Written Answers Nos. 529-542
529. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if changes are proposed to the atypical work permit scheme to make the processing time of applications more efficient; when these proposed changes are likely to be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) was developed by agreement between the Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), in order to facilitate specialised, highly-skilled employment of a short term nature (generally less than 90 days) that is not supported by current Employment Permit legislation.
Following consultation with other Government Departments and Agencies (including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Health, and the Health Services Executive (HSE)), certain other employment situations are also supported by the Atypical Working Scheme.
The wider terms of the Atypical Working Scheme are subject to inter-Departmental and inter-agency agreement by the stakeholders outlined above and are kept under ongoing review.
The staffing levels in the Atypical Working Scheme Unit of my Department are kept under constant review and additional staff have been assigned to the team, as required. It should be noted that the stated minimum processing time required under the terms of the Atypical Working Scheme is 20 working days. Currently, the average processing time for AWS applications is 16 working days.
It remains open for any individual intending to work in the State to secure a longer term permission on that basis via the Employment Permit system operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, rather than the shorter term provided by the Atypical Working Scheme. Further information relating to employment permits can be found on that Department's website, www.enterprise.gov.ie.
Further information on the AWS is available on my Department's website: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/what-are-my-work-visa-options/applying-for-a-long-stay-employment-visa/atypical-working-scheme/
530. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the key services and supports available to children with autism in County Roscommon once diagnosis takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10058/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
531. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for which key services and supports available to children with autism in County Roscommon stay in place for each child once diagnosis takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10059/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
532. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting on CORU registration; the number of this figure who are professionals who have trained abroad; the average wait time for registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10227/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will already be aware, CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator for regulating health and social care professionals. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards. There are two forms of application to CORU: applications for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and applications for registration.
Professional qualifications awarded outside the State are assessed through a process of “recognition” which involves expert assessment of a qualification’s alignment with the standards of proficiency required in Ireland, and assessment of professional experience and lifelong learning where required. CORU’s Recognition Department has informed me that it currently has 321 applications from applicants with non-Irish qualifications which are deemed complete applications and suitable for further processing. In relation to timeframes, the recognition process is now down to less than 70 days on average once a complete application has been submitted.
Once a complete file has been submitted for recognition, applicants are invited to initiate their application for registration in parallel. CORU’s Registration Department has informed me that it currently has 1,234 applications from Section 38 applicants (this includes applicants with both Irish and non-Irish/international qualifications), of which only 161 are deemed complete applications and are suitable for further processing. The average processing time from receipt of a complete application to full CORU registration is 9 weeks.
I met with the Chairperson and CEO of CORU last year and raised the issue of timeframes for the recognition of qualifications and registration applications. Following our discussion, several measures have been initiated by CORU aimed at further reducing timeframes. My Department has supported CORU to introduce a number of initiatives including:
- Introduction of a dual registration process, allowing those applying for recognition of a qualification received outside the state to simultaneous initiate an application for registration.
- Introduction of an online application system.
- Increased frequency of regulatory decision making (Registration Board meetings)
- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources
- Recruitment of additional expert assessors in ‘under pressure’ professions
Alongside the immediate measures CORU has taken to reduce processing times, my officials are working with CORU to identify innovations that will deliver long term improvements for the assessment and registration of eligible applications.
533. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the development of a building to serve as a permanent vaccination centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9471/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
534. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied) sent in March 2022 regarding a funding query; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9472/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two services funded by the National Cancer Control Programme and administered by the Irish Cancer Society which offer financial supports towards travelling for cancer treatment.
The first of these services is the Travel2Care Scheme – a limited transportation assistance fund. This is available to patients travelling to a designated cancer centre such as University Hospital Galway, approved centres, or an approved children’s hospital and will cover part of the associated costs for said travel.
The second scheme available aiding those travelling for cancer treatment is the Volunteer Driver Service. This is a volunteer delivered transport service wherein patients are driven to and from treatment in designated partner hospitals and centres. Drivers are interviewed, trained, Garda-vetted and must attend annual Support & Supervision sessions run by the Irish Cancer Society to participate in the service.
The service is free to the patient, with all costs paid by the Irish Cancer Society, and applications are conducted by approaching a healthcare professional in a partnered hospital who will then discuss the suitability of it for the patients' needs and make a decision on referral. Once referred, the patient must book appointments in advance with the Irish Cancer Society to arrange transport.
Further information on both schemes can be obtained from the Irish Cancer Society, via cancer.ie, emailing travel@irishcancer.ie, or by calling 01 231 6643 / 01 231 0522 to request information. I am advised that the Irish Cancer Society is happy to receive requests outside the guidelines on an exceptional basis.
A response to the correspondence mentioned by the Deputy in his question should issue shortly.
535. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the steps he proposes to take to ensure healthcare provision for survivors of Magdalen laundries resident in Ireland is aligned with the HAA-standard care, as recommended by the Quirke report. [9473/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Magdalene Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme was established in 2013 by the then Department of Justice and Equality on foot of the recommendations contained in the Magdalen Commission Report by Judge Quirke.
In his report, Judge Quirke outlined that Magdalen women should be provided with access to a comprehensive suite of health services. He specified GP services, prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances, dental, ophthalmic, aural, home support, home nursing, counselling, chiropody and physiotherapy services and conveyed the view that the health provisions should operate in a manner similar to the scheme made available to certain persons under the Health (Amendment) Act 1996. Subsequently, these services were agreed by Government and were legislated for by the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 (RWRCI Act).
