Written Answers Nos. 590-603
590. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of children, per county, who await scoliosis treatment; and if he will provide a breakdown of the time spent on the waiting lists, per county. [42254/23]
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.
591. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a minor injuries clinic in the community hospital in Donegal town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42266/23]
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.
592. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of applicants for home support who have been approved but placed on a waiting list in each county in community healthcare organisation or CHO 5; the numbers in each CHO area; the average waiting times for those approved and waiting for services; the steps being taken to urgently provide home supports to those waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42268/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
593. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the fair deal scheme to include the cost of home care and home supports being provided privately due to the lack of home supports being provided to those who require full-time care and attention in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42269/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high quality, regulated home care’. The Government is committed to establishing a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing. This is not the equivalent of a ‘Fair Deal’ scheme at home but rather a new way of delivering home support that will facilitate effective, efficient, fair and transparent care needs assessment and planning and appropriate service delivery.
Work is ongoing within the Department across four broad areas to progress this commitment: (i) Regulation of home support providers; (ii) the examination of future funding options for home support services; (iii) working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support; and (iv) Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.:
(i) Regulation of home support providers
The Department of Health is currently developing a regulatory framework for providers of home support services with the aim of ensuring that all service users are provided with high quality care. This will comprise of (i) primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers, (ii) regulations which will set out the minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a licence, and (iii) HIQA national standards.
Legislation: The Heads of Bill are currently being drafted by the Department in order to bring the Heads of Bill to Government for approval before the end of the year. The Department is engaging with key stakeholders in relation to the legislation.
Regulations: The draft regulations are at an advanced stage informed by a public consultation, which concluded on 4 August 2022. The analysis of submissions has been carried out by the Institute of Public Health (IPH) which demonstrated strong agreement in relation to regulation of home support service provision. A report on the findings of the public consultation was published in January 2023. Legal advice and engagement with key stakeholders (HIQA, HSE, Private and Voluntary Providers, and service user representative groups) will assist with final revisions to regulations for providers of home support services in 2023.
In addition to this, HIQA have initiated the process of developing standards for home care and home support services.
(ii) The examination of future funding options for home support services
Currently home support services are fully exchequer funded. The Department is examining potential options for a new funding model for home support. The ESRI undertook a programme of work on behalf of the Department on the potential demand for, and cost of, home support which culminated in two reports. The Department is exploring further research and engaging with international experts. As part of this work, the Department commissioned a rapid response from the EU Observatory on Health Systems and Policies which explores the impact of user charges on home care sustainability in Ireland. This report was published in March 2023. This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population. No final decision on future funding have been made and further research is currently underway to enhance the evidence base.
(iii) The development of a reformed model of service delivery for home support
In 2022 a Pilot for testing of a reformed model of service for the delivery for homecare became fully operational in 4 Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs). A draft evaluation of the pilot, produced by the Centre for Effective Services, has been completed.
The rollout of interRAI as the single assessment tool for care needs in the community will assist with equitable resource allocation. InterRAI standardised outputs will be used to determine prioritisation and levels of care required. The HSE have begun recruitment process for 128 interRAI Care Needs Facilitators. The process for the development of a home support IT system is underway in the HSE. This is a significant project which is vital to deliver reform in the sector. The business case has been submitted to the Digital Government Oversight Unit and is currently going through Peer review.
The HSE is undertaking a recruitment process for a number of key posts to support and enable the establishment of a National Home Support Office. Funding is provided for 15 full time jobs including 9 Community Healthcare Organisation home support manager/coordinator posts. Four WTEs have been appointed to date including the head of service, with the remaining posts to be filled as soon as possible. A proposed location in Tullamore for the National Home Support office is being sourced by the HSE.
(iv) Strategic Workforce Advisory Group
Addressing the shortage of care workers in Ireland is an urgent priority for the Government. To this end, the cross departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was established in March 2022 to examine, and formulate recommendations to address, the challenges in frontline carer roles in the home support and long term residential care sectors.
The Group was chaired by the Department of Health and comprised representatives from seven government departments (Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Health; Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Justice; Public Expenditure and Reform; and Social Protection), the HSE, HIQA and SOLAS.
The Report was published on 15th October 2022. Providing an overview of the work of the Group and its key findings, the report presents a suite of 16 recommendations spanning the areas of areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development and sectoral reform.
Implementation of the 16 recommendations is being overseen by a cross departmental Implementation Group, chaired by the Department of Health. The Department is engaging with recommendation owners to define an implementation plan. A meeting of the group took place on June 29th. The implementation group will meet quarterly and publish progress reports thereafter.
Recommendation 9 has been implemented. The Statutory instrument authorising the issuance of 1,000 employment permits for homecare workers was signed on 16th December 2022. Work is underway on all recommendations, with a further four at an advanced stage.
594. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Meath (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42278/23]
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.
595. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how many voluntary, section 39 funded organisations have been refused the pandemic special recognition payment and to outline the reasons for refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42283/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
596. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to address the outstanding requests for the pandemic special recognition payment, PSRP, from voluntary section 39 funded organisations and to provide an explanation for delays with the payment for staff members still awaiting this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42284/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
597. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the €110,000, which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for this new post; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42285/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra598. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the funding which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit in conjunction with the National Office of Clinical Audit, NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for these new posts; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42286/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra599. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for this new post; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42288/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra600. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the funding which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for these new posts; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42289/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra601. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for this new post; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42290/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra602. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the funding which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for these new posts; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42291/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra603. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in the budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register; whether unused funding will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42295/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra604. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the recruitment of a programme manager to assist in the development of a diabetes register; whether this process has stalled as a result of a HSE recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42296/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra605. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the spending of funding allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit, in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study; if he will provide an update on the recruitment of a programme manager and data analytics staff who were required to commence audit development; whether unused funding will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42297/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra609. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the drawdown of the €110,000 allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register; when a programme manager post was advertised; when interviews were held; when the appointment will be made; if he will confirm that any underspend in the 2023 allocation will be rolled over into the 2024 spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42327/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra611. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the drawdown of the funding allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit, in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study; when a programme manager post was advertised; when interviews were held; when the appointment will be made; when data analytics staff posts were advertised; when interviews were held; when appointments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42329/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra622. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for this new post; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42398/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra623. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the funding which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for these new posts; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42399/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 597 to 605, inclusive, 611, 622 and 623 together.
Budget 2023 provided funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care, including commencing the development of a National Diabetes Registry and the commencement of a National Paediatric Audit of Type 1 Diabetes.
Any decisions with regard to future funding for Diabetes care in Budget 2024 will be subject to the annual Estimates process and will require Government approval.
As the advertisement, interview and recruitment process for posts related to these projects is an operational matter under the responsibility of the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputies directly in relation to the status of these recruitments and expenditure to date, as soon as possible.
