Written Answers Nos. 211-237
211. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the funding estimate for the Communities Integration Fund (CIF), the International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF), and the Ireland against Racism Fund (IARF) respectively for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55656/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn estimated €500,000 will be made available for each of the Communities Integration Fund (CIF) and International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) funding calls in 2024. An estimated €1 million will be made available for the Ireland Against Racism Fund (IARF) call in 2024.
Funding plans for 2024 are yet to be finalised, and these estimates are subject to change.
212. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many assessment of need reports as set out in the Disability Act 2005 were completed in 2021, 2022 and 2023 (year to date); and for those same years how many were completed by companies or sole traders employed by the HSE. [55658/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
213. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of IPAs and BoTPs that are currently being accommodated in towns (details supplied) in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55667/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised that there are a total of 577 IP applicants and 1,176 beneficiaries of temporary protection being accommodated in Co. Tipperary in the towns to which the Deputy refers.
In relation to those fleeing the Ukraine, information on a county level is also published by my Department regularly at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ac7b-accommodation-of-beneficiaries-of-temporary-protection-botps/
I also wish to draw attention to the wide ranging analysis produced by the CSO on a regular basis as part of its ‘Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series’ (www.cso.ie/en/statistics/population/arrivalsfromukraineinireland/)
My Department does not publicly detail the locations of accommodation centres in the interest of the privacy and security of residents and providers.
I wish to thank the many individuals, volunteers, community groups and the Local Authority in Co. Tipperary who have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support and who have contributed so much as part of the humanitarian response to welcoming those fleeing the war in Ukraine and elsewhere.
214. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the much-needed therapists for ASD children at a school (details supplied) will be in place; when a nurse will be recruited for the school, given that some children cannot attend a full day at school due to the lack of a nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55674/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
215. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55455/23]
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.
216. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health why GP card holders are required to pay for visits when renewing their driver's licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55462/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. The contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract. 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 patient.
217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review details of an appointment (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55482/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a reply from the HSE.
218. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason custom made insoles are not covered by the full medical card in relation to the case of a person (details supplied). [55504/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
219. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons and families who have taken cases, issued letters of claim and initiated proceedings against the HSE regarding the death of a loved one who died having contracted Covid-19 in a HSE-run nursing home, residential care facility or hospital. [55545/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained within this report has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the below criteria.
• The explicit reference to ”hospitals” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring in an acute hospital setting.
• The explicit reference to “nursing homes” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring within a nursing home (HSE owned and privately owned)
• Claims which relate to incidents occurring within a community health organisation location/unit have not been included in this report.
The number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in a HSE Hospital, Residential Care Facility or Nursing Home setting is 51.
Definitions
National Incident Management System (NIMS):
Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”, hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA). An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint. NIMS is the system used by the delegated authorities to fulfil their statutory requirement to report incidents to the State Claims Agency and for their own incident and risk management purposes.
220. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of claims made and proceedings initiated against the HSE or hospital groups by persons or groups of persons whose loved ones died after contracting Covid-19 in a hospital setting. [55546/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained within this report has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the criteria set out below.
Criteria:
• The explicit reference to ”hospitals” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring in an acute hospital setting.
• Claims which relate to incidents occurring within a community health organisation location/unit have not been included in this report.
The number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in a HSE Hospital setting is 10.
Definitions
National Incident Management System (NIMS):
Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”, hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA). An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint. NIMS is the system used by the delegated authorities to fulfil their statutory requirement to report incidents to the State Claims Agency and for their own incident and risk management purposes.
221. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any increase or perceived increase in the number of persons since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, or any increase or perceived increase in the number of persons diagnosed with stage four cancer since the start of the pandemic; if he will provide any data or statistics held by his Department which detail annual trends in cancer diagnosis over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55547/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) has a statutory obligation to collate information in relation to national cancer incidence across all tumour types. This information will typically only be made available 2 to 3 years after the year of incidence, in keeping with international standards.
There has been a drop in number of cases of cancers registered in 2020, documented in NCRI annual reports for 2021, 2022, 2023, and in a supplementary report published in June 2023. The NCRI continues to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer in Ireland.
