Written Answers Nos. 354-376
354. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of Irish trained doctors and Irish trained nurses employed by the HSE in UHL hospital group in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [60003/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
355. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the total number of doctors and nurses from all nationalities that have left the UHL hospital group in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [60004/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
356. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the options that are available to a person whose general practitioner does not provide smear tests; if the HSE keeps a list of general practitioners that offer the service; the frequency with which this list is updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60006/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
357. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the potential closure of a GP service in Blarney, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60027/22]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. In the interim the HSE puts in place a locum or other appropriate arrangement to maintain GP services to the communities in question.
As the issue of GMS vacancies is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly regarding the potential closure of a GP service in Blarney, County Cork, as soon as possible.
358. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that health services are not reduced at a healthcare facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60075/22]
View answer367. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if ambulances are being redirected to Drogheda accident and emergency from Navan, Kells and Trim areas on an informal basis (details supplied). [60138/22]
View answer368. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that both Navan and Drogheda accident and emergencies are under enormous pressure in terms of the number of patients that are attending them; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that hospital corridors and accident and emergency waiting rooms are full at the moment with patients (details supplied). [60139/22]
View answer370. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if permission was given to the HSE for a two-part closure of Navan accident and emergency; if permission was given to the HSE to redirect ambulances from Navan hospital accident and emergency to Drogheda hospital accident and emergency from mid-December 2022; his views that it would be safe to partially close Navan accident and emergency in the middle of the winter surge; and if he has asked the clinicians in Drogheda hospital for the reason that they opposed this decision. [60141/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 358, 367, 368 and 370 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Our Lady's Hospital Navan and has advised that these changes are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and are driven first and foremost by patient safety considerations.
No decision regarding the HSE’s proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Navan has been agreed by the Minister, or government.
While recognising the very real clinical concerns identified, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.
For this reason, I have asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity. The review has been received and is currently under consideration.
From 12 December, the existing ambulance bypass protocols, in place for Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, are being updated to address urgent patient safety matters to include patients who are critically or seriously unwell, or likely to deteriorate. The current ambulance bypass protocol includes paediatric patients, obstetrics patients, major trauma patients, heart attack patients, and stroke care patients.
The HSE Winter Plan for 2022-23, published on 11 October, will support acute and community services this winter to respond to anticipated high levels of emergency attendances and admissions across the acute sector, long waiting times in EDs, and high occupancy rates across acute hospital settings.
359. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and nature of the work involved; the qualifying criteria that was applied to any company awarded such a contract in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60085/22]
View answerMy Department is required to make annual returns under Department of Finance circular 40/2002 in respect of awarded contracts in excess of €25,000 without a competitive process.
In 2020 there were twenty-six contracts included in my Department's annual return in respect of Circular 40/2002 that were not in compliance with guidelines. In 2021, there were 26 contracts included in the return. The requested details of these contracts are provided in the attached tables.
It should be noted that a number of non-competitive contracts were required to be implemented as a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic. EU Directives provide legitimate reasons for awarding contracts non-competitively, such as extreme urgency brought about by unforeseeable events.
As the annual reporting process in respect of the Department’s 2022 40/02 return has not yet commenced, the requested information in respect of this year is not yet available.
360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if a person or couple receiving care under the nursing homes support scheme/fair deal scheme can rent out a room in their primary residence within the terms of the rent-a-room relief scheme without incurring the 40% rental income charge on their primary residence under the nursing homes support scheme or fair deal scheme. [60100/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
361. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of security costs associated with the HSE facility (details supplied) from 2019 to 2022 inclusive, including the projected cost for the remainder of 2022; if he will set out in detail the decorum security services provided at that cost; the name(s) of the security firm(s) providing the services, and details of any tendering process that may have applied to the granting of those contracts; and if security is paid for by the HSE in any other mental health facility in Cork and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60107/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
362. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if any other HSE mental health facilities in Cork and Kerry, aside from (details supplied) are subject to security costs and, if they are, if he will provide detail on those, name of service, location, amount of donation, rationale for this service need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60108/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
363. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he will consider setting up a community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO-9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60109/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
364. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to ensure that persons are made aware of the risks of respiratory syncytial virus to vulnerable groups, such as babies; the details of the communications campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60112/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
365. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by non-consultant hospital doctors (details supplied); his response to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60114/22]
View answerI am aware from correspondence and engagement with the IMO and also meetings I have had with NCHDs throughout the country, that NCHDs hours of work, in particular shifts of or in excess of 24 hours is an issue that needs to be resolved as a priority. While progress was made in reducing the extent of such shifts following the IMO's '24 no more' campaign, too many NCHDs are still working excessive hours.
