Written Answers Nos. 143-162
143. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if clinical posts are vacant in the cancer genetics department of St. James's Hospital; the optimum staffing allocation levels for each position; the length of time that these posts have been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15586/24]
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.
144. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if clinical posts are vacant in the cancer genetics department of CHI at Crumlin; the optimum staffing allocation levels for each position; the length of time that these posts have been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15587/24]
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.
145. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of filled genetic counsellor posts in the cancer genetics department in St. James's Hospital; how this compares to international standards; whether there are recruitment plans; if any recruitment challenges exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15588/24]
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.
146. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of filled genetic counsellor posts in the cancer genetics department in CHI at Crumlin; how this compares to international standards; whether there are recruitment plans; if any recruitment challenges exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15589/24]
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.
147. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have attended cancer genetics counselling services in St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [15590/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
148. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have attended cancer genetics counselling services in Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [15591/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
149. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently waiting to attend cancer genetics services in CHI at Crumlin Hospital by waiting time period 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18+ months, in tabular form. [15592/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
150. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently waiting to attend cancer genetics services in St James's Hospital by waiting time period 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, 18+ months, in tabular form. [15593/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
151. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how much funding has been allocated to the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care to date to implement its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15594/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with Recommendation 6 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 and to support the implementation of Recommendation 19 of the Strategy, a Model of Care for Hereditary Cancer was launched in 2023. The model of care will inform the development of services for the identification and management of people with an inherited cancer predisposition.
The Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. New development funding of €20 million was allocated in 2021 and a further €20 million was provided for 2022. This funding has facilitated work in the area of hereditary cancer genetics, including:
• Recruitment of staff to cancer genetics services.
• Development of GP referral guidelines for breast family history.
• Completion of a needs assessment for those with a BRCA gene alteration.
• Development of online training for health care professionals delivering mainstreamed BRCA testing, i.e. genetic testing embedded in oncology services.
• Recommendations on universal tumour testing in certain types of cancer for possible Lynch Syndrome, an inherited condition which causes people to have a higher risk of developing certain colorectal cancers.
In 2023, the Government allocated €2.7 million to the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland. This allocation included the establishment of a National Office of Genetics and Genomics and the appointment of front-line staff.
152. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of long- and short-stay nursing home beds in counties Tipperary, Clare, and Limerick, in tabular form; and whether they are from public or private providers. [15596/24]
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.
153. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he directed the HSE to open the medical assessment units in Nenagh, Ennis and St. John's hospitals on a 24-hour basis. [15597/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that, in the package of measures I have agreed with the HSE to alleviate pressures at University Hospital Limerick, the opening hours of Medical Assessment Units at Nenagh, Ennis and St John's Hospitals will be extending to 24-hours. The extension of the operation of this service will be undertaken by the HSE on a phased basis.
154. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, given his decision to repurpose the new 50-bed community nursing home unit in Nenagh, what he is proposing the HSE does now to substitute for this and to provide long- and short-term nursing home care to the people of Nenagh and north Tipperary. [15598/24]
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.
155. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1427 of 20 March 2024, in which month of 2023 the security contract for a location (details supplied) was terminated; the reasons for doing so at that particular time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15600/24]
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.
156. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health what current process is in place in salons, and other relevant establishments, to ensure those under the age of eighteen are prohibited from using sunbeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15601/24]
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.
157. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health what enforcement measures are currently in place to ensure relevant traders comply with the Sunbed Notification Regulations 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15602/24]
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.
158. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of enforcement officers working to ensure compliance with the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15603/24]
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.
159. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health to outline any plans to review and evaluate the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014, ten years on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15604/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently no plans to review the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014, given the developments at EU level and the initiatives under the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026, which are detailed below.
The National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan includes several actions related to sunbeds, such as raising awareness through education and communication channels. The Plan also involves developing and evaluating education and community outreach initiatives tailored to high-risk population groups. Regarding the Public Health Sunbed Act 2014, the Plan includes actions to review health information for sunbed users as per the Public Health (Sunbeds) (Health Information) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 50 of 2015). Monitoring and reviewing the implementation and enforcement of the legislation by the HSE National Environmental Health Service is also included as part of the Plan.
In addition, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan includes Action 18, which aims to prevent exposure to ultraviolet radiation, including from sunbeds. Officials are engaging with European Commission on this matter, with a Commission Recommendation on reducing risks associated with sunbed use, to be forthcoming. The recommendation will be reviewed by my Department officials in consultation with relevant Government Departments and Agencies.
160. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of violations of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 to date, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15605/24]
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.
161. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health what independent testing or maintenance checks take place on publicly available sunbeds (in salons, or other relevant establishments); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15606/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Health has no responsibility for independent testing or maintenance checks on sunbeds.
162. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to add vascular physiologists to the list of regulated professions regulated by CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15612/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of representative bodies for unregulated professions have approached the Department seeking to be regulated. It is important in this context to point out the issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex.
In light of this, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area. The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/).
My officials are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will also be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en
It should be noted that there are no plans in place to progress regulation of individual professions until appropriate risk-assessment and evaluation tools are in place in compliance with best practice, international evidence, and the Proportionality Test Directive.
