Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:524. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons prescribed antidepressant drugs in the State in each of the past ten years, by age, in tabular form. [56253/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedicinal Products
Ceisteanna (524, 525)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:525. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons prescribed anti-anxiety drugs in the State in each of the past ten years, by age, in tabular form. [56254/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 525 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 525 answered with Question No. 524.
Substance Misuse
Ceisteanna (526)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:526. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons being treated for addiction to anti-anxiety drugs in the State in each of the past ten years, by age, in tabular form. [56255/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Substance Misuse
Ceisteanna (527)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:527. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons being treated for addiction to sleeping pills in the State in each of the past ten years, by age, in tabular form. [56256/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (528)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:528. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his Department's attention has been drawn to any evidence of the ability of the Covid vaccination to prevent Covid transmission. [56257/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 vaccines can only be approved and used if they comply with all the requirements of quality, safety and efficacy set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation. Any authorised vaccine will be subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA). The EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has thoroughly assessed the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine and recommended by consensus a formal Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA) be granted by the European Commission. The awarding of a CMA provides a high level of assurance that a vaccine has undergone rigorous testing and has met the requirements of the independent regulatory process as regards demonstrating its safety and efficacy. Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. The NIAC review all data relating to COVID-19 vaccines on a rolling basis. It should be noted that evidence on transmission of COVID-19 following vaccination is limited. The main vaccine efficacy trials were not designed for this purpose.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (529)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:529. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the human rights, physical health and mental health impact assessments that were conducted on the domestic Covid passport system for entry to public establishments. [56258/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the use of Digital COVID Certificates for entry into public establishments does not fall under the remit of the Minister for Health.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (530)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:530. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason carers in private nursing homes were never paid the promised €1,000 bonus, considering that it was to be paid by July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56259/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees are also covered by the Government Decision, and the HSE and KOSI Corp are currently progressing the rollout to eligible staff in the cohorts below:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help/home care/home support) contracted to the HSE;
Rolling out the payment to these eligible employees is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention.
Information on the process involved has now been provided by the HSE and KOSI Corp to relevant organisations. I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that payments to employers of eligible staff are rolling out, including to private nursing homes, with funding transfers underway since last week, and these employers will then pass on the payments to their eligible staff.
I have instructed officials to ensure an efficient and expeditious rollout to all remaining staff. Once again, I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (531)
Michael Ring
Ceist:531. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been refused a piece of equipment, given their medical condition, the need for same, and that the fact that it has been recommended that they have access to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56260/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 Staff
Ceisteanna (532)
Alan Dillon
Ceist:532. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when a speech and language therapist will be appointed to an area in County Mayo (details supplied). [56290/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (533)
Johnny Mythen
Ceist:533. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for home care support in County Wexford; the average length of time persons have been waiting; the single longest period of time a person has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56298/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (534)
Pat Buckley
Ceist:534. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his Department will recognise that autism assistance dogs should have the same recognition as dogs for the blind; if his Department will consider providing Government funding in line with the way ]guide dogs in Ireland are funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56299/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Assistance Dogs are highly trained and help to control and improve the child’s behaviour in public places. Assistance dogs also help children with autism to develop coping mechanisms, improve communication skills and their ability to learn and participate in social activities. All these benefits improve the long term quality of the life of the child and reduce the need for other costly supports and interventions.
There are a number of organisations that provide dogs to assist with autism, a number of which receive direct funding from the HSE and in that regard as this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.