Written Answers Nos. 675-694
675. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the reinstatement of the HSE's national director of mental health as reported in the media (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4226/23]
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.
676. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the immediate steps he is taking with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to address the UNCRC concerns in relation to children's mental health, including the need for advocacy following the examination by the UNCRC of children's mental health in Ireland on 24 and 25 January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4227/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to improving all aspects of Youth Mental Health, including CAMHS, in line with Sharing the Vision, our national mental health policy and with Connecting for Life, our national strategy to reduce suicide. Budget 2023 provided record funding of over €1.2 billion for Mental Health this year, including for enhanced mental health supports to those under age 18. This will be reflected also in the forthcoming HSE Service Plan 2023.
The HSE is a key stakeholder in the implementation of the recommendations of Sharing the Vision and sits on the National Implementation Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the 100 policy recommendations. Good progress is being made on the detailed Implementation Plan 2022 – 2024, overseen by the Committee. HSE National Mental Health Services is committed to further developing an advocacy service that will ensure service users are empowered to lead in their own care. Currently, advocacy services are available to all HSE adult inpatient acute units provided by ‘Peer Advocacy in Mental Health’ (formerly known as the Irish Advocacy Network). While the need for independent advocacy services across CAMHS has been acknowledged for some time, the Maskey review has highlighted the need for improved independent advocacy services to both community teams and inpatient settings nationally.
In conjunction with the HSE, the Youth Advocacy Programme (YAP) provide advocacy in CAMHS services in Galway (inpatient and community) and at the Linn Dara in-patient unit in Dublin. An advocacy service for CAMHS services in Kerry was launched last August. It is planned to roll out CAMHS advocacy services to community and inpatient services in the two remaining CAMHS inpatient units in Cork and North Dublin.
A statutory entitlement to engage with an advocate will also be included as one of the numerous proposed changes for the care and treatment of children in the ongoing update of the Mental Health Act 2001. This is grounded in a rights-based approach, providing young people and their parents with the right to be listened to and consulted in relation to their care, with meaningful participation and engagement that will assist their recovery.
I will consider in detail the emerging or more formal findings of the recent UNCRC meeting, including consultation as appropriate with relevant Ministerial colleagues, the HSE, or other relevant stakeholders.
677. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the date that he will bring the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 to Cabinet for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4228/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act was published in July 2021.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Mental Health’s Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Report on the General Scheme was published on 12 October 2022. Following publication, Department officials have been considering the report and its recommendations.
Priority drafting for the Mental Health Bill was sought and granted for the Spring legislative session and the Department is working with the Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to progress the draft Bill, with the aim of introducing to the Oireachtas as early as possible in 2023.
678. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason that transport is not provided to young adults with a disability attending day services (details supplied); the facilities that are in place to provide supports where the lack of transport will lead to a person with disabilities being excluded from attending any services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4235/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health and the HSE provide specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services. The HSE has no statutory obligation to provide transport services and no funding is allocated for this. Transport is not considered a core health service and as such Day Service funding does not include transport.
Some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used upon commencement of a day programme (where applicable), local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport providers and taxis, funded via a combination of service provider, HSE funding, service user contribution, and / or combined funding; and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
There are improvements in access to a range of transport supports available to persons with disabilities in the State, for example the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme, operated by the Revenue Commissioners; the Free Travel Scheme operated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and CLÁR funding, approved by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, to voluntary organisations providing transport for people with significant mobility issues.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 - 2021, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport. Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy contains a commitment to review all Government-funded transport and mobility supports, and to develop proposals for better coordination in this space going forward, and as such a Transport Working Group has been established under the NDIS. The Action 104 Transport Working Group is co-ordinated by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The outcomes of the work being progressed by the 104 Transport Working Group will provide a valuable evidence base for future policy development, which will progressed through appropriate structures going forward, including the successor strategy to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy.
The Working Group, of which I am Chair, held a number of meetings across 2022. A draft report was considered at its final meeting on 8th December 2022, and is currently being finalised. It is expected that it will be published soon.
As you have also raised a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
679. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting to be seen by child and adolescent mental health services by CHO and LHO, in tabular form; and the length of time that persons are waiting to be seen. [4236/23]
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.
680. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide data associated with his Department’s air travel and air travel associated with agencies under the aegis of his Department (details supplied) from 1 January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4250/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines data associated with my Department's air travel for 2020 and 2021, including amounts paid into the Climate Action Fund. Under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Circular 01/2020, data in respect of 2022 is currently being collated before a liability to the Climate Action Fund is determined and paid. As per the Circular, this process will be completed before the end of February this year. * Indicative data for 2022 is provided.
|
Year |
CO2 (Tonnes) |
Liability to Climate Action Fund |
Amount Paid |
|
2020 |
18.379 |
€26 per tonne |
€477.87 |
|
2021 |
3.076 |
€33.50 per tonne |
€103.06 |
|
* 2022 |
* 53.314 |
€41 per tonne |
* €2,185.87 |
In respect of the HSE, I have forwarded your query and asked that they respond directly to you on this.
Details for other bodies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
681. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will consider an increase of the mobility allowance payment for a person (details supplied). [4263/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matter raised by the Deputy relates to a service matter, I have referred the matter to the Health Service Executive, for a direct reply to the Deputy.
682. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the plans to provide replacement GPs in a practice in County Tipperary when two GPs retire; the efforts being made to arrange new GPs for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4267/23]
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.
683. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; if the referral was routine or urgent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4272/23]
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.
684. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1645 of 18 January 2023, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of staff assigned to each CHO by an organisation (details supplied); and the service-level agreements in place with regard to same-day admissions by the organisation, in tabular form. [4287/23]
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.
685. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the implementation plan following on from the Disability Capacity Review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4298/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 implementation 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 €2.5 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.
686. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if there is any current investigation ongoing into the crisis facing recruitment in Carlow and Kilkenny’s children’s disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4308/23]
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.
687. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health when the working group on community pharmacies is scheduled to come forward with proposals for his consideration. [4311/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring the COVID-19 pandemic the Health Service Executive (HSE) established a Community Pharmacy Contingency Planning working group with relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), to support the implementation of all COVID-19 support measures in the context of pharmacy services and the contribution this sector could make.
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 impact of its work can be seen in the important role that community pharmacists played in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme – the largest vaccination programme ever undertaken by the state.
The Forum has now transitioned to discussing the strategic direction of the community pharmacy profession. The Forum provides an opportunity for all stakeholders, including the IPU and the PSI, to provide insights on how community pharmacy can be expanded in the context of healthcare reform.
While the Forum is chaired by the HSE, my Department is taking a active role in the work currently being undertaken. This will prove invaluable in the context of future contractual reform.
Any proposals arising will have to be considered on their merits, and, 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.
688. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a governance structure for breastfeeding in primary care and acute hospitals divisions; if he will appoint dedicated full-time lactation consultants in each of the nine Community Health Organisations, according to population need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4313/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this PQ relates to operational matters it has been referred to the HSE for direct response
689. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a clear referral pathway for mothers requiring additional breastfeeding support before and after birth, to lactation consultants; his plans to implement evidence informed programmes and initiatives to promote breastfeeding, provide support and address barriers for women least likely to breastfeed, with a particular focus on young mothers under the age of 18 years and women in the Traveller community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4314/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this PQ relates to operational matters it has been referred to the HSE for direct response
690. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if workers on community employment schemes who worked in nursing and care homes throughout the Covid-19 pandemic as support staff (details supplied) are eligible to apply for the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment; the person who should make an application on behalf of these workers if they are eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4324/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
691. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the recruitment of a youth mental health lead within the HSE, as committed to in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4325/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis important new post approved by Government under Budget 2023 is being progressed in the context of improvements for CAMHS and youth mental health overall under the HSE National Service Plan 2023. I have been assured by the HSE that the recruitment process for the key post of Youth Mental Health Lead at Assistant National Director level in the HSE will begin this week. I will continue to closely monitor developments on this, as well as progressing as quickly as possible the new post of National Clinical Lead for Child and Youth Mental Health that I recently announced to further improve all HSE mental health supports for young people.
692. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the commitment outlined in the Programme for Government to examine the reinstatement of a national director for mental health in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4326/23]
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.
693. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will reconsider issuing European health insurance cards to Irish citizens who are resident in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4329/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the EU and the UK provides for a continuation of healthcare rights when on a temporary stay in a State covered by the Agreement. Under the agreement a person’s competent State will issue them with ‘an entitlement document’, in the case of the UK a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), to allow them to access these healthcare rights.
The State which issues the relevant GHIC\EHIC is the State in which a person makes their social security contribution or receives a social security contributory payment. The equivalent of EHIC rights will be maintained under the Agreement for persons resident in Northern Ireland.
694. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update with regard to the payment of the pandemic recognition payment to workers in a location (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4344/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
