Catherine Murphy
Ceist:591. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing ten extra memory technology resource rooms. [7840/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMental Health Services
Ceisteanna (591)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
To assist in responding to this PQ, the term 'memory technology resource rooms' is being asked in this context...
alzheimer.ie/location/ballyfermot-memory-technology-resource-room/
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (592)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:592. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated WTE consultant endocrinologists, dietitians, advanced nurse practitioners, podiatrists, clinical nurse specialists and staff nurses currently dedicated to the outpatient adult diabetics clinic at St. Vincent's University Hospital. [7841/24]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (593)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:593. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health what an individual, who is employed in a private company, but worked on a contract in a clinical setting in a hospital during the peak of the Covid pandemic can do in order to apply for the Covid bonus when their employer refuses to lodge an application on their behalf, but they meet the criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7850/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (594)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:594. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the total number of children being treated in-patient adult mental health facilities. [7864/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (595)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:595. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the community neurorehabilitation team in CHO1 is operating with less than a third of the minimum recommended staffing; his plans to address this understaffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7865/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (596)
Alan Dillon
Ceist:596. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the nature of the communication that has been made with the developers of a primary care centre (details supplied); specifically the directives given to them regarding the necessity to restart construction activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7868/24]
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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (597)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:597. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health to comment on the appointment of an official (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7908/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Minister has asked me to thank you for your email to him in respect of recruitment matters in the HSE.
The role of the Minister for Health is primarily to deal with legislation, policy, overall budgetary allocation, and corporate governance. The HSE is a separate entity to the Department of Health and as such, the HSE has responsibility for matters relating to the staff within their employ or staff going through the process of recruitment with the HSE's National Recruitment Service.
Apologies that the Minister cannot assist in this regard.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (598)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:598. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 23 November 2023, if he will outline the findings from the recent injury unit review and if he will comment on a possible extension of opening hours at Ennis injury unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7909/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2023, a National Injury Unit Review was undertaken by a HSE Working Group who undertook the review of the existing Injury Units and made a series of recommendations to improve the service from Injury Units. This report was adopted by the HSE EMT and has been shared with the Department of Health. The aim of IUs are to provide unscheduled emergency care for patients with non-life threatening or limb threatening injuries, as conveniently as possible, while ensuring patient safety and equitable standards of care within an Emergency Care Network.
Two recommendations emerging from the 2023 National Review of IUs were 1) to expand geographical coverage and prioritise locations for the provision of Injury Units, and 2) to expand all existing acute hospital governed IUs to operate from 8am to 8pm.
An implementation plan for the expansion programme is under development with the Implementation Group and the expansion of IUs will be underpinned by a safe model of care as recommended by the Emergency Medicine Programme.
The criteria for this prioritisation included population, existing IU locations, and gaps in geographical coverage for the entire population, with more detailed work ongoing to confirm specific locations.
Ennis IU is already operating 8am-8pm, 7 days a week, as detailed on the HSE website.
Hospital Procedures
Ceisteanna (599)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:599. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health how many eye cataract operations were completed in 2023 and 2024 to date in CHO4, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7918/24]
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.
Primary Care Services
Ceisteanna (600)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:600. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the current progress and planned delivery date for each of the primary care centres planned for Connemara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7926/24]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (601)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:601. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is waiting six years for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7933/24]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (602)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:602. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review a case (details supplied); if he can provide an update on this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7946/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (603)
Charles Flanagan
Ceist:603. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health for an outline of the CAMHS service in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7948/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (604)
Charles Flanagan
Ceist:604. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the current position on the reform and the regulation of CAMHS under the Mental Health Act 2001. [7949/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I firmly support the regulation of all mental health services, including community CAMHS, and I am progressing priority legislation to underpin this regulation.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring all mental health services, both inpatient and community, and both adult and child and adolescent, are fully registered, regulated, and inspected by the Mental Health Commission in its role as the independent regulator of mental health services.
Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the Mental Health Commission registers, inspects, and regulates all inpatient mental health services, including inpatient CAMHS. The current Mental Health Act 2001 does not include any provisions for the registration or regulation of community mental health services and therefore, it is not considered that the Act provides the necessary legal basis to expand the Commission’s regulatory remit.
The expansion of the Mental Health Commission’s role into regulating all community mental health services, including community CAMHS, is being addressed in the forthcoming Mental Health Bill. This new Bill is a complex and lengthy piece of legislation. It will provide the necessary legal underpinning to ensure that the Mental Health Commission can regulate all community services. Additionally, the Bill will overhaul the involuntary admission and detention process, modernise provisions related to consent to treatment, provide enhanced safeguards for people accessing inpatient treatment, and provide a new, discrete Part that relates exclusively to the care and treatment of children and young people.
Drafting of this Bill has been prioritised and it is now in its final months of drafting. I will introduce it to the Oireachtas in the summer legislative session, which begins in April.
Work also continues to improve CAMHS at service level. Year-on-year funding for mental health services increased by €74 million from €1.221 billion in Budget 2023 to nearly €1.3 billion in 2024, and with a strong focus on investing in child and youth mental health. This is the fourth consecutive year of an increase for mental health services, and highlights in real terms the importance this Government places on the mental health of those living in Ireland.
CAMHS receives €146.5 million in dedicated funding annually. In addition to this, approximately €110 million in funding is provided by the Government to community-based mental health organisations and NGOs each year to deliver supports and services. A significant proportion of this is dedicated to supporting young people. A few weeks ago, I announced a further €10 million in funding for mental health to support the delivery of clinical programmes and youth mental health, again highlighting the Government’s recognition of mental health as a central component to overall health.
For the first time in the history of the State we now have a dedicated National Office for Child and Youth Mental Health in the HSE. This is a very significant development which I delivered and it will improve leadership, operational oversight, and management of all service delivery and improvements. Both a new HSE National Clinical Lead for Child and Youth Mental Health and a new HSE Assistant National Director for Child and Youth Mental Health have recently taken up post.
There continues to be growing demand for CAMHS across the country with over 22,000 referrals last year. Between 2020 and 2021, referral rates into CAMHS increased by 33%, while the number of new cases seen increased by 21%.
It is a priority for the Government and for the HSE to improve access to CAMHS and to address CAMHS waiting lists. The new dedicated HSE National Office for Child and Youth Mental Health will focus on improved service delivery. This includes taking account of the recent Maskey and Mental Health Commission reports on CAMHS. The National Office is currently finalising the Youth Mental Health Service Improvement Plan which will set out agreed actions for focused service improvement through identified, timely, and measurable actions.
There are now 75 CAMHS teams and 4 in-patient units nationally. Staffing in community CAMHS has increased in recent years, with an increase of 500 full time equivalent posts between 2011 and 2024. I secured funding for additional new posts under Budget 2024, with a focus on child and youth mental health posts.
Both I and the Government remain committed to the development of all aspects of mental health services nationally.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (605)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:605. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a large number of children with disabilities are being refused entry to a hydrotherapy pool in Cavan (details supplied) as there is no hydrotherapist available to assist children with complex needs; if he can investigate this matter and implement same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7959/24]
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.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (606)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:606. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current status of the provision of primary school dental services by the Health Service Executive in CHO5 and 3; the waiting times for the initial assessment of an individual and the subsequent waiting times for orthodontic treatment for such individuals once they have been referred; his views on whether it is acceptable that a child residing in Tipperary will be subjected to a waiting period of 24 months or longer for an initial assessment (details supplied) upon completion of the assessment; the anticipated waiting period for this child to receive dental and orthodontic treatment; if a child’s case will be referred to the treatment purchase fund for immediate treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7974/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (607)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:607. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health for urgent assistance regarding the matter of securing a local doctor for Cahersiveen, County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7976/24]
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, 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.