Written Answers Nos. 1403-1417
1403. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate his latest assessment of the extent of long Covid, of the optimum services to meet the challenges for such patients, and of the extent to which services are now being made available on an adequate scale to patients; and if he has developed a process to monitor the progress of such patients to ensure that best international practice is applied here. [16549/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
1404. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of staff within his Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16562/23]
View answerWe currently have three members of staff who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels. Their current roles and responsibilities are listed below -
Role: Health Attaché
Responsibilities: To promote, explain and represent Ireland’s health and related interests within the European Union. The Attaché is the primary link between the Department of Health and EU institutions and as such their work is key to ensuring that Ireland plays a successful role in the EU’s legislative, policy formulation and decision-making processes in areas of Departmental responsibility.
Role: Deputy Health Attaché
Responsibilities: To provide support to, and, as necessary, deputise for, the Health Attaché.
Role: Seconded National Expert (SNE) in DG HERA
The Department of Health has also seconded a national expert to the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) in Brussels. DG HERA's mission is to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to health emergencies at EU level. This SNE participates in the tasks of DG HERA and is based in the Emergency Office Unit within DG HERA.
We are in the process of appointing a Health Counsellor to the Permanent Representative in Brussels to coincide with the upcoming presidency.
In 2016, we had one member of staff based and working with the European Union in Brussels.
1405. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health following the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17 to 26 years and the anticipated roll out to women under 30 years from 1 September 2023, if his Department or the HSE are compiling any data on the uptake of this scheme among this age cohort; the other data in relation to this that is being compiled; if it will be used to inform the roll out to further age cohorts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16574/23]
View answer1406. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health following the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17 to 26 years, if a system is in place to gather data on the uptake of the scheme; if so, if this data includes the type of contraception opted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16575/23]
View answer1407. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health following the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17 to 26 years, the number of GPs who have signed the contractor details and acceptance form; if the service is accessible to women in all parts of the country; if he is aware of any waiting lists to access this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16576/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1405 to 1407, inclusive, together.
The free contraception scheme for women was launched in September 2022, and is currently open to women aged 17-26 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland. The scheme will be expanded further, in September, to include women aged 30 and under. Funding through Budget 2023 was also allocated to expand the scheme to 16 year-olds, but this is subject to consultation across Government, legal advice and legislative amendment.
Approximately €32m has been assigned to support free contraception in 2023. Expansion beyond 2023 is a matter for the Estimates process leading to Budget 2024, and for Government decision.
As of Q4, 2022, over 2,200 GPs, primary care centres, family planning centres and student health clinics have signed contracts with the HSE to provide services under the free contraception scheme, with additional providers pending. Similarly, over 1,850 pharmacies are also participating. We have not been informed of any waiting lists pertaining to this scheme.
Data relating to the number of people accessing services under the scheme, the uptake of specific forms of contraception and specific services claimed under the scheme is currently being gathered by the HSE; records regarding the numbers of GPs, family planning clinics and pharmacies contracted under the scheme are also maintained. These data will of course be used to inform further development of this scheme.
With regard to the more detailed data collated by the HSE, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1408. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will review the current work placement system and the issue of pay for trainee midwives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16581/23]
View answer1409. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he agrees that trainee midwives should be paid minimum wage for the work hours they are expected to do in a healthcare setting as part of their qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16582/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1408 and 1409 together.
Clinical placement learning is mandatory and comprises 50% of nursing and midwifery undergraduate educational programmes. Mandatory supernumerary clinical placements occur for 45 weeks from year 1 of the programme right through to the first semester of year 4. Allocation to a clinical placement is driven by educational needs enabling the student to achieve stated learning outcomes. In line with Directive 2013/55/EU, supernumerary clinical placements ensure learning takes place in a clinical learning environment and that essential experience is gained under the supervision of a registered nurse or midwife called preceptors. These supernumerary students are not employees and are therefore not paid. As students, rather than employees, the primary focus of their clinical placements is on learning. Changing the supernumerary status of those placements to that of an employee would remove the educational protections that enable such students to participate in an observing and a learning capacity.
The enhanced travel and subsistence scheme for student nurses and midwives undertaking supernumerary clinical placement arose following recommendation from the McHugh Report, which was an examination of the existing clinical placement allowances regarding travel, subsistence and accommodation requirements. Eligible students will each receive €500 per year (Years 1 to 3), as a targeted measure to contribute towards meeting the extra costs of meals associated with supernumerary clinical placements. A new rate of €80 for overnight accommodation is being introduced, along with an increased weekly cap of €300, for those eligible students who require accommodation away from their normal place of residence while attending clinical placements. This weekly cap is three times the cap introduced on 1st January 2022, and almost six times the previous cap. Students requiring overnight accommodation can also avail of, on a vouched basis, the reasonable cost of uniform laundry services.