Due to population increases and ageing, the number of cases of cancer is expected to increase each year, usually by about 2-3%. It is estimated that the total number of invasive cancers (excluding NMSC) in 2021 was 4% below what would have been expected, based on the trends that were happening prior to the pandemic up to 2019.
Data on stage of cancer takes longer to compile than numbers of new diagnoses. For most cancers the most recent stage data that is available is for cases diagnosed in 2017/2018. However, the NCRI is currently conducting a specific research project on the impact of COVID-19 on four cancers (breast, colorectal, lung and melanoma) which is looking at stage at diagnosis up to 2020. The NCRI will publish it's findings from this project in due course.
222. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of persons diagnosed with cancer in the State by cancer-type, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form, (details supplied). [55548/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) has a statutory obligation to collate information in relation to national cancer incidence across all tumour types. This information will typically only be made available 2 to 3 years after the year of incidence, in keeping with international standards.
Successive National Cancer Strategies have delivered continuing improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients in terms of earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and improved rates of survival.
NCRI data shows substantial progress being made to control the four major cancers (prostate, breast, lung and colorectal), with mortality rates falling or stabilising for each. These comprise over half of all invasive tumours (not including rarely fatal non-melanoma skin cancers).
The NCRI published its "2022 Annual Statistical Report: Cancer in Ireland 1994-2021" this month. This report on the status of cancer in Ireland includes updated statistics on cancer incidence, mortality and survival for patients diagnosed in Ireland 1994 – 2021.
Key findings include:
- About 215,000 cancer patients or former cancer patients were alive in Ireland at the end of 2021 (about 4.3% or 1 in 23 of the Irish population). This reflects the ongoing improvement in cancer survival.
- For all invasive cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers), five-year net survival averaged 65% for patients diagnosed during 2014-2018, compared with only 44% for those diagnosed during 1994-1998.
- More complete data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnoses indicates that the pandemic resulted in a 10% reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2020, and a 4% reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2021, compared to what was expected for those years. It had previously been estimated that there was 14% reduction in cancer diagnoses 2020 and a 6% decrease in cancer diagnoses in 2021.
- Preliminary data for 2022 shows a 2% reduction in microscopically verified cancer diagnoses compared to projections, however the dataset for this year is not yet complete.
In answer to the Deputy's queries a table is attached with numbers of cases diagnosed each year for 2012-2021 which has been provided by the NCRI. Data for 2022 has not been finalised yet and data for 2023 will not be available until 2025.
223. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) will commence chemotherapy treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55563/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
224. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on obesity clinic appointments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55565/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
225. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if wheelchairs, rollators and other such mobility equipment supplied by the HSE is recycled; and if so, how many such units are put back into use. [55566/23]
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.
226. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses working in Clontarf Hospital in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [55583/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible
227. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with the local TDs in the mid-west, along with members of the HSE west forum, to discuss the ongoing issues facing services in the mid-west in both the acute and non-acute areas. [55591/23]
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.
228. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of senior pharmacists working in CHI Temple Street in 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if a senior pharmacist at this hospital is on a call within this hospital on a 24-7 basis. [55600/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
229. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there is a grant for a HSE supplied powered mobility equipment; the maximum grant amount for PME; and the amount of funding that was available for these in the years of 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [55601/23]
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.
230. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the capital works projects that will commence in 2024 at Naas General Hospital; and the nature of each of these work projects, in tabular form. [55602/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
231. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on proposals to introduce a law requiring health warnings on alcohol products; the engagement his Department has had on this matter with the European Commission at the World Trade Organisation and the Technical Barriers to Trade Committee Meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55607/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing EU assessment, regulations under section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 were notified to the World Trade Organisation.
The European Commission is the party that formally represents the regulations at the WTO and attends the relevant meetings. It is the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, rather than my Department, that liaises directly with the European Commission in relation to the notification.
232. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to explain the delays in releasing approved funding to a gym (details supplied) created to provide a safe space for people with disabilities, which has now been forced to cease operations due to financial strains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55619/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that this is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
233. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans for a review of the English language qualification criteria set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for overseas nurses, particularly those with nursing qualifications from countries like India and the Philippines, to more closely align the qualification criteria to those of the United Kingdom’s Nursing Authority for foreign nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55653/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, all nurses and midwives who practice in Ireland must be registered on the Register of Nurses and Midwives, maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The NMBI are the independent, statutory body which sets the standards for the education of nurses and midwives in Ireland and have a legislated function to protect the public.
In completing this function, rigorous evaluation of information and thorough regulatory checks are required when processing applications from those who want to register to practice in Ireland.
To register to become a nurse or midwife, all applicants need to complete a two-stage process:
1. Recognition of Qualifications
2. Registration.
In the first stage, Recognition of Qualifications, an NMBI Education Assessor will assess evidence of the applicant’s education, qualifications, and credentials against the NMBI standards and requirements to practice in Ireland. Once the application has been assessed, a Decision Letter will issue from the NMBI.
Where the NMBI identifies a deficit between the applicant’s education, qualifications and credentials against the NMBI’s standards and requirements, the Decision Letter will inform the applicant that there is a requirement to complete a ‘compensation measure’. These compensation measures are either a paid period of adaptation placement or an aptitude test; these are mechanisms which allow an applicant to demonstrate their competency. Once the applicant has successfully completed the compensation measure, the recognition process is complete, and they can apply for registration.
As part of the registration process, all registration applicants must demonstrate to the NMBI that they have the necessary proficiency in English to communicate effectively and safely in their practice. The NMBI provides three routes for applicants to demonstrate their English language competency:
Pathway 1: Educated through English in an NMBI-recognised country; or educated through English in an EU country where English is a listed official language
Pathway 2: Registered and Practised in English in an NMBI-recognised country - for three years post registration practice within the last five years
Pathway 3: Completion of an English language test approved by the NMBI.
For many overseas educated applicants, this means taking an English language test and submitting a certificate of test results. The NMBI accepts both the International English Language Test System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET) as verified test providers. IELTS and OET are valid for two years across all Irish regulators and Canadian, Australian, American, New Zealand and UK regulators. This is also the standard validation period across immigration services internationally.
These language tests are carried out by independent third parties, internationally recognised for providing rigorous and evidence-based professional or occupational English testing, specifically for healthcare professionals. Tests can be taken in Ireland, or nearly all other countries.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the United Kingdom and the NMBI have very similar English qualification standards. The NMC will accept an IELTS score with a minimum of 7.0 for reading, listening, and speaking, and at least 6.5 for writing. This compares to the NMBI, which will accept an overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in any three components. The NMC will also accept the OET (Nursing) test result that confirms an applicant achieved at least grade B (350 or above) for reading, listening, and speaking, and at least grade C+ (300 or above) for writing. My Department have confirmed with the NMBI that these are the same scores accepted by the regulator for the professions in Ireland. Furthermore, the approach accepted by the NMBI is not prescriptive, in relation to scoring across the components to allow for flexibility for candidates. The NMBI does not impose a limit to the number of times an applicant can sit the IELTS or OET.
The NMC may accept supplementary evidence of clinical competence in English from an applicants’ current employer in the United Kingdom if an applicant has taken IELTS or OET at least twice and missed the required scores in any one of the domains by no more than 0.5 (half a grade). The NMC have specific criteria around the use of supplementary evidence of clinical competence in English; it is not standalone evidence, and they are not seeking to expand this at the moment.
I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution that overseas healthcare service employees provide. I am hugely committed to supporting the nursing and midwifery workforce and ensuring a stable and sustainable nursing and midwifery workforce is a priority for me. Along with the NMBI, as the regulator for the professions of nursing and midwifery, I welcome registration applications from those that were educated overseas. My Department are continuing to engage with the NMBI in this regard.
234. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55654/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
235. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health why an organisation (details supplied) has not been able to advance plans to lease the old children’s buildings No.’s 50 and 51 on the grounds of St. Ita’s hospital despite willingness from the HSE to supply these buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55659/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
236. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health about the provision of a service (details supplied) in Cavan; if funding for the provision of same can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55660/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
237. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if funding to a service (details supplied) has been cut; if this is prohibiting the provision of additional services on the ground, particularly in relation to Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55662/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
