Written Answers Nos. 380-391
380. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a speech and language service will be provided to a child (details supplied) considering that the children’s disability network team identified this as a high priority due to the complexities of the child’s disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7840/23]
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.
381. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused the special pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7848/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
382. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect an appointment in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7849/23]
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.
383. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will re-examine the rules around who is eligible for the pandemic bonus payment for healthcare workers with a view to including a group that have been left out (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7866/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.
This payment is for certain eligible HSE and Section 38 staff, and specific cohorts beyond the public sector as follows:
Private sector nursing homes and hospices;
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;
Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above-mentioned cohorts are the only ones covered for this payment. It was tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which eligible frontline workers faced, following careful consideration and consultation.
While undoubtedly immense efforts have been made by other healthcare staff since the onset of this pandemic, it is right that the Government pursue this course to recognise those at greatest risk in the performance of their duties throughout the pandemic, including those who worked in the very acutely affected environments above.
The Government has expressed sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during what has been a challenging period for our health services. The Government appreciates that those organisations and staff who are not encompassed for this particular payment may feel disappointed.
In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. As of February this year there is also a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
Finally, I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
384. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of GP practices in Cork; the number who are participating in the under 6 scheme; the number of practices advertised by the HSE as participating; the number of modifications to that HSE list since it was initially published; the reason the various modifications were made; the level of confidence in the accuracy of the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7867/23]
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.
385. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the discussions that have taken place between him and an organisation (details supplied) on a topic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7872/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the significant role that community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care. I also acknowledge the vital role that community pharmacy will play in the development and implementation of future healthcare reform, especially in regard to the aims and vision of Sláintecare.
During 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 an active role in the work currently being undertaken. This will prove invaluable in the context of future contractual reform.
On the 24th of November 2022, I, and Departmental officials, met with the IPU. At that meeting, various proposals regarding extending the scope of practice offered by community pharmacists were discussed. Since then, an internal Department group has convened to consider these proposals and to progress ways in which to extend the scope of practice of community pharmacists in the short, medium and longer term. This work is ongoing and is progressing at a fast pace.
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.
386. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that several patients on trolleys were temporarily moved from the hallway of the accident and emergency department to the transit ward and other areas of the hospital prior to the Ministers visit to Tullamore Hospital on or about 2 December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7885/23]
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.
387. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of the non-commercial and semi-State commercial companies under his aegis; if an explanatory memorandum will be provided in respect of the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2022; if his Department collects the funds and forwards it to the central fund or whether it goes directly; if over that period his Department has requested an increase in respect of the dividend due over it’s percentage shareholding; the number of occasions that it waived the dividend; the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7907/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Health I have one commercial state body under the aegis of my Department, which is the Voluntary Health Insurance Board or Vhi.
Vhi operates on a mutual basis, with any surpluses at the end of the year being reinvested back into the business. Under the Voluntary Health Insurance Act 1957 (as amended) there is no provision for dividends to be paid from Vhi to the Exchequer.
Vhi Group was established in 2015 as part of its authorisation as an insurance provider by the Central Bank, and Vhi's different functions under the Voluntary Health Insurance Acts are carried out by subsidiaries. These subsidiaries can issue dividends within the internal group organisation. The subsidiaries issue these dividends to the Vhi parent organization, Vhi Group. The amounts of these dividends can be found in the Vhi Annual Report.
Generally, dividend payments do not arise in non-commercial state bodies.
388. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has received a request from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of his Department or under the control of agencies under the remit of his Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if he has identified potential properties and their locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7938/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that I have received a request from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to properties under the control of my Department, or under the control of agencies under the remit of my Department, which may be suitable for providing accommodation to international protection applications or beneficiaries of temporary protection.
My Department has engaged with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) over the course of 2022 and will continue to do so, in relation to the sourcing of properties which may be suitable for use in providing this accommodation.
As part of this engagement my Department has provided to DCEDIY a comprehensive list and overview of those properties currently owned by the HSE and surplus to health service requirements which may be suitable for the provision of accommodation. Some 300 properties were identified in the overview and details of these properties were provided to DCEDIY in 2022.
In addition to the comprehensive list of properties, the HSE have also seconded a key member of their estate accommodation team to the Interdepartmental Ukrainian Refugee Accommodation response.
My Department and the HSE will continue to contribute to the important issue of sourcing suitable accommodation and stand ready, as they have to date, to continue to engage with DCEDIY to identify any further opportunities to expand the list of properties already identified.
389. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a healthcare worker (details supplied) will be awarded the pandemic payment bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
390. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the drugs currently available and approved throughout he HSE for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and other similar conditions, medication for which is awaiting approval in this country or in the EU; when it is expected those still waiting for approval are likely to become available to patients likely to require the treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7961/23]
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.
391. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will give a personal direction to ensure that patients with life threatening illnesses are offered medical cards without incessant reviews on financial grounds or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7962/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Where individuals might be in excess of the medical card income guidelines, every effort is made by the HSE to support applicants by taking full account of the difficult circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness, that can arise. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card.
The HSE also has a compassionate system in place for the provision of medical cards where persons are in need of urgent ongoing medical care or when a patient is receiving end of life treatment - that is when patients’ unfortunately have a prognosis of less than 12 months. In addition, since March 2021, persons who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less are now also awarded a medical card.
It is important to highlight that medical cards awarded on either end of life or terminal illness grounds are not re-assessed by the HSE, thereby providing reassurance and comfort to patients and their families. Further information can be found on the HSE’s website at www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/emergency-medical-cards/
