22]
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.
494. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [56116/22]
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.
495. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be taken on Tallaght University Hospital's submission for a new 72-inpatient bed block. [56117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has yet to receive proposals in relation to the 72 bed accommodation block at Tallaght University Hospital. The Department understands that the HSE is currently compiling a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for this proposal to ensure full compliance with the Public Spending code (PSC). It is expected that is SAR will be submitted to the Department in early 2023.
The delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated Public Spending Code (PSC).
The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities.
These are defined processes in which all Departments and agencies are subject to and must follow to ensure that Government, as the approving authority for all major projects (i.e. those over costing over €100m) can be satisfied that the project is the best means to achieve a policy goal and that we achieve maximum value for money for the taxpayer.
496. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the assistance available to persons diagnosed as deaf to replace their hearing aids should they become damaged; if there is a time limit on such replacement or cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56121/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the administration of community audiology services, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
497. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have utilised keltoi in each of the months September and October and to date in November. [56129/22]
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.
498. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the last meeting of the national oversight committee. [56131/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use until 2025. The strategy aims to provide an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery.
The national oversight committee is chaired by the Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. It provides leadership and direction to support implementation of the strategy and meets quarterly.
The third NOC meeting this year took place on the 1st of September. The agenda was as follows:
1. Introduction
2. Minutes and matters arising of meeting of 9th June 2022
3. Prevention and Education Funding Programme
4. Work programme for strategic implementation groups - chair's update
5. Update:
- Citizens Assembly on Drugs
- Early Warning Emerging Trends Sub-Committee
- Research sub-committee
- National Drug Forum
- Estimates 2023
- Drug Monitoring at Electric Picnic
The minutes for this meeting of the National Oversight Committee have been compiled, and as is standard procedure, once they have been agreed at the next NOC meeting, they will be available to be publicly shared.
499. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years who are on a waiting list for mental health services, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56133/22]
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.
500. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts in CHO 2 by section and length of time the post has been vacant, that is, under 12 months, between 12 months and five years and over five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56134/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
501. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way in which recommendations from the NIAC on immunisations are interpreted by his Department; the role the Immunisation Policy Team have in both implementing them and ensuring we are procuring the right vaccines where possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56154/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National 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, international best practice in relation to immunisation as well as evidence based analysis and expert medical advice. The NIAC makes recommendations on immunisation matters to the Department of Health. These recommendations are first considered by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) following which the CMO will make a recommendation to the Minister. After deliberation, the Minister will make a determination which will take the form of a policy decision.In advance of any change in policy, the Minister can request that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carry out an evaluation of the impacts of potential policy changes. HIQA has a statutory remit, under the Health Act 2007, to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, providing advice to the Minister for Health and to the Health Service Executive (HSE) on budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. These evaluations take the form of Health Technology Assessments (HTAs). A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner. The use of the HTA facility assists decision makers in assessing the merits and potential shortcomings of a new health technology, policy or service based on accurate and reliable evidence. The outcome of the HTA will be considered by the Minister in coming to a decision in relation to any changes to the National Immunisation Programme. As the matter of any vaccine procurement process is an operational matter for which the National Immunisation Office has responsibility, I have asked the HSE to answer the Deputy directly on this aspect.
502. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the definition of "rare disease" utilised by his Department and the HSE; and the number and names of the rare diseases entailed under these respective definitions provided in tabular form. [56155/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA disease or disorder is defined as rare in Europe when it affects less than 1 in 2000 people. There are approximately 8,000 known rare diseases; 80% of rare diseases are of genetic origin and are often chronic and life-threatening. Up to 1 person in 12 in Ireland may have a rare disease at some stage in their life. Approximately 300,000 persons in Ireland are living with a rare disease.
As this question also relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly on this aspect as soon as possible.
503. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with rare disease in Ireland as of 2022, by county and by rare disease type in tabular form. [56156/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
504. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a copy of the business case made for a national diabetes registry can be made available (details supplied); and if a timeline for the delivery of the same can be outlined. [56162/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2023 provides funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care, including commencing the development of a National Diabetes Register.
As part of the budgetary process, a business case was received by the Department setting out the proposal for the delivery of the registry. Following approval of funding, the HSE is currently in the process of revising the business case.
505. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the present National Sexual Health Strategy runs to 2020; if he intends to update the strategy; if he will be consulting others on the new strategy; the timeline for the new strategy to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56171/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS) was launched in October 2015. It takes a life course approach, acknowledging the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age. The Strategy has been extended to the end of 2022, in order to account for the various impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on previous timelines.
Current priority deliverables under the Strategy are HIV prevention, including the continued expansion of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, which commenced in late 2019, and the HIV Fast Track Cities programme, involving Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Other key areas of work include expanding access to contraception, free of charge; expanding sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, progressing a population survey on sexual health and improving sexual health education, training and resources, including in schools, higher and further education.
A review of the Strategy commenced in 2021, having been postponed as a result of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Focus group meetings were held with key stakeholders, including clinical and public health staff, the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) team, those working in STI clinics, the education sector, the Department of Health and Women’s Health Taskforce, the research and academic sector and organisations representing the LGBTI+ community.
The detailed feedback from these meetings has been collated and will inform the future direction of the next iteration of the Strategy. An external review of the Strategy is currently being completed and will be published on the Healthy Ireland website, by the end of January 2023.
The findings from this review will inform future policy direction and the Women's Health Taskforce will continue to provide input on matters relevant to women's health as the new policy is drafted and implemented. The recommendations of the Review will be taken into account during this process. It is intended to publish the new Strategy in Q4 2023.
506. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health when his Department will issue further guidance to those who are not directly employed by the HSE with regards to the Covid recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56174/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. To date, over 124,000 workers have received the payment, and payments to eligible HSE and Section 38 staff are substantially complete.
Certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees are also covered by the Government Decision. These include eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help/home care/home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The HSE and KOSI Corp are currently progressing the rollout to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above. Information on the process involved has now been provided by the HSE and KOSI Corp to relevant organisations.
The Department of Health has transferred funding to the Department of Defence and Dublin City Council to enable payments to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6 above, and payments to these staff will be arranged by their respective organisations.
507. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health when those who are not directly employed by the HSE but who are eligible for the Covid recognition payment can expect to receive their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56175/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. To date, over 124,000 workers have received the payment, and payments to eligible HSE and Section 38 staff are substantially complete.
Certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees are also covered by the Government Decision. These include eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help/home care/home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The HSE and KOSI Corp are currently progressing the rollout to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above. Information on the process involved has now been provided by the HSE and KOSI Corp to relevant organisations.
The Department of Health has transferred funding to the Department of Defence and Dublin City Council to enable payments to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6 above, and payments to these staff will be arranged by their respective organisations.
508. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measure that he is taking to assist the families of children with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID); the further measures that he is taking to address the anomaly in which children with autism who suffer from ARFID are experiencing difficulty in securing the services of CAMHS or the local CDNT team; if his attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied); the measures that he will take to address the difficulties being experienced by the child whose weight has fallen to a dangerous level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56192/22]
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.