It has been commented on that Judge Quirke’s report also included the recommendation that Magdalen women should have access to the full range of services currently availed of by holders of the Hepatitis C HAA card. However, the HAA services differ from the range of services explicitly recommended in the report and this difference was not reconciled in the report. However, Judge Quirke’s report acknowledged that the HAA services were reproduced for illustrative purposes and recognised that not all of the HAA services described may be relevant to the Magdalen women. The Act is based on the specific areas recommended by Judge Quirke.
Eligibility for HAA services is based on the Health Amendment Act 1996. The purpose of the 1996 Act was to meet the health care needs of persons who contracted hepatitis C from a blood product or blood transfusion. It is generally accepted that these hepatitis C patients are a particularly vulnerable group who have specific health needs as a result of their infection. It is apparent that the Quirke Report recognises that the Magdalen women and the groups of people who contracted hepatitis C are not identical and face different circumstances. In that light, it is not unreasonable to provide eligibility for services tailored to women who were admitted to and worked in a relevant institution and who are now facing medical circumstances that are typical of that age cohort. It should be noted that Judge Quirke did not identify complementary therapies, such as reflexology, aromatherapy, massage, hydrotherapy and acupuncture, or other alternative therapies as health services meeting the medical needs of the women.
536. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the decision to charge an elderly person (details supplied) with a medical card for a public hospital stay is a breach of Government policy on hospital charges; if he is in agreement with the hospital's decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9487/23]
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.
537. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if any consideration is being given to providing financial relief to those availing of the nursing home loan fair deal scheme, given the consumer price index is so high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9494/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone, and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
One feature of the NHSS scheme is that participants who own property/land-based assets in the State also have access to Ancillary State Support, or the Nursing Home Loan, an optional feature of the Fair Deal Scheme. It is a loan which may be applied for at any time that is advanced by the HSE to help people meet the portion of their contribution to the cost of care that is based on property/land-based assets, most typically against the personal residence. If an individual secures ancillary state support, they will not need to contribute against the value of the relevant property during their time on the scheme, unless the property is sold during that time.
Payment of the Nursing Home Loan (Ancillary State Support) by the HSE results in the creation of a charge (a simple type of mortgage) in favour of the HSE against the interest of the applicant and his/her partner in the asset(s). The HSE will notify the Property Registration Authority of the charge who will register it against the specified asset(s).
Ancillary State Support becomes repayable following the occurrence of a relevant event, most commonly after the death of the client. If the loan is repaid in a timely fashion (in the event of the death of the scheme participant, this is 12 months), no interest is applied. In certain conditions - for example, where a partner or child continues to reside in the property - a further deferral to the repayment of the loan can be granted.
The Department of Health accepts that the Nursing Homes Support Scheme can place a potentially onerous burden on participants and their families. In attempting to alleviate some of the costs associated with long-term residential care, the legislation has been amended in recent years to extend the 3-year cap to the proceeds of sale of the principal private residence and to the financial assessment of family owned farms and businesses, provided certain conditions are met, to preserve their sustainability and future viability. Additional amendment to the scheme permits participants to retain 60% of income accrued from renting their principle private residence - rental income accrued from property that is not a principal private residence will continue to be assessed at 80%.
In respect of calculating the rate and terms of interest relating to outstanding Ancillary State Support scheduled for repayment, the Department of Health keeps this element of the legislation under ongoing review with relation to changes in economic conditions.
538. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent neurology registrars working in University Hospital Waterford in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9495/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
539. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of children on waiting lists for therapeutic care in each children's disability network team in CHO 5, according to each speciality; the average waiting time for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9496/23]
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.
540. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of children on waiting lists for therapeutic care in each children's disability network team in County Wexford, according to each speciality; the average waiting time for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9497/23]
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.
541. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent consultant anaesthesiologists working in Wexford General Hospital in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9498/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
542. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the depletion of Rivotril 0.5 mg tablets (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9515/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCheplapharm, the company responsible for supplying Rivotril 0.5mg tablets notified the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of a shortage that began on 25th November 2022, due to a manufacturing issue. The HPRA has offered the company regulatory flexibility, including expediting controlled drug licences required to transport the product to Ireland and offering temporary authorisation for the company to import its product from another market to help mitigate the impact of this shortage on patients in Ireland. The HPRA has also engaged with the HSE regarding the shortage, as clinical treatment of patients is the remit of the HSE.
Whilst the HPRA has no role in procuring medicines, the HPRA has liaised with suppliers of exempt medicinal products (EMPs*) during the shortage, confirming that the HPRA has no objection to the supply of EMP alternatives and has assurances that there has been some EMP availability.
The issue has been discussed with all other European countries and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The shortage also significantly impacts other European countries, including Spain, where the product is manufactured.
Cheplapharm has confirmed that the Irish stock has been released from the Spanish manufacturer and estimated that Rivotril would be resupplied to patients in Ireland during the week of 13th March.
Regarding Rivotril in liquid form, for clarity, there is no other formulation of Rivotril authorised in Ireland. There is, however, an alternative oral solution product from a different supplier with the same active ingredient, clonazepam, authorised and supplied in Ireland (Clonazepam Rosemount 0.5mg/5ml).
*Schedule 1 of the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations includes an exemption which enables practitioners to prescribe a medicine as an exempt medicinal product (EMP) under that practitioners direct responsibility, in order to fulfil the special needs of that specific patient. If a valid prescription is issued for an EMP in line with the above Regulations, an appropriately authorised wholesaler can source that product from another market for supply to the patient via their pharmacy in line with that prescription.
As EMPs have not been granted a marketing authorisation in Ireland by the HPRA, they would not be assessed by the HPRA for quality, safety or efficacy. If sourced in response to a bona fide unsolicited order as a licensed product from another market these medicines will have undergone an evaluation of their safety, quality, and efficacy for the granting of their marketing authorisation in that country carried out by the respective competent authority for medicines in that state.
