Written Answers Nos. 597-612
597. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if permission will be provided by IPAS in relation to the specific case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23256/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked extensively to accommodate over 82,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 60,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, the Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
I am advised by my officials that direct contact has been made with the provider referred to and that this matter has been resolved.
598. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the criteria applied to the long-term illness scheme; if Addison's disease will be included in the scheme; if the scheme or other schemes will be extended to support people with the financial cost of coping with life-long chronic conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22363/23]
View answerThe 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 illnesses 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.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
While there are no plans to extend the list of illnesses covered by the LTI Scheme, it is important to remember that the 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 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient 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.
The significant investment in Budget 2023 will facilitate better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for people at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on everyone.
In 2023 this includes:
• an expansion of GP care without charges to people earning no more than the median household income,
• all public in-patient hospital charges abolished since 17 April 2023,
• an extension of free contraception to 26-year-old women since 1 Jan 2023, and further extension to 27-30 years old women from 1 September 2023.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
In addition, 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.
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%.
599. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant gastroenterologist based at University Hospital Waterford in each of the years 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [22376/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
600. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of pacemaker procedures carried out in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; and the hospitals in which these procedures are carried out, in tabular form. [22377/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
601. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of births that took place in the maternity unit at St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [22378/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
602. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of rapid response vehicles allocated to each HSE ambulance basis and that are available to attend emergency incidents on a 24-7 basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22379/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
603. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is still waiting for an operation in Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22391/23]
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.
604. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to advise the reason the podiatry service in the diabetes centre in Loughlinstown Hospital has been removed; whether there are plans to replace it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22393/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
605. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if any plans are being made to address the fact that staff in an organisation (details supplied) have not had a pay rise for fourteen years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22394/23]
View answerFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. Staff working in the Irish Wheelchair Association have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities across the country.
A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022.
While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
Exploratory discussions in relation to pay rises for Community and Voluntary organisations are currently underway under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
It is important to note that this is a cross-sectoral issue and cannot be taken in isolation.
606. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to get reimbursed from the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22397/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
607. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years 2017 to 2022 and to date in 2023; if funding for 2023 has been reduced; if so, the rationale for this; how this will affect the low-cost mental health counselling provided by the service; the alternative funding options available to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22415/23]
View answerMore than €80m a year is provided to Section 38 and Section 39 agencies to provide mental health services on behalf of the HSE.
MyMind provides a range of counselling and psychotherapy services online, and face-to-face across the country. Services are available for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families in a wide variety of different languages.
In response to psychosocial demand in 2022 the Department of Health provided €1m in funding, from an additional €10m once-off funding secured by Minister Butler, for MyMind to provide targeted supports to priority groups. This included those from Ukraine and those impacted by Mica/Pyrite. This funding provided more than 16,000 appointments between 2022 and March 2023.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with Section 39 agencies, such as MyMind, are negotiated each year by the HSE. All such funding is provided for specific purposes which are agreed annually. The process of negotiating and agreeing SLAs with an organisation includes an ongoing and regular assessment of service activity levels against agreed schedules, and developing an understanding of associated costs, be they anticipated, or unanticipated, is a matter for the HSE.
Other factors considered during this process include research and evidence of need, quality and safety, insurance, spending, performance monitoring, staffing and change control.
With regard to the remaining points of this question, the HSE are better placed to advise and I am referring it to them for direct reply.
608. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 649 of 31 January 2023, if he will provide an update on the five pilot locations for out-of-hours CAMH services; where these five locations are; the breakdown of funding and staff per location; when these pilots will be in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22418/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
609. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the overcrowding at Letterkenny University Hospital last week; if any plans are in place to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22422/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
610. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 26 April 2023, if nursing degrees obtained in India will meet the criteria for renewal of the general employment permit for healthcare assistants, given that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland accepts these degrees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22430/23]
View answerThe Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment provided access to the General Employment Permit for the role of Health Care Assistant in June 2021. The framework agreed with the Department of Health included the requirement for the permit holder to achieve a relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification after two years employment in the State.
Responding to the need whereby some Health Care Assistant staff who are availing of the employment permits framework have other qualifications, aligned to the care industry including from India but not as Health Care Assistants it was decided that a comparable healthcare qualification as outlined in the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) NARIC Ireland framework at Level 6, 7 and 8 would be acceptable for employment permit purposes if the clinical lead in the organisation or the employer provides assurances that the staff member has demonstrated the skills, experience, and knowledge to carry out the role competently as compared to those staff members with the QQI L5 qualification.
A “sign-off” from the clinical lead in the organisation or employer is required and a standard form will be available for this purpose. The Department of Health is engaging with Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment on the development of an appropriate form for submission to Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to accompany applications for renewals of health care assistant employment permits along with an information bulletin to advise relevant employers and permit holders. Work is in progress and the standard form and further information will be available soon.
611. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1769 of 18 April 2023, the date on which the nursing and midwifery policy unit will meet with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss concerns regarding the overseas aptitude test for general nursing; if he will attend this meeting or meet with the organisation separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22431/23]
View answerI can confirm that some dates have been suggested for the meeting between the Nursing and Midwifery Policy Unit in my Department and the organisation in question. I expect the meeting will take place shortly and I look forward to being briefed afterwards.
612. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there are still frontline workers who have not received the pandemic payment; the action a frontline healthcare worker should take if they believe they have not received a payment they were entitled to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22465/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