My Department and the HSE are engaged with the IMO at present regarding implementation of the terms of the current NCHD Contract. Measures to reduce NCHD hours and elimination of shifts of 24 hours or more is a key part of this engagement.
I announced the establishment of a National Taskforce to focus on the NCHD workforce in September 2022 recognising that NCHDs are a critical part of the health service. We must recognise their importance and work to ensure that they achieve a better work/life balance. The purpose of the Group is to put in place sustainable workforce planning strategies and policies to address and improve the NCHD's experience to support present and future retention of NCHDs in Ireland.
In relation to shifts of or exceeding 24 hours my position is clear, such shifts must be eliminated as soon as possible.
366. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can qualify for emergency treatment, currently not available under the GMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60133/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 367 answered with Question No. 358.
Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 358.
369. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average accident and emergency waiting time in each accident and emergency in the country for the month of November 2022; the number of patients that have been placed on trolleys and chairs in each accident and emergency in the country during November 2022. [60140/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
371. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to ensure the availability of horticultural peat for use in the domestic horticultural sector. [56644/22]
View answerMy Department, in conjunction with the Departments of Environment, Climate and Communications and Housing, Local Government and Heritage has developed a series of actions to support the horticulture sector as it transitions to sustainable alternatives. These targeted actions reflect the multi-faceted nature of the problem and seek to address the short-term issue of supply, the medium term one of future access to peat and also the longer-term issue of replacement with alternatives.
My Department commissioned an independent expert to work with all peat suppliers to ascertain the level of horticultural peat stocks available to growers and to identify sub-30 hectare sites for the extraction of peat that may be used for domestic horticultural use. The expert was unable to get information on peat supplies and did not identify a suitable sub-30 hectare site, but did propose a number of other recommendations to address the issue of peat supplies for the sector. These are being considered across government.
My Department also commissioned experts to provide focused guidance to those wishing to achieve regulatory compliance for extraction of horticultural peat on sub-30 hectare bogs for supply to the domestic horticulture industry. This guidance together with earlier guidance published by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the National Parks and Wildlife Service should assist stakeholders wishing to become legally compliant and all stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the regulatory framework in place. The report and guidance were published on the 9th of November 2022 and are available on www.gov.ie.
To support and facilitate research into the development of alternatives to peat for horticultural use, my Department committed €1.69 million to a five-year research project entitled ‘Beyond Peat’ which is being led and co-ordinated by Teagasc. My Department is also funding research projects through the EU Producer Organisation scheme for fruit and vegetables.
372. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if land (details supplied) will be deemed uphill land and be exempt from individual fencing if a landowner is applying for a premium on a single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60026/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine annually publishes the Helpsheet/Terms and Conditions for the EU Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)/Greening Payment and other Area Based Schemes.
This document along with the Guide to Land Eligibility, sets out the conditions for land to be eligible for payment. Each applicant is responsible, in conjunction with their farm advisor, to ensure the lands are eligible for payment prior to submission for payment.
The first consideration for eligibility of hill lands is that the land must be an agricultural area - capable of growing herbaceous vegetation i.e. grasses, rushes, heather etc. The lands must also have an agricultural activity which can be grazing livestock or carrying out maintenance activities on the lands. Therefore, in terms of fencing there is no specific requirement that all lands must be fenced, but the applicant must be in a position to demonstrate that they are in control of the lands and are carrying out an agricultural activity on the lands.
373. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 607 of 15 November 2022, which of the listed non-expiry licence are currently operational; the dates on which the competent authority made its statutory environmental determinations under the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive in relation to the listed non-expiry fish culture licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60037/22]
View answerAs outlined in a previous response to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 607 of 15 November 2022, my Department's records indicate that there are currently nine extant non-expiry Fish Culture Licences, which were granted under Section 15 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959. Section 15 was repealed by the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and Fish Culture Licences are no longer issued.
These licences were granted in accordance with the legislation in place at the time, which was prior to the current EIA Directive, and licence holders are permitted to continue operating under Section 75 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 under the terms of their original licences.
374. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and the nature of the work involved; the qualifying criteria that was applied to any company awarded such a contract in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60077/22]
View answerMy Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation.
EU and national rules promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money. EU Directives declare that there can be legitimate reasons for awarding contracts non-competitively, such as extreme urgency brought about by unforeseeable events or if there is a single supplier to perform the contract. Therefore, a non-competitive procurement is not necessarily non-compliant with procurement rules.