Furthermore, as per Circular 4/2023: Payment of Clinical Placement Allowances to Undergraduate Supernumerary Nursing and Midwifery Students, issued by my Department on 27th February 2023, the enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme will be backdated to the start of the current academic year, September 2022.
Student nurses and midwives’ final year internship clinical placement consists of a continual 36-week rostered placement, including annual leave. The internship placement is a paid placement as the student nurses and midwives are considered as 0.5 whole time equivalent of the workforce. Student nurses and midwives continue to work under supervision during the internship clinical placement. As per Department of Health Circular 01/2023 as issued on 30th January 2023, I am ensuring that their salary is set in line with the relevant recommendation in the McHugh Report, by increasing their rate of pay to 80% of Point 1 of the Staff Nurse/Midwife pay scale.
1410. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16589/23]
View answerUnder 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.
1411. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of recommendation ten from the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants; the engagements he has had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on this matter, in view of the proposal to establish a NFQ level 5 healthcare assistant apprenticeship under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16593/23]
View answerThe report of the Advisory Group was published in October 2022 with 16 recommendations across the areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development, sectoral reform, and monitoring and implementation.
The recommendations will be progressed through a dedicated implementation group. My Department is engaging with recommendation owners in order to define an implementation plan. It is intended to publish a detailed implementation plan containing the steps involved in delivering the recommendations in the coming months. The implementation group will meet quarterly, and the Department of Health will publish progress reports against this plan after these meetings take place.
Regarding recommendation 10 in particular, the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group identified the HSE as the primary owner of this recommendation. Initial discussions between the Department and the HSE on this recommendation have taken place. The Department of Health, the Department of Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Skills, and SOLAS have been identified as supporting stakeholders of this recommendation. The recommendation is being scoped by the HSE and details of its implementation, once determined, will be included in the implementation plan.
Regarding the apprenticeship, a key commitment of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ is to grow the number of apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to reach 750 annual registrations by 2025. This represents a more than seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7% of the apprentice population being employed by public service employers.
DFHERIS has established a working group, representing Government Departments and agencies and local authorities, to develop a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan by summer 2023. The Group’s work is based on surveying over 100 organisations in relation to their skills needs.
Regarding the healthcare assistant apprenticeship, there has been extensive engagement between DFHERIS, the HSE and Department of Health in relation to a commitment in the Action Plan to explore a healthcare assistant apprenticeship programme for the HSE, and the options for how this might be piloted.
The HSE conducted a feasibility study on the creation of QQI level 5 Apprenticeship Model for Health Care Assistants. A wide range of both internal and external stakeholders were interviewed. In total, 16 recommendations were proposed. Many stakeholders highlighted the benefits of introducing an apprenticeship programme mainly from the perspective of recruitment and retention, reframing the role in public’s perception and to position it as a career with a path to develop. The study acknowledged the operational challenges and difficulties linked with the creation of a new Apprenticeship Programme.
To date, HSE has engaged with DFHERIS, DoH, NAO, QQI and SOLAS concerning the application and validation process for the apprenticeship programme. HSE is now preparing a business plan identifying resources required to implement a two-year pilot apprenticeship programme. This business plan will be submitted through Estimates process for 2024. It is vital to note that preparatory work (duration – 12 to 14 months) is required prior to implementing the two-year apprenticeship programme. This preparatory work can be completed only if the dedicated resources are prioritised within the estimates process for 2024.
1413. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the reason local social services groups are currently being denied access to the HSE clinic at 81 Derrygreenagh Park, Rochfortbridge, County Westmeath (details supplied). [16633/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
1414. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health how long a vacancy (details supplied) has existed; and when it will be filled. [16641/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1415. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when he expects to bring forward legislation to expand the GP card scheme to children under six and seven years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16642/23]
View answer1533. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when free GP-visit cards for children aged six and seven years of age will commence as announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17096/23]
View answer1584. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress in reaching agreement in extending GP cover for children up to 8 and 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17334/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1415, 1533 and 1584 together.
The Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. At present all children under six years of age are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under. It is currently planned to expand the provision of GP care without charges to all children aged 6 and 7.
My officials and the HSE have made preparations for this expansion. Engagements were held with the IMO, representing GPs, throughout last year, and engagement is ongoing in relation to the necessary fee structures for this service. It is intended to introduce the expansion as early as possible.
1416. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the suitability of the current site of St. Patrick’s Hospital, Cashel for a new 60-bed community nursing unit has been determined in light of a planning notice issued notifying intent to demolish the gate lodge at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16643/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
1417. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a pathway to payment of the pandemic special recognition payment for a front-line healthcare agency ex-staff member who is unable to get a satisfactory response from the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16648/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
