Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:178. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the emergency authorisation process for Covid-19 treatments closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58291/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCovid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (178)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Meetings
Ceisteanna (179)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:179. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he and or his officials have met with management and or representatives from a company (details supplied) in 2021 and or to date in 2022; and if he will provide a schedule and the details of those engagements. [58292/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that neither myself, nor the Minister for Health, nor officials from Older Persons Services in the Department of Health have met with representatives of the organisation referred to by the Deputy.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (180)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of HIQA inspections of a company's portfolio (details supplied) in Ireland since it commenced operations. [58296/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent body responsible for promoting quality and safety in the provision of health and personal social services for the benefit of service users.
HIQA has informed my Department that the company referred to in the Deputy’s question is not the registered provider of any nursing home in Ireland and as such, is not subject to regulation by the Chief Inspector of Social Services.
The company in question is the parent company of a significant number of companies registered to operate nursing homes in Ireland, and these companies are therefore subject to regulatory oversight of the Chief Inspector.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (181)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:181. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 12 July 2022, if the action plan for the disability capacity review has been finalised; the timeframe for its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58299/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032 and it is intended to address the capacity deficits in a phased approach over this period. This reflects the obligation under the UNCRPD for progressive implementation of social, cultural and economic rights.
In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services. This group has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan, which will be an implantation plan for the first phase, is currently being finalised for approval.
In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. This year, the overall Budget for disability services in 2023 will be €2.4 billion, including a significant level of funding for specialist disability services. Building on the previous year, this is an unprecedented level of funding for Disability services. It follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (182)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:182. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 26 October 2022, the number of children who have had an assessment of needs completed since preliminary team assessments were ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58300/22]
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.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (183)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:183. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 26 October 2022, if legal advice on the new interim clinical guidance has found it to be in compliance with the Disability Act 2005 if the new interim clinical guidance has been issued to children's disability network teams; if not, the timeframe for the new interim clinical guidance to be issued to CDNTs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58301/22]
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 (184)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:184. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 20 October 2022, the number of additional places out of the 200 additional Irish/EU medicine places that are for disciplines employed in children's disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58302/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In July 2022, Minister Harris and I announced an agreement with the Irish Medical Schools to phase in an increase of 200 additional Irish/EU medicine places over the next 5 years. The first phase has seen an additional 60 places offered in September 2022. The Medical Schools and both Departments have also agreed to explore the potential to maximise the phasing in of these places in the coming years.
Medical Students do not specialise until after they graduate so it is not possible to say how many of the 200 additional EU medicine places will lead to graduates going on to be employed in disability network teams. After completing their undergraduate medical degree these graduates will undertake postgraduate medical training across a number of specialties.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (185)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:185. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to close Covid-19 testing centres; if so, the centres that are to be closed; the centres which will remain open; if he has plans in place to reopen centres in the event of a winter surge in Covid-19 cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58303/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have accepted updated advice from the Chief Medical Officer relating to COVID-19 Testing, Tracing and Surveillance which has also been approved by the Government.
In the coming weeks, the HSE will be adopting a targeted approach for COVID-19 testing which will be based on a clinical assessment where a clinician requires the result to contribute to the diagnosis and management of an individual patient. Swabbing will be undertaken by GPs in these circumstances. Testing will also take place where deemed necessary by Public Health in relation to the management of an outbreak or specific public health risk.
Based on the revised public health advice, community swabbing will no longer be a feature of our COVID-19 response as testing will no longer be recommended for the general population. The implementation of this advice will reduce the scale of testing and contact tracing around the country and is leading to consolidation of resources in the period ahead, including the closure of community testing facilities which will no longer be required. The HSE has also developed extensive plans for surge and emergency responses for future requirements for testing and tracing should that need be identified. This includes additional resources that I have provided to the National Ambulance Service to recruit permanent Intermediate Care Operatives who will be deployed for swabbing purposes should the need arise to reintroduce community swabbing in the future but who will be deployed on ambulance service duties in the meantime. I have been informed by the HSE that the number of staff working in swabbing centres will reduce in November as part of this transition and due to the reduced demand for COVID-19 Testing. HSE managers have met these staff individually and are seeking potential reassignment opportunities into suitable funded vacancies for those who are interested in continued employment with HSE.