Department of Finance Circular 40/02 requires my Department to report all contracts above €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) awarded without a competitive process to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) by 31 March of the following year.
Information on all contracts that are Non-Compliant with the Procurement Regulations are detailed in my Department's 2020 and 2021 Appropriation Accounts respectively, as published by the Comptroller and Auditor General, and is subject to Public Accounts Committee scrutiny.
2020
In 2020, 81 contracts with a value of €11,774,607 were awarded without a competitive process and declared on the Circular 40/02 return, as expenditure associated with those contracts exceeded the reporting threshold of €25,000.
Of this, contracts valued at €8,327,906 were considered compliant, as the justification for awarding these contracts without a competitive process fell within the exceptions to open/competitive procurement permitted in national and EU legislation.
The remaining procurement with a value of €3,446,700 was not considered compliant as the circumstances did not include the exemptions allowed under procurement rules.
2021
In 2021, 85 contracts with a value of €12,861,860 were awarded without a competitive process and declared on the Circular 40/02 return, as expenditure associated with those contracts exceeded the reporting threshold of €25,000.
Of this, contracts valued at €9,074,120 were considered compliant, as the justification for awarding these contracts without a competitive process fell within the exceptions to open/competitive procurement permitted in national and EU legislation.
The remaining procurement with a value of €3,787,740 was not considered compliant as the circumstances did not include the exemptions allowed under procurement rules.
2022
Information on 2022 non-competitive procurement will not be available until 2023.
The information in relation to all contracts, including those below the €25,000 threshold, is not readily available in the format requested. Officials in my Department will collate the information and forward it directly to the Deputy.
375. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will immediately release funds from the small-scale capital works programme in order to bring public toilets at a location (details supplied) up to standard and or back in use. [59933/22]
View answerThe provision of public library services is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Therefore, works on the toilet facilities in Bray Library are the responsibility of Wicklow County Council.
As a measure under the Libraries Capital Programme, my department approved funding of €3m for a Small-Scale Capital Works programme for public libraries in 2020. Wicklow County Council were awarded the maximum grant amount of €100,000 and a portion of this funding supported the installation of perspex screens and bike lockers at Bray Library. The Libraries Capital Programme is currently fully allocated so no further funding is available for new projects.
A new Libraries Capital Programme is expected to commence in 2023 and this will provide funding for public libraries capital projects for the next five years. It is possible that there may be a Call for Proposals for a Small-Scale Capital Works programme in public libraries during the lifetime of the new Libraries Capital Programme, and should this be the case, proposals may be submitted by Wicklow County Council at that time.
376. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted these contracts and nature of the work involved; the qualifying criteria that was applied to any company awarded such a contract in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60088/22]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Developments procurement policy aligns fully with the guidelines produced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The OGP guidance requires public tendering to take place for the supply of goods and services with a value of over €25,000 (excluding VAT) and for capital works valued at over €50,000 (excluding VAT).
As such, the procurement of, for example, low value consumables does not require public tender, but rather a minimum of three verbal or written quotes, depending on the value. The table below details contracts granted above the levels referenced above which were granted without going to public tender.
|
Year |
Company and nature of work |
Details |
|
2021 |
Galway Aviation Services Limited (GASL) for €910,000 for Air Services to the Aran Islands |
The existing contract for the air service to the Aran Islands was extended by 1 year from 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022, on the same terms, in order to ensure continued provision of this lifeline service while the renewal process for a long term Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract for the air service was being put in place. (A new contract was subsequently put in place via tender.) |
|
2021 |
ESRI for €210,000 for research programme to support the monitoring and development of rural and community policy and evaluation |
This research partnership, agreed between DRCD and the ESRI, provides that the outputs from the research programme will be published and disseminated widely. Consequently, the benefits of the research undertaken will not accrue exclusively to DRCD and the Department will not have exclusive ownership rights to same. ESRI may publish outputs independently, for example, in journals or conference proceedings. The output is open for all to use and may be looked upon as a public good. A competitive tender is therefore not required in this instance, in line with Article 14 of Directive 2014/24/EU. The contract was signed on 17/11/2021 and will run until December 2023. |
|
2020 |
Galway Aviation Services Limited for €547,758 for Aerodrome Management Services for Aerfort Chonamara |
Existing contract extended to allow new longer term contract to be put in place.(A new contract was subsequently put in place via tender.) |
|
2020 |
Galway Aviation Services Limited for €299,787 for Aerodrome Management Services for the Aerodromes located on the Aran Islands, Inishbofin and Clifden, Co. Galway |
Existing contract extended to allow new longer term contract to be put in place.(A new contract was subsequently put in place via tender.) |
