Colm Burke
Ceist:142. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the National Obesity Programme, given the impact obesity has on healthcare and health outcomes. [9457/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraObesity Levels
Ceisteanna (142)
Freagraí scríofa
A Healthy Weight for Ireland, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025). It was developed in recognition of the growing need for a coordinated policy response to the increasing problem of obesity in Ireland and the increasing burden placed on individuals and society.
OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications, and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. It recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. Childhood obesity is a key priority under OPAP, as is reducing the inequalities seen in obesity rates, where children (and adults) from lower socioeconomic groups have higher levels of obesity. OPAP is well aligned with the World Health Organisation in terms of the breadth of policy measures that have been introduced or are being considered in order to address the obesity epidemic.
A mid-term evaluation was carried out by UCC which covered the period 2016 to May 2021 which examined implementation and progress on delivery of the actions under the OPAP.
The assessment showed areas of high levels of implementation, while also highlighting areas of limited action. Overall, across all actions (short-term, medium term and long-term) 10% (6/60) were rated by the expert panel with high levels of implementation, and 23% (14/60) with high levels of progress. Half of all actions (30/60) were rated with medium level of implementation and 53% (32/60) with medium rates of progress. Thirty percent (18/60) of actions were rated with low levels of implementation and 17% (10/60) were rated with low levels of progress. Finally, 10% (6/60) of actions were rated with very little implementation, with progress on 8% of actions (5/60) rated as ‘very little’.
The evaluation concluded that current health status, including the high rates of obesity of people living in Ireland, urgently needs to be addressed through upstream actions addressing our food and physical activity environments and the wider built environments. These actions should be combined with effective policies and programmes targeting individuals and families in diverse settings both outside and within the health sector. While much progress has been achieved, continued commitment across Government Departments to support the OPAP is required.
Separately, an internal review of the Obesity Policy Action Plan was published by the Department in November 2022 which provided an update on the status of some of the main deliverables in the Ten Steps suite of population-health approaches of the OPAP.
The OPAP Review aligns the Ten Steps in OPAP with the WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022 which included wide-ranging policy options the WHO recommends for addressing and managing obesity throughout the life-course, in addition to WHO policy options on nutrition for Ireland.
Preparation of a Progress Report for 2023 is currently underway and will be finalised in Q2 2024. The Progress Report will highlight progress made across all actions under OPAP by the Department of Health, agencies under the aegis of the department and other Government Departments that lead on or contribute to actions under OPAP.
As OPAP is coming to an end in 2025, officials in the Department are in the early stages of planning the successor.
Obesity Levels
Ceisteanna (143)
Colm Burke
Ceist:143. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of bariatric surgeries carried out across Irish hospitals from 2019 to 2023, in tabular form. [9458/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Obesity Levels
Ceisteanna (144)
Colm Burke
Ceist:144. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants working within the clinical speciality of obesity and bariatric surgery across the health service. [9459/24]
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.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (145)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:145. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of claims under the TLI scheme have been made by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. [9470/24]
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.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (146)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:146. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health when he intends to next review the long-term illness scheme with a view to expanding the list of illnesses. [9471/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework. This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility in line with the vision, aims and objectives of Sláintecare.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public in-patient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, further measures have facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (147)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:147. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he plans to open an accident and emergency department in Nenagh and or Ennis hospitals, given the terrible situation regarding access to University Hospital Limerick; and if not, his new plans to alleviate overcrowding in UHL. [9472/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware of calls for Emergency Departments to be provided in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals. The recent clinical advice that I requested strongly advises against this course. Patients who require urgent and emergency care are better served by a larger hospital. University Hospital Limerick is equipped with the essential supporting services that patients need.
Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals are Model 2 Hospitals. Under the Smaller Hospitals Framework, Model 2 Hospitals provide less complex care.
We are targeting developments across the Midwest region to alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick. In 2023, funding of €5.2m was allocated this year to the Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) in the three Model 2 hospitals within the region. As a result, these MAUs are now operating 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Furthermore, a 112/999 pathway introduced for all three MAUs in February 2023. This allows patients that meet agreed clinical criteria to be transferred by ambulance and treated in a Model 2 hospital.
Model 2 hospitals accept transfers of appropriate patients from University Hospital Limerick daily. These patients can either be stepped down from an inpatient ward or they may, where a clinician has decided it is appropriate, transfer directly from the Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick.
