Written Answers Nos. 381-391
381. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds that are available for adults with intellectual disabilities in the Cavan-Monaghan area; the number that are occupied at present; when extra respite beds will be made available during 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5294/23]
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.
382. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason that a report (details supplied) has not been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5308/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to acknowledge the important work carried out by support staff across our health service. Their support is of significant value to our services.
The Job Evaluation Scheme is an assessment of the responsibilities and tasks undertaken by support staff across the Health service. The recommendations under Phase IV of the scheme were evidence-based and made without prejudice based on a specific set of criteria.
HSE HR circular 003 2003, which relates to Phase IV of the Job Evaluation Scheme, has been released by the HSE, and highlights any changes to bands of pay for support staff, based on these criteria.
383. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of prosecutions brought under section 14 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, for each year since its enactment. [5311/23]
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.
384. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time persons have to wait in County Tipperary CHO3 and CHO5 before learning their biopsy histology results (details supplied); the HSE policy on waiting times for histology results and if CHO3 and CH05 are compliant with these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5312/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
385. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) is under a standalone review. [5318/23]
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.
386. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the potential for inclusion of housekeeping staff in pay increases following job revaluations in CUH. [5322/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the important work carried out by all support staff across our health service. Their support is of significant value to our services.
The Job Evaluation Scheme is an assessment of the responsibilities and tasks undertaken by support staff across the Health service. The recommendations under Phase IV of the scheme were evidence-based and made without prejudice based on a specific set of criteria.
HSE HR circular 003 2003, which relates to Phase IV of the Job Evaluation Scheme, has been released by the HSE, and highlights the agreed bands of pay for support staff, based on these criteria.
387. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1087 of 8 November 2022, the rationale behind not listing Covid-19 as an occupational injury (details supplied). [5342/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Listing of Covid-19 as an Occupational Injury is a matter for Department of Social Protection.
This PQ will have to be issued to DSP for response.
388. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department have taken note of the decision by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to cease offering a third Covid booster jab to persons aged 16 to 49 years who are not in a clinical risk group at the close of the autumn 2022 vaccination campaign; if he will support such a policy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5348/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's 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.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
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 NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.
You can view the updated guidelines here:
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf
The NIAC has recommended a third mRNA booster for persons aged 65 years and older, and those aged 12-64 years who are immunocompromised. The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.
A second booster dose is available for all those 18 and older, 12 or older with a condition that puts you at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19, or living in a long-term care facility, a healthcare worker, or if you are pregnant over 16 weeks.
Further information on the booster vaccine rollout can be viewed here:
www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-booster-dose/
389. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the annual breakdown of the bed capacity in Crumlin Children’s hospital since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5349/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra390. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the monthly breakdown of the bed capacity in Crumlin Children’s hospital since 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5350/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together.
As this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
391. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps being taking to increase the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis, given that existing services are oversubscribed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5395/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland established a national HIV PrEP programme in November 2019, following a HIQA Health Technology Assessment (HTA), which concluded that the introduction of HIV PrEP would be safe, effective and cost saving. The HTA also found that significant investment in public STI services was required to implement PrEP and €5.4 million was set aside in Budget 2020 to roll out a national HIV PrEP programme, managed by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP).
At present, there are 13 public PrEP clinics in Ireland, four of which are located in Dublin, and 16 private/GP providers who are approved to prescribe PrEP, 15 of which are located in Dublin. Services rapidly adapted PrEP service delivery early in the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure continued access to PrEP, despite the impact of the pandemic on every aspect of the health service.
In 2021, given the ongoing impact of the pandemic on attending clinical services in person, coupled with a national outbreak of early infectious syphilis, the Sláintecare Integration Fund initially supported a pilot programme to provide access to online STI testing, in Dublin, Cork and Kerry. This pilot was very successful and was gradually expanded, receiving €3 million in support in Budget 2022 and an additional €600,000 in Budget 2023. The service was launched on a nationwide basis in October, 2022.
Since the PrEP programme commenced in November, 2019, the HSE SHCPP advise that over 7,500 individuals have been approved for PrEP, in line with national PrEP eligibility criteria. Significant progress has been made in PrEP rollout across Ireland. However, this occurred at a time of unprecedented challenges for the health service - the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic on access to clinical services, coupled with the effects of necessary Covid-19 restrictions on people's social interactions. This made it difficult to assess whether capacity would meet demand under normal circumstances.
In line with international trends, the eligibility criteria for PrEP have recently been revised to include anticipated risk of HIV infection. This is likely to increase the overall numbers of individuals meeting the criteria for inclusion in the PrEP programme.
The relaxation of most Covid-19 restrictions, following the successful national vaccination campaign, has permitted a preliminary assessment that additional resources may be required to meet additional demand, build capacity and invest in monitoring, evaluation and research to ensure that the PrEP programme in Ireland is reaching those in need, responsive to changing need and at the cutting edge of international PrEP programme delivery.
The HSE SHCPP have put a number of measures in place to support the PrEP Programme, including updating the clinical PrEP Guidelines and approval processes and providing an e-learning module to enable greater access to the PrEP programme through GPs, allowing stable patients to undertake routine STI testing through the new online service, and working with other areas of the HSE to enable efficient data collection and identify resources to improve capacity.
The HSE SHCPP has identified monitoring and evaluation of the PrEP programme as a priority area of work, building on that which has been undertaken to date.
An independent review of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 (NSHS) is in the final stages of preparation and will be published shortly. The Review will inform development of the new NSHS 2023 – 2030. Capacity for PrEP will be examined as part of the policy development process leading to the new NSHS. Allocation of additional resources to support the new Strategy, including resources to support PrEP, is a matter for the Estimates process leading to Budget 2024.
