Written Answers Nos. 672-686
672. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to ensure universal access to dedicated menopause counselling supports and screening for cardiovascular and osteoporosis risk factors. [10181/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWomen's health is a key priority for me, as Minister for Health, and for my Department. In 2019, the Women's Health Task force was established to improve women's health outcomes and experiences in Ireland. On the 8th of March 2022, International Women’s Day, I launched the Women's Health Action Plan 2022-2023. This Action Plan is the first of its kind in Ireland and marks a significant milestone in our efforts to improve women's health. The Action Plan puts forward a wide range of positive initiatives to support women’s health and sets out a framework for prioritising women's health.
Menopause is a key action within this plan, committing to change the approach to menopause care in Ireland and to increase public supports available to women before, during and after menopause. Significant progress has been made in the implementation of this plan throughout 2022 and this year in the area of menopause including:
- the development of 6 specialist menopause clinics for women who have complex experiences of menopause,
- the development of a Quick Reference Guide for Menopause to support GPs in providing care to people in the community who are experiencing menopause
- the launch of a Menopause Awareness Campaign accompanied by a dedicated webpage to provide trusted information for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland,
- work on the development of a Menopause in the Workplace Framework for the wider Public Service.
In regards to the Deputy's query regarding screening, the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is an independent advisory committee which advises me as Minister for Health and my Department on all new proposals for population-based screening programmes and revisions to existing programmes. The Committee plays a significant strategic role in the development and consideration of population-based screening programmes in Ireland.
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
An exact costing cannot be provided for the introduction of a new population-based screening programme as financial cost is but one factor that is considered in the decision-making process. Due to the complex nature of the evaluation process and the criteria against which a decision is made, it would be impossible to accurately quantify the cost of a new screening programme until a full evidential assessment was completed.
The NSAC holds an Annual Call for proposals from various sources such as members of the public, HSE, clinicians on the introduction of new screening programmes or changes to our existing programmes. Further information about the NSAC and its processes are available on their website www.nsacommittee.gov.ie.
It is also important to note that the GP Access to Diagnostics initiative, which was launched in January 2021 and is open to the full adult population for referral, provides a structured pathway for GPs to directly access radiology diagnostic tests, so patients can access these tests quickly and without seeing a consultant. In 2022, over 253,000 diagnostic tests were completed through this initiative, which includes DEXA, X-Ray, MRI, and CT Scans, provisioned by private providers and avoiding referral to the acute setting for patients to access these tests. This year, funding of €47 million has been allocated to ensure the continuation of this initiative, with the full population eligible to be referred for outsourced radiology scans, to the end of 2023.
673. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical specialist and WTE senior podiatrist posts for HSE acute hospital diabetes that have physically taken up post. [10182/23]
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.
674. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant paediatric neurologists working in the public health services; his plans to expand this number; and the international recommended best practice ratio for paediatric neurologist surgeons to population and current ratio. [10184/23]
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.
675. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to develop a model of care for people with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder; if there is a clinical lead in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10193/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question relates to a service matter, this PQ has been forwarded to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.
676. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to develop a model of care for people with a dual diagnosis of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder and ASD; if there is a clinical lead in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10194/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question relates to a service matter, this PQ has been forwarded to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.
677. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the HSE has the necessary funding and support for recruitment to ensure that University Hospital Waterford has the minimum members of staff required to manage the diabetes unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10216/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
678. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health if University Hospital Waterford, as a level 4 hospital, has contingency plans in place for staffing of the diabetes unit to ensure adequate cover in the event of staff illness or leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10217/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
679. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the current staffing of the diabetes unit at the University Hospital Waterford; if it is likely to adversely impact on the services provided to patients with diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10218/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this issue is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
680. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be called for an assessment; if this person is on a waiting list for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10219/23]
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.
681. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a facility (details supplied) is not operating; the expected timeframe for a commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
682. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 22 February 2023, if he will meet with a group (details supplied) at his earliest convenience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10255/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDedicated funding of €1.3m was provided in Budget 2023 to provide reimbursement support for Cariban, for women suffering hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of nausea during pregnancy.
Cariban has been available since the beginning of the year. As of 24 February 2023, 530 women have been approved for the product.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for medicine reimbursement decisions under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Because Cariban is an unlicensed product, and cannot be added to the reimbursement list, the HSE put in place an exceptional arrangement which requires that the initial prescriber of Cariban must be a consultant. Of course, the HSE will thereafter accept GP prescriptions for approved patients.
However, as I recognise that women suffering hyperemesis gravidarum may need access to Cariban before their first consultation with their specialist/obstetrician, and in light of the fact that GPs already prescribe it without an initial prescription from a specialist, I have asked that the HSE review the current arrangement and to report back to me.
I will consider the Deputy's request when the results of that review are available.
683. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the clinical programme for adult ADHD assessment in CHO4, including the number of people on waiting lists, how the programme is being implemented, and the date for commencement of the programme. [10280/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question relates to a service matter, this PQ has been forwarded to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.
684. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that cobalt is no longer to be used after 15 July 2023; if so, the reason this is the case; the legislation that stipulates the removal of cobalt from animal feed additives from 15 July; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9475/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommission Regulation (EU) No 601/2013 authorised a number of cobalt related feed additives for inclusion in the register of feed additives for feeding to animals. The date of first entry of these additives in this register was 15th July 2013 and these authorisations are for a period of ten years.
Under Article 14 of EU Regulation 1831/2003, in order for a feed additive to have its authorisation renewed, an application for renewal must be sent by the holder of the authorisation or other interested party to the EU Commission at least one year before the expiry date of the authorisation. In the case of these cobalt related additives, no applications were submitted within the required timeframe. Accordingly, these authorisations will expire on the 15th of July 2023.
New applications for the authorisation of cobalt related feed additives were submitted to the EU Commission in October 2022 and these applications are currently being assessed by European Food Safety Authority.
Officials in my Department are aware of the importance of cobalt for the feed industry and are monitoring the application's progress.
685. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 'breaking and schooling scheme' for the equine sector will be available for application in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9477/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 'breaking and schooling scheme' was supported under the Equine National Breeding Services which was previously provided by Horse Sport Ireland up to 2022. A public tendering process for the delivery of these breeding services on behalf of my Department has taken place and the contract agreement is currently being finalised.
Should this service be approved by my Department as part of the contract, the date of application would be a matter for the service provider.
686. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the greyhound track attendance figures for 2022 by date and track and a breakdown of the figures into, including, paid entry, free entry and entry by adults, children, owners/trainers, bookmakers, press, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9544/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