This Government has made significant and sustained investment in acute services at University Hospital Limerick and across the Midwest region. I and my Department will continue to engage closely with the HSE on the delivery of quality services to people in the Midwest.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (148)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:148. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patient visits handled in total by Nenagh Hospital across all disciplines for the years 2016-2023 inclusive, providing total figures for each year, in tabular form. [9473/24]
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.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (149)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:149. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patient visits handled by Ennis Hospital across all disciplines for the years 2016-2023 inclusive, providing total figures for each year, in tabular form. [9474/24]
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.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (150)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:150. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patient visits handled by St. John's Hospital Limerick across all disciplines for the years 2016-2023 inclusive, providing total figures for each year, in tabular form. [9475/24]
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.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (151)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:151. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patient visits handled by University Hospital Limerick across all disciplines for the years 2016-2023 inclusive, providing total figures for each year, in tabular form. [9476/24]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (152)
Ged Nash
Ceist:152. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when a reply will issue to correspondence regarding a supervised residential unit in Carndonagh (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9490/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A reply to this correspondence issued to the Deputy on 10 April 2024.
Community Care
Ceisteanna (153)
Martin Browne
Ceist:153. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if assurances can be given that a full discharge plan and community care plan will be put in place to immediately provide transitional services for a family (details supplied) upon the discharge of their children from hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9494/24]
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 Centres
Ceisteanna (154)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:154. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a primary health care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9547/24]
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 (155)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Ceist:155. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment referral made in November 2023. [9558/24]
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.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (156)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:156. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he has given any consideration to bringing the homecare sector under the remit of HIQA, or a similar regulatory body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9564/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government commits to "Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high quality, regulated home care".
In 2024, the Department of Health is focused on continuing the development of a regulatory framework for providers of home support services which aims to ensure that service users are provided with regulated care. Work is ongoing within the Department across four broad areas to progress this commitment: Regulation of home support providers; working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support; the examination of future funding options for home-support services; Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.
(i) Regulation of home-support providers
Development of a General Scheme to regulate home support services is now at an advanced stage following ongoing engagement with key stakeholders. The primary legislation will provide for the licensing of home support providers. Drafting of the primary legislation has been added to the priority list for the Spring Legislative session and the General Scheme is expected to be published this quarter.
The Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill is expected to be enacted in 2024 and will establish a licensing system for providers of home support services (public, private and not-for-profit). The regulations will set out the minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a license and will confer on the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the authority to grant, amend and ultimately revoke a license if home support providers fail to meet minimum requirements set out in regulations and quality standards.
Transitional timelines are currently being finalised for the registration of home support providers under this framework. Additionally, HIQA is currently developing standards for home support providers which are planned to go out for public consultation in 2024.
Medical Qualifications
Ceisteanna (157)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:157. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered reviewing the criteria for registered nurses who have qualified abroad to become approved for work by the Nursing and Midwifery Board Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9565/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Responsibility for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
The NMBI is an independent regulatory body established under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011. While my Department is responsible for the oversight and governance of the NMBI, I have no role in the appointment of registered nurses who have qualified abroad.
As the approval of nurses is an operational matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.
Medical Qualifications
Ceisteanna (158)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:158. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health what a person (details supplied) must do to satisfy work permit criteria in order to work as a healthcare assistant. [9566/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
To work in Ireland, a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Employment Permits Section administer the employment permits system. The purpose of the Employment Permits System is to assists economic growth by facilitating the filling of key skills gaps which cannot be filled using domestic or EEA labour markets.
Healthcare Assistants may work in Ireland under a General Employment Permit (GEP). In 2023, a minimum annual remuneration of at least €27,000 was required for Healthcare Assistants/Home Carers to receive a GEP. This was proposed to increase to €30,000 in 2024.
However, following ongoing engagement with Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Health were informed in January 2024 that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment reached a decision to defer the increase for Healthcare Assistants until there is further engagement between Departments and stakeholders across the sectors.
It has been communicated that the €30,000 threshold for employment permits for Healthcare Assistants will be in place by January 2025, following this engagement.
Further to ensuring the employment offer meets the agreed minimum annual remuneration rate, the permit holder must have a relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification or a relevant health and social care qualification comparable to a Level 5 QQI or achieve one within two years of starting employment as a Healthcare Assistant.
To date no application for an employment Permit has been received from the person concerned in the details supplied. Information on the application process is set out below.
An application can be made online on the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). There is a User Guide (PDF document) available on the online system which guides the applicant through the process and details the documentary requirements for each employment permit type.
There are checklists available on the website to help applicants in the process – a dedicated checklist for the role of Healthcare Assistant is available at Health Care Assistant General Employment Permit Checklist (enterprise.gov.ie).
Employment permit applications must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed employment start date.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (159)
Danny Healy-Rae
Ceist:159. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will give urgent attention to a matter regarding staff at CUH (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9573/24]
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.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (160)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:160. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline the level of expenditure on generic medicines and biosimilar medicines in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9574/24]
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.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (161)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:161. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the €330 million spent on newly reimbursed medicines since 2021 by wholesaler costs, dispensing fees and commercial payments at a net level to pharmaceutical suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9575/24]
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.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (162)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:162. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No, 142 of 18 January 2024, for an update on the development of the new elective hospital in Merlin Park; if stage 1 has concluded to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9576/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the new elective hospitals to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.