Written Answers Nos. 357-366
357. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of children and their average waiting time, on speech and language therapy waiting lists across all CHOs, sub divided in tabular form by county, and by local HSE designated service area, across the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3521/24]
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.
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.
358. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health how many adults between the ages of 15 to 66 years inclusive who declared on the Central Statistics Office Census 2022 they had a disability and/or chronic illness who also stated they were unemployed looking for their first job, short-term (less than 12 months), long-term unemployed (12 months and more) and unable to work due to permanent disability and/or sickness, in tabular form. [3539/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDear Deputy,
Please see figures from the CSO providing a count of adults aged between the ages of 15 to 64, and not the ages of 15 to 66, who declared on the Central Statistics Office Census 2022 they had a disability and/or chronic illness who also stated they were unemployed looking for their first job, short-term (less than 12 months), long-term unemployed (12 months and more) and unable to work due to permanent disability and/or sickness, in tabular form.
|
Adults between the ages of 15 to 64 inclusive |
Total |
|
Long-term unemployed (12 months and more) |
29,921 |
|
Short-term unemployed (less than 12 months) |
15,305 |
|
Unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability |
130,907 |
|
Unemployed looking for first regular job |
7,283 |
Source: https://data.cso.ie/table/F4059
359. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the home support services provided in the case of a person (details supplied) will be increased as a matter of urgency. [3550/24]
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.
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.
360. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to previous Parliamentary Questions on the same urgent matter if home support service hours being provided for a person (details supplied) will be increased immediately and be extended to cover weekends; and if a positive response will be expedited, given that the issue has been ongoing for some time. [3551/24]
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.
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.
361. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, there are to provide an additional healthcare facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3558/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 directly to the Deputy 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 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.
362. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Cavan and Monaghan awaiting a scoliosis operation by wait time, in tabular form. [3578/24]
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 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.
363. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant vascular surgeons working in the Public Health Service; his plans to expand this number; and the international recommended best practice ratio for consultant vascular surgeons to population and current ratios. [3579/24]
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.
364. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a public PrEP clinic at Monaghan General Hospital. [3580/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland established a national HIV PrEP programme in November 2019, following a HIQA HTA, which concluded that the introduction of HIV PrEP would be safe, effective and cost saving. The HTA also found that significant investment in public STI services was required to implement PrEP and €5.4 million was set aside in Budget 2020 to roll out a national HIV PrEP programme, managed by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP).
At present, there are 13 public PrEP clinics in Ireland, four of which are located in Dublin, and 16 private/GP providers who are approved to prescribe PrEP, 15 of which are located in Dublin. Dispensing PrEP is free of charge, as are appointments at the public clinics, however, the private providers are subject to consultation charges.
Since the PrEP programme commenced in November, 2019, significant progress has been made in PrEP rollout across Ireland. However, this occurred at a time of unprecedented challenges for the health service - the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic on access to clinical services, coupled with the effects of necessary Covid-19 restrictions on people's social interactions. This made it difficult to assess whether capacity was sufficient to meet demand under normal circumstances, between 2020 and 2022.
Furthermore, in line with international trends, the eligibility criteria for PrEP have recently been revised to include anticipated risk of HIV infection. This has increased the overall numbers of individuals meeting the criteria for inclusion in the PrEP programme.
The relaxation of most Covid-19 restrictions, following the successful national vaccination campaign, has, in 2022-2023, permitted assessments that additional resources are required to meet additional demand, build capacity and invest in monitoring, evaluation and research to ensure that the PrEP programme in Ireland is reaching those in need, responsive to changing need and at the cutting edge of international PrEP programme delivery.
The HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme have put a number of additional measures in place to support the PrEP Programme, including updating the clinical PrEP Guidelines and approval processes and providing an e-learning module to enable greater access to the PrEP programme through GPs, allowing stable patients to undertake routine STI testing through the new home STI testing service, and working with other areas of the HSE to enable efficient data collection and identify resources to improve capacity.
Both my Department and the HSE SHCPP have identified monitoring and evaluation of the PrEP programme as a priority area of work, building on that which has been undertaken to date. Through Budget 2024, an additional €600,000 has been allocated to support the PrEP programme next year. A further €720,000 will support increased demand for home STI testing, which is being used in conjunction with the PrEP scheme as noted above.
Development of the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2023 – 2030 is currently underway; capacity for PrEP during this longer time period will be further examined as part of the policy development process leading to the new NSHS. Development of a Model of Care for sexual health services is proposed and work on this is commencing. Part of its remit will include an examination of service provision across the country, with a view to supporting more equitable provision geographically.
As planning and location of service provision is a service matter, I have also asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
365. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been awaiting an endoscopy at Ennis Hospital and is yet to receive an appointment date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3588/24]
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 6 October 2023.
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.
366. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the total number of recorded deaths in the State in each of the years 2018 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3612/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDear Deputy,
Please see figures for the total number of recorded deaths in the State in each of the years 2018 to 2023.
|
STATISTIC |
Year |
Area of Residence |
Sex |
Age at Death |
Unit |
Value |
|
Deaths Occurring |
2022 |
State |
Both sexes |
All ages |
Number |
35,477 |
|
Deaths Occurring |
2021 |
State |
Both sexes |
All ages |
Number |
34,844 |
|
Deaths Occurring |
2020 |
State |
Both sexes |
All ages |
Number |
32,856 |
|
Deaths Occurring |
2019 |
State |
Both sexes |
All ages |
Number |
31,184 |
|
Deaths Occurring |
2018 |
State |
Both sexes |
All ages |
Number |
31,140 |
Source: data.cso.ie/table/VSA07