The approach to COVID-19 testing is facilitated by the high level of vaccine-induced and naturally acquired population immunity in Ireland. This is mitigating against the worst impacts of infection.
I have also provided additional resources to the HSE to ensure enhancements are put in place to existing infectious disease surveillance systems. This will ensure effective monitoring and signalling of what is happening with the virus at population level, and so that we can understand disease transmission and severity along with population immunity and risk.
The pandemic is not over, and COVID-19 is still a concern so testing remains an important part of our ongoing response to the disease for individuals vulnerable to its effects and for whom testing is indicated. For everybody, continuing to follow our public health advice available on hse.ie is still important. Anybody who has symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate until 48 hours after the symptoms are mostly or fully gone. Anybody who has concerns about an underlying condition or their level of risk in relation to COVID-19 is advised to seek advice from their GP or treating clinician.
My Department, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL), overseen by the Chief Medical Officer, continue to review the COVID-19 epidemiological situation in Ireland and internationally. This includes the on-going close monitoring of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and assessment of any potential threat to population health.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (186)
Martin Browne
Ceist:186. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the room at the accident and emergency department at Tipperary University Hospital that is specifically for patients presenting with mental health issues has been unable to accept patients in 2021 and to date in 2022; if so, the dates that it was unavailable; if a public awareness campaign of the existence of the room will be considered as part of efforts to inform persons in crisis situations of its availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58321/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive, to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (187)
Martin Browne
Ceist:187. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the mental health services that are available at each primary care centre in the area of County Tipperary covered by CHO5; and if there are plans to expand the mental health services available at these centres. [58322/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive, to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (188)
Martin Browne
Ceist:188. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the mental health services that are available at each primary care centre in the area of County Tipperary covered by CHO3; and if there are plans to expand the mental health services available at these centres. [58323/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (189)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:189. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the number of paramedics serving the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58330/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Emergency ambulance services in Dublin are primarily provided by the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) through an arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. In the first instance, queries relating to the DFB's ambulance service are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The HSE's National Ambulance Service (NAS) also provides some emergency capacity within the greater Dublin area, where required. I have, therefore, asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy with any further pertinent detail that it may have in regard to NAS paramedic resources serving the Dublin area.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (190)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:190. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will meet again with persons (details supplied) who lost loved ones during the Covid pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58352/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I recognise how difficult it has been for the families of nursing home residents who died during this pandemic, which has presented one of the greatest and most wide-ranging public health challenges internationally in recent history.
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly T.D., and I met with relatives of those who passed away in the nursing home specified by the Deputy in October 2020. I also held a meeting in July 2021 attended by a group which supports nursing home residents and their families, and relatives of those who passed away in nursing homes during COVID-19 outbreaks.
During both these meetings, I heard the concerns raised by family members and I understand the very difficult experiences they have had losing their relatives in very difficult circumstances. My Department has also received, and continues to receive and respond to, ministerial representations from family members of those who died during COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes.
My Department remains committed to learning from the experience of the pandemic and the focus remains on implementing the recommendations of the Nursing Home Expert Panel. The Expert Panel reported in August 2020 and significant progress has been made in implementing its recommendations.
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 over the past 2 years. This will help ensure that we are in a better, stronger position if another pandemic or another similar type of emergency arrives. Consideration is being given as to what the best model for this evaluation will be.
