Tuesday, 28 Feb 2023

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (616)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

616. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in dementia-specific nursing home units in Cork. [9987/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (617)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

617. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for dementia specific nursing-home care in Cork in 2022. [9988/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Traveller Community

Ceisteanna (618)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

618. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health is he aware of the South Dublin Travellers Report: Nature, Extent and Impact of Suicide among the Traveller Community in South County Dublin and Ballyfermot, 2021 and the nine recommendations coming from it; and what action he will take on the foot of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9997/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the question relates to a service matter, I am forwarding the PQ to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (619)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

619. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the reasons a school (details supplied) was not included in the one-off inflation funding announced on 20 February 2023, considering it meets the criteria of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9998/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

A significant fund of €81m has been allocated to support community based voluntary organisations who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country.

These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services similar or ancillary to those that the HSE may provide to communities around Ireland.

This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community.

The details of the plan were finalised earlier this year. It was agreed that the inflation support fund will be administered by the HSE utilising the mechanism in place for funding eligible organisations in receipt of Service Level Arrangements and Grant Aid Agreements. These arrangements are already in place with organisations that provide key health and social care services for people in Ireland.

The Minister for Health has determined the scope of the fund and the methodology used to determine the amount paid to each organisation within scope. Based on this scope and methodology, the HSE has determined the exact organisations and relevant amounts at the operational level.

As the question relates to the administration of the fund, I am forwarding the PQ to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (620)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

620. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health whether his Department is exploring the option of introducing legislation to facilitate increased biosimilar use and or introducing pharmacy-level substitution for biosimilars. [9999/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

My Department is working with colleagues from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to consider the European Medicines Agency's ruling and other initiatives to optimise the use of biosimilar and generic medicines.

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (621)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

621. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if financial compensation will be offered to those who were forced into private nursing home care with no assistance from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10011/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Up until 2004, people who were provided with publicly-funded long-stay care in public facilities and in publicly contracted beds paid a contribution towards the cost of their maintenance through a charge raised under Regulations made in 1954 and 1976.

It was accepted in 2004 that there was a flawed legal basis for raising charges on those with full eligibility in publicly funded care. This was regularised by the introduction of legislation in 2005 to provide for charges in publicly funded care and the establishment of a repayment scheme to refund charges that had been paid pre-2005. Over €450m was paid out under this scheme. The scope of the scheme was well publicised at the time and was limited to those who had full eligibility under the 1970 Act and who had paid charges to the State as a contribution towards their publicly-funded care.

It is a matter of public record that legal cases have been taken against the State seeking the repayment of private nursing homes fees in cases where people had full eligibility under the 1970 Act. Cases have been managed by the Department on a case-by-case basis in close consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The consistent position has been that it was not the policy intent of Government at that time for public monies to be used in this way, and that eligibility under the 1970 Act was and continues to be subject to the availability of resources.

Upon the raising of issues about how the State has approached legal challenges taken against it in relation to pre-2005 legacy nursing home charges, the Government moved quickly to establish the facts surrounding these issues, which go back many decades, by requesting the Attorney General to prepare a Report on the litigation management strategy. This comprehensive Report was published on 7 February 2023.

The Minister for Social Protection and I have undertaken to consider the Attorney General's Report in full and to revert to Government in three months on any further steps required.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (622)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

622. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will consider nominating a key worker for schools from the children’s disability teams to ensure the student is supported at school as efficiently as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10022/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.