Written Answers Nos. 128-140
128. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress of the new emergency department for Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48928/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of capital projects is a dynamic process and is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated Public Spending Code (PSC).
The proposed new Emergency Department (ED) at Beaumont Hospital, (which includes the reconfiguration of the existing ED), is a large and complex capital proposal, which is in the early stages of design development.
The HSE has appointed a design team to progress the proposal for the new ED. This team is in the early stages of the development and it has completed a Design Report. The design team will continue through this design process including the statutory planning applications.
A Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) was submitted by the HSE to the Department of Health earlier this year. Under the March 2023 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.
In line with the updated PSC, the process for the Beaumont ED proposal will be managed through the HSE capital development process rather than requiring direct submission to the Department or Government for consent.
The final decision to proceed with construction and estimate the timeline to completion, cannot be made until there is a Final Business Case, the tender process is completed, and determination that the proposal remains affordable and continues to represent value for money.
129. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for a first appointment; how long they have been waiting to see an audiologist in CHO2, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48929/23]
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.
130. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to be seen by an audiologist in CHO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48930/23]
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.
131. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health what level of funding will be provided to the stroke strategy services in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48935/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the announcement of the budget allocation for my Department, I will shortly be issuing a Letter of Determination to the HSE outlining my priorities and funding levels for 2024. This will be the basis on which the HSE will draw up its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024. It is not until the conclusion of this process that a detailed breakdown of ELS expenditure will be available for stroke services in 2024.
132. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether the implications of a new approach to taxing medical partnerships for the wider policy arrangements in Health have been assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48966/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. However, I am aware of the concerns raised regarding new guidance to be issued shortly by the Revenue Commissioners regarding the tax treatment of GP's GMS income.
Officials from my Department and the HSE have engaged with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance to understand the context of the new guidance and to identify the potential operational issues which may arise following its publication.
Importantly, the guidance does not reflect a change in tax law, but clarifies how GPs’ GMS income should be treated for the purposes of tax under current tax law. To assist GPs and GP practices in complying with their obligations under tax legislation, Revenue will publish detailed guidance shortly. This will supplement the guidance issued to tax practitioners, through the Tax Administration Liaison Committee, in July of this year clarifying the correct tax treatment of GMS income. To allow GPs and GP practices time to make any necessary adjustments to their arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable tax policy and legislation, Revenue have implemented transitional arrangements up to the end of 2023.
My Department and the HSE are also engaged with the IMO and will remain engaged with them to address the potential operational issues raised.
The Strategic Review of General Practice, which is now underway, will examine the current contractual arrangements for the GMS, as well as other issues, and will propose measures necessary to modernise the contract.
133. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a complaint (details supplied) is processed as soon as possible; his views on the contents of the complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48969/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in my capacity as Minister for Health, I deal primarily with legislation, policy, overall budgetary allocation, corporate governance and public relations. Under 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 me as 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.
However, I have raised this matter with the Health Service Executive and have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to advise the Deputy that with regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, details of which are on the HSE website, at: www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/.
In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred.
I would also like to draw the Deputy’s attention to the national Patient Advocacy Service, which was launched in late 2019. The service provides support and guidance for patients and their families, where care was received in HSE funded Public Acute Hospitals. It is a free, independent and confidential service. The phone number is 0818 293003 and more information can be found on their website www.patientadvocacyservice.ie/.
If a person is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the Ombudsman, whose details are set out below.
Office of the Ombudsman
6 Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
D02 W773
Tel 01 639 5600
Website: www.ombudsman.ie/contact/.
134. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to apply increases in line with the public pay agreements to general practitioners in receipt of DMO salaries going forward with also an element of retrospection, as these salaries have not been increased since the benchmarking pay increases of in 2008; whether such increases would also apply to retired GPs who have DMO salaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49005/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe payment known as the District Medical Officer salary is an allowance paid to a small number of GPs to support them in the delivery of services in areas with reduced GMS populations. Although usually referred to as a 'salary', it is not in fact a salary and the DMOs concerned are not employees of the HSE.
My Department has received a request in relation to increasing the rate of payment to DMOs along the lines indicated by the Deputy. We are currently considering this request but I am not yet in a position to indicate whether an increase will be possible.
135. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in completing the planned 96-bed block at University Hospital Limerick; the steps he will take to expedite its construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49006/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been advised by the University of Limerick Hospital Group (ULHG) that they have not announced an opening date nor a delay for the 96-bed block currently under construction at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), and that they wish to clarify this matter.
Work commenced on the first 96-bed ward block at UHL in September 2022. As outlined from the outset, the construction phase will take at least two years to complete. It is currently envisaged that the construction phase will be complete by Q1 2025. Once handed over by the contractors, the new build will need to be equipped and commissioned, as well as staff trained following the completion of a recruitment campaign. They anticipate that this additional bed capacity for the mid-West will become operational in mid-2025.
Approximately half of the beds will be new beds for inpatients, while the remainder will be replacement beds, allowing the closing or refurbishing of some of the more outdated inpatient accommodation on the UHL site. This will allow for greater compliance with national guidelines and international best practice on infection prevention and control.
