Duncan Smith
Ceist:1669. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant oncologists at Beaumont Hospital in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [1203/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Staff
Ceisteanna (1669)
Freagraí scríofa
As 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.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (1670)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:1670. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE addiction counsellors employed by the HSE in CHO8 in 2023. [1204/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (1671)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:1671. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior pharmaceutical technicians working in Naas General Hospital in 2023. [1205/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (1672)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:1672. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE reconstructive plastic surgeons working in Mayo University Hospital as of 2 January 2024. [1206/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Primary Care Services
Ceisteanna (1673)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:1673. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the services currently being provided at Wicklow town and Bray primary care centres. [1208/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1674)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1674. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a date for an operation in CHI Crumlin will be given for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1239/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 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, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1675)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1675. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the parents of a child (details supplied) in Donegal can expect a date for a procedure in Crumlin Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1247/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy’s question relates to a service matter, I have referred it to the HSE so that they update the Deputy directly.
Parliamentary Questions
Ceisteanna (1676)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:1676. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of Parliamentary Questions yet to be answered by the HSE. [1275/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have been informed by the HSE that (as at 08/01/24) a total of 1,391 Parliamentary Questions have been impacted and are yet to be answered. Please note that this figure includes questions asked to the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (1677)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1677. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children, respectively in Cork waiting for orthodontic treatment in six-month time intervals, from 0-6 months to 7+ years, in tabular form. [1286/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (1678)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1678. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has recent papers that have analysed data sets by a company (details supplied) that indicate that the initial Covid vaccine offered no better protection against Covid than not taking the Covid vaccine; if he has engaged with the company in any way to ascertain if this is true; and if he has sought refunds for the expenditure made by the Government on these initial Covid vaccines. [1315/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland's COVID-19 vaccination programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to the Department of Health based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
Following the recommendation for the use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops and disseminates the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland and advocates for best immunisation practices. The NIAC review data relating to vaccines on a rolling basis.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) COVID-19 vaccines licensed for use in the EU/EEA were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials and have met EMA’s scientific standards for safety, efficacy and quality. The vaccines have been shown during clinical trials to be highly effective in providing protection against symptomatic COVID-19 and severe disease.
The HPSC also conducted a COVID-19 vaccine impact study from December 2021 to March 2023 during the Omicron period. An adapted formula from an internationally recognised and peer-review methodology was used to estimate COVID-19 vaccine impact in Ireland.
The study concluded that during an Omicron period in Ireland, the COVID-19 vaccination programme prevented COVID-19 related illness including ICU admissions and deaths due to COVID-19. Vaccination therefore protected population health and capacity in the healthcare system. The benefits of vaccination are ongoing, emphasising the importance of vaccination.
Qualifications Recognition
Ceisteanna (1679)
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:1679. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the length of time it normally takes between the registration of an application with CORU for professional recognition as an occupational therapist and the verification of such an application by CORU; the number of such applications currently awaiting verification at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1331/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator for regulating health and social care professionals. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards There are two forms of application to CORU: applications for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and applications for registration.
Professional qualifications awarded outside the State are assessed through a process of “recognition” which involves expert assessment of a qualification’s alignment with the standards of proficiency required in Ireland, and assessment of professional experience and lifelong learning where required. Where a health and social care professional qualifies outside the State and applies to register in Ireland, they must apply for the recognition of their qualification. EU/EEA applicants have the right to have their qualifications assessed in accordance with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 and Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (SI No 8 of 2017). Once a complete file has been submitted to CORU, i.e., one containing all the required documentation, a decision must issue within four months.
For applications for recognition, CORU have confirmed that the average time for processing complete applications for occupational therapists is 57 days at present. This timeline incorporates assessment of the recognition application, potential further information requests to applicants, and a decision by the Occupational Therapist Registration Board. As of Monday 8 January 2024, CORU had 8 applications for recognition queued for verification.
For applications for registration, CORU have confirmed that they are currently processing 153 applications. As of 31 December 2023, the average processing time for registration applications was 9 weeks.
CORU ran a ‘Frequently Seen Qualifications’ pilot project in 2022/2023 to test a new mechanism for reviewing qualifications awarded outside the State, which are:
• regularly presented by applicants, and
• have consistent positive outcomes (i.e. recognition of the qualification without the requirement to consider additional learning).
Initially the pilot covered two professions but was later extended to five including: Radiography; Social Work; Physiotherapy; Occupational Therapy; and Dietetics. The pilot has successfully concluded and the timeframe for decisions on qualifications in the process was reduced significantly.
Rollout of the ‘Frequently Seen Qualifications’ programme to include all CORU registered professions is now underway. Registration Boards will be invited to consider candidate programmes inclusion from December 2023. The rollout will include programmes awarded in the EU/EEA and beyond and will be driven primarily by volume, outcome and need. Mechanisms for delegation of individual decision-making are being developed in parallel.
In addition to the ‘Frequently Seen Qualifications’ programme, CORU have implemented, and are implementing, a number of initiatives to help improve the timeframes for both recognition and registration, including:
• Full transfer to an online application system
• Assignment of additional temporary staff resources
• Recruitment of additional expert assessors
• Work has been ongoing to identify possible new approaches for recognition of international qualifications. In addition, new systems operable within the law as it stands are being researched and tested to speed up the process.
• CORU invite applicants whose recognition applications are considered complete to apply for registration at that time so that the recognition and registration tasks can be processed in parallel.
• The frequency of Registration Board meetings has also been increased to allow for quicker decision-making.
Tobacco Control Measures
Ceisteanna (1680)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:1680. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will consider banning smoking/vaping in cars in line with many EU states considering the negative health impacts it has on additional passengers and the impact holding a vape/cigarette has on the driver’s ability to control the steering wheel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1336/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The smoking of a tobacco product in cars where children are present is prohibited under the Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014.
With regards to nicotine inhaling products, the evidence base is still being developed in relation to the aerosol generated from e-cigarettes and its second-hand harm to non users. My Department will continue to monitor the emerging research in this area.
My Department recently completed a public consultation to help inform future regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products. Views were sought on the following areas:
• The display of nicotine inhaling products in shops
• Nicotine inhaling product flavours
• The appearance of nicotine inhaling products and their packaging
• Proxy sales of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products
• Smoking in outdoor dining areas
• Extending smoke free restrictions to vaping
• Increasing the age of sale for tobacco products
• Taxation of vaping liquids
In the context of all of these considerations, options for the development of further and comprehensive legislation on nicotine inhaling products will be examined.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (1681)
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:1681. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when a registration with CORU for a qualified occupational therapist (details supplied) will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1345/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question relates to an individual's registration application I have asked CORU to respond to the Deputy directly.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (1682)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:1682. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason frontline employees of an organisation (details supplied) who were drivers and regularly collected essential care workers and service users from their homes at the height of the pandemic are not eligible for the pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1348/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.