Written Answers Nos. 640-663
640. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to make the free contraception scheme accessible for marginalised communities, including disabled women, migrant women, Traveller women and Roma women, in terms of telemedicine, eligibility without a PPSN and inclusion of pharmacist prescribing as part of the roll-out. [11354/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra641. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of members of the clinical expert group on the free contraception scheme in the HSE. [11355/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 641 together.
The free contraception scheme was launched on 14th September, 2022. The scheme is currently open to women aged 17-26 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and will be extended to women aged 30 and under by September 1st, 2023. Funding through Budget 2023 was also allocated to expand the scheme to 16 year-olds, but this is subject to consultation across Government, legal advice and legislative amendment.
The questions from the deputy raise a number of queries in relation to the free contraception scheme:
a. access to the scheme for marginalised and vulnerable groups who may not have a PPSN.
b. telemedicine
c. the provision of some forms of hormonal contraception by pharmacists without the need for prescription
In relation to access of the scheme by women who face challenges in accessing the scheme including those who may be vulnerable or marginalised, it is my understanding that in any situation where a person requires a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to access urgent or emergency medical services, but hasn’t yet been assigned one, the Department of Social Protection can and will allocate a PPSN for that purpose. There is regular ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to facilitate the operation of the scheme and to resolve any issues that may arise, and we will continue to ensure the positive rollout and enhancement of the scheme.
With regard to the inclusion of telemedicine and a wider role for pharmacists in improving access to free contraception, my officials have submitted a number of questions regarding these options, to clinical experts within the HSE for consideration. A group was convened under the governance of the HSE’s Integrated Care Lead and includes experienced obstetricians/gynaecologists, nurses and midwives, a clinical pharmacist, a paediatrician, and general practitioners.
With regard to the detail details of the membership of the HSE Expert Clinical Group, I have asked that the HSE respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
642. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of a chest-bracing service for children under the public healthcare system as of March 2023; when he expects the HSE National Service Plan 2023 to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11357/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with the information sought as soon as possible.
In relation to the second part of this question relating to the National Service Plan - I have also included this as part of the note to the HSE which is as follows:
Following a review of the 2023 National Service Plan, the HSE is currently revising the plan in line with considerations and feedback provided by my Department and other stakeholders. On that basis, I expect to receive a revised NSP shortly for consideration.
In line with the Act, the NSP, when approved, will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days. After this the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
643. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of respite services for a person (details supplied). [11374/23]
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.
644. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount paid, per year to a company (details supplied) by the HSE and his Department; the details of the cases being handled by year by the company; the cases still to be resolved by the company; and a timeline for when these cases are expected to be resolved. [11417/23]
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 concerning the details sought. My Department has not utilised the company.
645. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE and his Department per month on the Covid tracker app in each of the past three years, in tabular form. [11418/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of the Covid Tracker app was approximately €800k with ongoing support and development costs of approximately €20k per month during the subsequent 6 months. If a breakdown in tabular form is required the department will need to refer this PQ to the HSE for that detail.
The cost of the Irish tracker app compares with an estimated cost of €20m for the German Covid tracker app, as reported by the media at the time.
Covid tracker apps are significantly more complex than a typical app, as it relies on using advanced engineering and bluetooth technology to estimate distances from others with mobile phones.
The Irish app was also used as part of the communications strategy to keep people informed about the spread of the disease, the number of positive cases and deaths recorded (by area) and the number of vaccinations administered. The app was subsequently upgraded to act as a digital wallet for people to store their digital Covid certificate on their phone.
The Irish Covid app was extremely popular with the public - with over 1 million downloads in the first 36 hours after launch. In latter times it was more popular as a convenient way of storing the digital Covid certificates. In line with the data privacy impact assessment, the app will be decommissioned when no longer required. As the EU regulatory requirement for member states to issue EU digital Covid certificates is scheduled to lapse this summer, its likely the app will be decommissioned at that time also.
646. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE and his Department per month on the implementation and practical costs of the Covid vaccine passport both for foreign travel and for public houses and restaurants in each of the past three years, in tabular form. [11419/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland was legally obliged under an EU regulation to provide EU Digital Covid Certificates (DCCs) to everyone who received a Covid vaccination in Ireland. Furthermore, Irish citizens who received an EU recognised vaccine in another country, where suitable evidence could be provided, were also entitled to a DCC.
The EU Digital Covid Certificate (aka Covid Passport) was implemented using a data feed from the national Covid vaccination system (COVAX), developed and operated by the HSE. The modifications required to Covax were minimal and hence development costs were minor and not tracked separately.
The department did incur costs associated with Covid passports that were issued by post and where they were 'returned to sender'. These costs are identified in the table below (the sender was identified as the department of health even though paper based certs were posted out by Revenue who offered the department support with printing and posting of certs because they were set up operationally to do that work during the pandemic).
|
An Post invoices |
€ |
|
29/07/2021 |
€10,231.25 |
|
25/03/2022 |
€165.00 |
|
30/06/2022 |
€4.60 |
|
Total |
€10,400.85 |
Existing infrastructure was used to email Covid passports to the majority of those who received a vaccination, hence no additional cost was incurred for emailed passports. Paper certificates/passports were issued by post where an email address was not provided or where an individual expressed a preference to receive their certificate by post. To support the department, Revenue printed all paper certificates and covered the cost of all postage.
The department also stood up a helpline and on line portal to allow people to update their details, request a re-issue of certs and deal with other queries associated with Covid certificates (passports).
647. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the audit of TAPS payments undertaken by both the NTPF and the HSE has been delivered to him; if so, if he will publish the audit in full; if it is not complete, if he will indicate an expected date of the report to be before him, and subsequently published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11431/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €147 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) since its introduction in 2020. The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) COVID-19 Outbreak Assistance was extended to the end of December 2022 and the Department of Health intends to further extend availability of the scheme to the end of March 2023.
A robust control framework was put in place for the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme, including requirements for validation, review of claims by an external accountancy firm, and provision for all claims to be audited and any misallocated funds clawed back for up to six years following. The thresholds also provided a strong control on costs. Claims to the scheme were administered by the NTPF (National Treatment Purchase Fund), with the HSE validating and processing payments.
Internal audits of the scheme have been finalised by the NTPF and HSE. The NTPF and the HSE have also undertaken to carry out an audit of payments, which is ongoing. Finalisation of the audit of payments will require ongoing contact with third parties, but both agencies are working to bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible.
648. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if any assistance can be given in relation to deferring a payment for a person (details supplied). [11434/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
649. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged between eight to 12 years inclusive, 13 to 15 inclusive, and 16 to 18 inclusive, who have been referred to the National Treatment Purchase Fund for dental treatment in each of the years 2020 to 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [11440/23]
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.
650. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) [11450/23]
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.
651. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the steps being taken to provide treatment by an ear plastic surgeon for children born with or suffering from an ear deformity (details supplied); when this service will be available on a permanent and full-time basis in the State; in the interim, the steps being taken to put an SLA in place to enable delivery of this treatment in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11451/23]
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.
652. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has to wait so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11452/23]
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.
653. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of organisations and their locations supplying meals on wheels in the Kildare south area; the number of meals they are providing and their frequency; how much financial support they are getting from the HSE and or her Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11453/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
654. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on a national register for the location of defibrillators AEDs; if he is considering an app to assist in their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11454/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraReferred to HSE for direct answer as this is an operational matter.
655. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health his views in relation to the lack of public urology services in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11456/23]
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.
656. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from an agency (details supplied) will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11471/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
657. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from an agency (details supplied) will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11472/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
658. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from a nursing home (details supplied) which has since closed down will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11473/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy.
659. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from a nursing home (details supplied) which has since closed down will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11474/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy.
660. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from an agency (details supplied) will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11475/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
661. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from an agency (details supplied) will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11476/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
662. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from an agency (details supplied) will receive their Covid-19 special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11477/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
663. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when staff from an agency (details supplied), who worked as clerical staff at Mullingar Regional Hospital, will receive their Covid-19 Special Recognition Payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11478/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