Pre-planning meetings on a second 96-bed ward block have also been held. This next phase of additional works will, pending planning permission approval, be carried out beside the 96-bed block currently under construction.
136. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when adequate facilities for modern medicine will be provided at a health centre (details supplied) as this health centre lack the necessary space suitable for the wider range of services that are and will in the future need to be provided from rural health general practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49033/23]
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.
137. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to get an urgent date for a surgical procedure in any hospital to remove kidney stones as the person is experiencing chronic pain which is impacting negatively on their quality of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49067/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, the Deputy has advised that the person (details supplied) is a private patient. Private health care providers are independent organisations and the range of services available, and the criteria for access to those services does not fall under the remit of the Department of Health.
Referral to the most appropriate private healthcare facility should be arranged through the patient’s GP.
138. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if a person who is a holder of a medical card or GP visit card should be charged for services by their GP such as routine blood tests, minor procedures etc.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49069/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraGP services are provided free of charge to people who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess.".
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services (blood tests) is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for such blood tests. In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of services provided under the GP Chronic Disease Management Programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.
The issue has been raised previously with the relevant GP representative body. However, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, or has been charged for a blood test provided under the Chronic Disease Management Programme, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients. The HSE does not have any role in relation to such fees.
139. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what funding can be applied for by a former worker of a company (details supplied) aged over 50 years who wishes to re-enter third-level education and retrain in a different career following their redundancy after 30 years-plus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48872/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main support available to students in higher education is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme which provides fee and maintenance grants to all students who meet the qualifying criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. Progression for a student starting a new course means that in order to be eligible for grant assistance, they must be progressing to a higher level than any previous course attended.
Further information in relation to student grant assistance and income eligibility is available from SUSI’s website, www.susi.ie.
As part of the tertiary education package for Budget 2024, effective from September 2024, a part-time fee grant scheme will provide support for eligible students who are undertaking specified undergraduate part-time programmes leading to a major award, both in-person, blended and online.
A new range of tertiary courses also announced this year may provide additional flexibility for students to start their courses in a Further Education setting nearer to their location before moving to a Higher Education Setting. These courses are also eligible for student grant support.
The Further Education and Training (FET) sector also provides a range of courses available nationwide on both a full and part-time basis including evenings and weekends. FET training courses provided in ETB training centres are generally free and Budget 2024 provided for the removal of Post Leaving Certificate fees across the ETB sector, with effect from September 2024. This will ensure a consistency of support for learners across the country and remove financial barriers to participation. Learners attending PLC courses can apply for SUSI maintenance grants while learners on other FET training courses can qualify for a training allowance for the duration of the course if they were previously in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment.
Potential learners can also avail of the Adult Educational Guidance Service. This is a free and confidential service, which offers impartial adult education information to help people make informed educational, career and life choices.
Springboard+ also provides free higher education courses if you are unemployed and looking to return to work. Applications for courses can also be made if an individual is working with a contribution to the cost of the fee being made. Most courses are delivered online or as blended learning. Full details on Springboard+ , the eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the website: www.springboardcourses.ie.
140. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has applied for support funding from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) for the 234 workers in Waterford who lost their jobs at a company (details supplied) and which would allow them to seek assistance with re-joining the labour force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48873/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events.
While consideration of an EGF application in respect of Cartamundi Ireland is ongoing, the full range of state supports have been made available to the workers who lost their jobs at the company.
Agencies such as Waterford Wexford ETB (WWETB) and INTREO had comprehensive programmes of supports available for employees including one-to-one supports and advice on employability, social welfare entitlements etc. For example, in July, the WWETB Skills for Work Coordinator facilitated over 160 employees in accessing an unaccredited Career Preparation component with the option of accessing further progression courses from July and September. 1:1 mentoring was also provided as well as the option for group mentoring sessions. A computer course was set up for the most digitally vulnerable, and this commenced in early August. Over 20 referrals were made to the local Adult Literacy Service for further computer courses.
A career and training fair event for over 200 staff from Cartamundi was held at South East Technological University (SETU)’s Cork Road Campus in July. It was jointly organised by SETU, WWETB, INTREO and Waterford Chamber Skillnet, working together with Cartamundi. For those looking to upskill or re-engage in education, the event promoted and raised awareness of the diverse range of further and higher education programmes and supports available in Waterford which were designed to meet the needs of individuals at different stages of their learning pathway in conjunction with an array of options from other providers. Waterford Chamber Skillnet and the South East Regional Skills Forum assisted in organising the event by inviting businesses in the region to attend who had positions available at the time or in the near future. Waterford Chamber Skillnet also had a stand at the event to give attendees advice on future employment, upskilling and training opportunities and during the event they met with attendees and introduced them to potential employers and gave the attendees advice around the upskilling opportunities available in the region and who to contact for support.
In addition, the IDA Ireland Southeast Regional office had multiple engagements with local stakeholders including WWETB, the Department of Social Protection and SETU on behalf of the company and enabled ongoing meetings and activities between these stakeholders and Cartamundi in support of the workforce in accordance with the ‘Job Loss Response Protocol’ which has been agreed between the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and my Department.
