Written Answers Nos. 767-782
767. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the other options open for a woman suffering from endometriosis, who was referred to a pain specialist (details supplied), but was told that they could be waiting over a year for their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26216/23]
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.
768. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if, in light of his decision to introduce calorie information for alcohol products, he will implement a similar requirement for the hospitality sector on its menus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26221/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork that had already begun on the development of legislation for mandatory calorie posting on menus was suspended in early 2020 when the personnel involved were redeployed to COVID-19 related matters.
This work has not restarted, however the public health legislation priorities of my Department are kept under continuous review.
769. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount paid by his Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms and consultants in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26234/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below sets out the fees paid by my Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms and consultants in 2022.
|
€ |
|
|
External Legal Fees* |
1,608,068 |
|
HR Specialists |
0 |
|
Accountancy |
19,584 |
|
Consultants |
766,292 |
*Includes Drafting Fees
770. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No. 2) regulations 2023 will extend to Irish citizens who are prescribed cannabis medicines; if his Department has nominated a body to issue and verify such certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26245/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory Instrument 156/2023, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 provides for Schengen residents travelling into Ireland with prescribed Schedule 2 or Schedule 3 (under the Irish Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017) narcotics or psychotropic substances for their own personal use while in possession of a certificate pursuant to Article 75 of the Schengen Acquis. Currently Ireland does not permit the importation from the Schengen area of a prescribed cannabis-based product as that is a Schedule 1 controlled drug. The work for the provision of Article 75 certificates for Irish residents travelling to the Schengen zone with prescribed narcotics/psychotropic substances for personal use is underway. However the decision on what prescribed products may be allowed enter a country is a decision for the destination Schengen country and not one for the Schengen resident's country of origin within the zone.
771. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the consideration given to those with eating disorders in the decision-making process to add calorie information to alcoholic products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26247/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 provides that labels on alcohol products must contain the energy value expressed in kilojoules and kilocalories contained in the container, in addition to health warnings and other health information.
The European Union Food Information to Consumers Regulation 1169/2011 sets the requirement for the information provided on food labelling. Under that Regulation, having a nutrition declaration on pre-packed foods is mandatory. This regulation provides for a high level of consumer protection ensuring consumers are not misled and supporting them to make informed choices about their food. Nutritional information including the energy value, amount of fats, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and salts must be given for most pre-packed foods.
Our alcohol labelling legislation now provides for a statement of the energy value contained in alcohol products in line with the information already provided to Irish consumers on other food and drink products.
772. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the practical steps the HSE is taking to reduce healthcare waste and improve waste segregation, following the new HSE action plan towards a more sustainable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26249/23]
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
773. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health as a substantial organisation with a significant environmental impact, how the HSE is planning to measure and report its scope-three emissions and its contribution to the State's commitment to achieving UN Sustainability Development Goals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26250/23]
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.
774. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will include athletic therapy in the CORU regulation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26252/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of representative bodies for unregulated professions have approached the Department seeking to be regulated. It is important in this context to point out the issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex.
In light of this, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area. The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/).
My officials are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will also be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en
It should be noted that there are no plans in place to progress regulation of individual professions until appropriate risk-assessment and evaluation tools are in place in compliance with best practice, international evidence, and the Proportionality Test Directive.
My officials met with representatives of the professional body for athletic therapy recently to provide an update on the Department’s work on the future policy framework and to reiterate that at present there are no plans to include any further professions in the CORU regulation process.
775. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position with the provision of a new healthcare facility (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26256/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for planning permission for the proposed new 92 bed Community Nursing Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, was submitted by the HSE to the local planning authority in Q3 of 2022. Further information has been requested by Kildare County Council with a deadline of 10th July 2023.
HSE engagement with Kildare County Council on this matter is ongoing, and it is anticipated that this request for further information will be closed out in Q2 of 2023.
776. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position with the provision of a health care facility (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26257/23]
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.
777. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when the necessary motorised wheelchair will be delivered to a person (details supplied) who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26265/23]
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.
778. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current status of the application for a new 97-bed ward block at Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26266/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA design team was appointed by the HSE in September 2022 to progress the proposal for a 96-bed medical ward block at Wexford General Hospital. Capital Plan 2023 has allocated funding to take the proposal to detailed design stage.
A Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for this proposal has also been completed. Under the March 2023 Public Spending Code (PSC) update, the SAR will be subsumed into the Preliminary Business Case (PBC) and will form a single SAR/PBC document. The work undertaken to date on the SAR will be leveraged to progress the proposal in the form of a SAR/ PBC for Stage 1 of the shortened PSC process.
The update to the PSC increased the thresholds for the classification of major projects at which full PSC scrutiny is required and reduced the number of steps for proposals to travel through before approval to proceed. These PSC updates have the potential to speed up the delivery of capital projects including the proposal for Wexford General Hospital. In line with the updated PSC, this process for the Wexford proposal will be managed through the HSE capital development process rather than requiring direct submission to the Department or Government for consent.
The Capital Plan 2023 also provides a commitment to explore opportunities to accelerate provision of bed capacity in 2023.
779. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health in which quarter of which year he expects the new 96-bed block currently under construction in UHL to be opened. [26278/23]
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.
780. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1910 of 19 January 2022, the current number of applicants waiting for a primary medical certificate in County Clare; the current application processing time for a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26297/23]
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.
781. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider streamlining the PCRS Reporting service for GPs to allow for longer timeframes for submission of claims due to the high demand on GPs and the increased burden of workload, to provide greater flexibility with regard to extensions requested by GPs, and to improve the turnaround time to resolve issues with claims on hold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26298/23]
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.
782. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the staffing budget allocation for Mullingar Regional Hospital in the years of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [26347/23]
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.