Separately, the Minister for Health has stated that he believes that a review of the management and impact of COVID-19 in nursing homes is warranted. He has asked the Department to consider the options available for undertaking such a review, taking account of the experience of, and learnings, from other review processes undertaken in recent years.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (191)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:191. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date regarding the provision of an ambulance base at a location (details supplied) in Connemara; the date on which the National Ambulance Service requested HSE estates to refurbish the existing building there as an ambulance base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58369/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (192)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:192. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the underspend to date in 2022 of the capital allocation of his Department; the amount of this that relates to expenditure by the HSE; the steps that he intends taking to ensure that HSE estates have the expertise, staff and organisation to progress capital projects big and small expeditiously; if he has considered appointing process consultants to examine the way that this section of the HSE might work more efficiently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58370/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The total capital allocation in 2022 of €1,060m covers capital projects in my Department and other agencies (€15m), HSE ICT projects (€130m) and HSE Building and Infrastructure (€865m core projects €50m Covid projects). In addition, an amount of €100m was being retained within central government contingency funding in relation to capital measures which may be required in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the end of October, the capital spend is €120m under profile, of which €112m relates to the HSE. The construction environment in 2022 has been very challenging across all sectors, not just Health, given inflationary pressures, labour and supply chain issues and in particular the shock of the war in Ukraine. These unprecedented factors have had an impact on project progression in 2022 (e.g., contractors not willing to stand over bids or tenders taking a long time to conclude) in all sectors including Health. There is proactive management and oversight of the health capital vote across the HSE and the Department at individual project and programme level and across the capital vote. Based on this ongoing management and oversight, actions taken during the year, and evidence informed projections of expenditure and cashflows to year end, the projection is that the full capital allocation for 2022 as set out in the NDP and in Capital Plans will be required to meet health capital commitments and cashflows by year end. In addition, there is a projected requirement by way of supplementary estimate to access €90m of the original €100m provided in contingency funds.Regarding the workings of the HSE Capital & Estates function, the operation of and experience and expertise of the function was assessed and recognised by EY in their report for the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform as part of the NDP review, “Capital Project and Programme Delivery Capability Review”, 2021. In this report it is identified that the HSE Capital & Estates function has a high degree of experience and specialism in asset management and delivery.
However, it is recognised that as activity increases, the successful delivery of the capital programme will be dependent upon having people with the right skills and experience available across the programme lifecycle. Although there is an experienced cohort of capital programme professionals in HSE Capital & Estates function, there is an increasing challenge in recruiting, retaining and developing this professional talent.
The need for additional resources in this area in the context of delivery of the NDP and capital plans has been highlighted and is understood. I, and officials in my Department, are working with the HSE in development of the National Service Plan and Capital Plan cognisant of this resourcing need for the current and future delivery of Capital Plans and projects.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (193)
Neasa Hourigan
Ceist:193. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 12 October 2022, if the residents of a centre (details supplied) who have been offered placement in another centre in Cork city have been informed that this is a temporary placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58371/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive, to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (194)
Neasa Hourigan
Ceist:194. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if next-of-kin of the residents in a centre (details supplied) have, with consent from their relatives been invited to all integrated care plan meetings for their relatives since January 2021; if the next-of-kin have been informed of the purpose of an integrated care plan meeting and shown a copy of the completed form; the number of ICP meetings that have taken place for the residents since January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58372/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive, to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (195)
Neasa Hourigan
Ceist:195. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when senior mental health management in Cork CHO4 were offered their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine relative to when long-stay residents aged over-65 years in facilities (details supplied) were offered their first-dose vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58373/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (196)
Neasa Hourigan
Ceist:196. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the final cost of the works carried out on a centre (details supplied) in Carrigaline since January 2021; the reason for the increase in cost of these works from the original budget of €250,000; the reason that the original number of placements to be provided at the centre was reduced from fourteen to ten; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58374/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (197)
Chris Andrews
Ceist:197. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress made to provide the CF drug kaftrio to a cohort of 35 Irish children aged between six and eleven years, who are currently excluded from access to the drug due to a disagreement between the manufacturers and the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58379/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Kaftrio has been a life changing drug for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, and I want to see it made available to everyone who needs it. This Government wants to ensure greater access to new and innovative medicines and has allocated significant additional funding for new medicines in recent Budgets. Since the beginning of 2021, 99 new medicines, or expanded uses of existing medicines, have been funded. This has included 27 for the treatment of rare diseases, including Cystic Fibrosis.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
I am grateful to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) for meeting with me recently, and outlining the concerns of the Cystic Fibrosis community. We discussed the recent statement from the Consultants providing care for these children, with all parties aligning in the view that the approach taken by the manufacturer, Vertex, is unfair to these children. I reassured CFI of the urgency with which the Government and the HSE are approaching the current situation.
I have been advised by the HSE that engagement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals is ongoing, which I hope can be quickly brought to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone.