Paul Donnelly
Question:616. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE radiographers attached to both CHI Temple Street and CHI Crumlin in 2021,2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form [11197/23]
View answerHospital Staff
Questions (616)
Written answers
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 Staff
Questions (617)
Paul Donnelly
Question:617. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff by job title employed in the HSE pest control service in Dublin in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [11198/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (618)
Paul Donnelly
Question:618. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff by job title that have been recruited for the community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO7; and when will the remaining staff for this team be filled, in tabular form. [11199/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (619)
Paul Donnelly
Question:619. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant, endocrinologist, dieticians, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses and administrative support posts currently in place in outpatient adult diabetes clinics in each of the hospitals under the RCSI Hospital Group. [11200/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (620)
Paul Donnelly
Question:620. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time autism therapists and autism support workers in each of the disability network teams in CHO9, in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form [11201/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Questions (621)
Paul Donnelly
Question:621. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time cognitive behavioural therapy posts in St. James's Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [11202/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Alcohol Sales
Questions (622)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:622. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised (details supplied) on bilingual packaging on alcohol warnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11212/23]
View answerWritten answers
Section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 requires that certain health warnings and information be displayed on the labels of alcohol products, on notices in licensed premises and on websites which sell alcohol products. The labels of alcohol products must also contain information on the grams of alcohol and the calories in the product.
Section 12 requires that. the notices to be displayed in licensed premises and the notices required on websites which sell alcohol products. must be bilingual. In the case of labels on alcohol products, the information is required in the English language only. Section 12 was enacted in this manner in 2018 in the interests of proportionality i.e. to lessen the burden on businesses who would be required to put these six additional pieces of information on the labels of their products for the first time.
As section 12 requires bilingual notices in both on-licensed premises and off-licensed premises, as well as on websites that sell alcohol products, this requirement was enacted in 2018 in a way to ensure that the relevant information will be available in the Irish language to all consumers.
Dental Services
Questions (623)
Alan Kelly
Question:623. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Tipperary who are on the medical card dental scheme; and the number of these dentists that are accepting new patients. [11217/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 Staff
Questions (624)
Alan Kelly
Question:624. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the names of international recruitment agencies in the United States, Canada, Australia, UK and New Zealand that have contracts with the HSE to advertise for posts to be filled within the Irish public health service. [11218/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with the information.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (625)
Alan Kelly
Question:625. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres in University Hospital Limerick; and if each of these theatres is in use. [11219/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 Staff
Questions (626)
Alan Kelly
Question:626. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of times the HSE has advertised for the post of consultant ophthalmologist since January 2021. [11220/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with the information sought as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Questions (627)
Alan Kelly
Question:627. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of CHOs 3 and 5 funding, by local team level, for psychology services. [11221/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes
Questions (628)
Jackie Cahill
Question:628. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health in relation to the three-year cap on farm land in the fair deal scheme, if that cap takes effect following three years of the individual being in nursing home care under fair deal, or when the successor is appointed, if the successor is not appointed until after the three-year mark; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11234/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law by President Higgins on 22 July 2021 and became fully operational from 20 October the same year. The goal of this amendment is to assist in protecting the viability and sustainability of family farms and family-run businesses. A condition of receiving the financial relief offered under the Act is that a family successor commits to working the productive asset for a substantial part of their working time for a period of 6 years. In line with the policy objective to ensure the viability of family farms and businesses the Act clearly defines who can be a family successor. The principal amendment introduced under the Act extended the three-year cap on contributions based on farm and business assets where an appointed family successor commits to working the productive asset for a period of 6 years. To be considered for the 3-year cap, the legislation requires that an asset owned by an applicant for the Scheme, or recently transferred to a family member, is a productive family asset that has been actively worked by a family member for a significant period of time in advance of the person entering care.
Once a family successor has been appointed on an asset, time already spent in care is taken into account when applying the three-year cap. This means that, if someone has already been in care for more than three years, and successfully appoints a family successor under the Act, they can immediately benefit from the 3-year cap on their contributions from the particular asset. However, the amendment does not provide for any retrospective relief or refunds on contributions to care made before the family successor is appointed. This means that reliefs offered under the Amendment will apply from the date the family successor is appointed. The exact wording of this legislation can be found at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/act/27/enacted/en/print#sec2
Primary Care Centres
Questions (629)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:629. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when Tullow, County Carlow, will get a primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11239/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (630)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:630. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if Borris, County Carlow, will get a primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11240/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Questions (631)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:631. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the provision of a new ambulance base in Carlow; the status of a temporary modular base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11243/23]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Care Services
Questions (632)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:632. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the construction of a new day care facility (details supplied) in County Carlow to replace the outdated prefabricated facility, which is home to the support services of mental and physically disabled children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11245/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (633)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:633. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the status of funding allocated in budget 2023 as part of a €100 million fund to support community-based service providers in the provision of health services across the country for a service in County Carlow (details supplied). [11246/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (634)
David Cullinane
Question:634. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the extent of the backlog in urgent and routine cancer test processing at University Hospital Waterford; the number of tests outstanding; the average length of time it is taking the laboratory to process such tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11258/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (635)
David Cullinane
Question:635. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if there has been a request for additional resources to tackle a backlog of cancer screening tests at University Hospital Waterford; the number of additional staff required, by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11259/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Policies
Questions (636)
Carol Nolan
Question:636. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his Department supports the use of gender-neutral pronouns in the drafting of legislation or policies initiated by or originating in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11273/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health uses a variety of terminology to identify the specific cohort being referred to in Departmental policies or legislation. The language used for the most part is gender neutral where the gender of those referred to is immaterial to the policy or legislation in question. For example policies include words like, service user, patient, child/ren, adolescent, adult, older person, population, cohort, etc. rather than referring to specific pronouns. When appropriate and in support of clarity when referring to specific cohorts, gender specific language is used. e.g. Traveller men, pregnant women.
Patient Transport
Questions (637)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:637. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health who is liable for the cost of taxis to hospital appointments for residents in long-term nursing home care in receipt of medical cards. [11307/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;- Bed and board;
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
- Laundry service. Costs not covered by the NHSS include those individually incurred for items like social activities, newspapers and hairdressing. This may also include medical services such as therapies and some medical equipment. A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home. In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS, as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same service. It is important to state that residents of nursing homes should enjoy the same levels of support and access to services as when they lived in their own homes. It is acknowledged that the reason they require 24 hour levels of support is due to their level of dependency, which in turn may require access to clinical services including hospital and other outpatient appointments in the community. The HSE provides for a level of Intermediate Care Vehicles, which are used predominantly for non-emergency transport between acute hospitals for admission and discharge purposes. They would be reserved for those who would need specific support in transport. In other cases, normal transport arrangements apply. These arrangements (e.g. wheelchair taxi) are normally funded by the individual. Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, as set out above. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). The Department of Health does not currently hold data relating to additional charges in private nursing homes; these vary according to each individual nursing home depending on the services offered. It is important to note that it is private nursing homes who hold responsibility for delivering care to their residents in line with their terms of registration and the relevant regulations under the Health Act 2007. Nevertheless, the Department of Health is currently reviewing the available evidence and considering various policy options with relation to additional nursing home charges.
Medical Qualifications
Questions (638)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:638. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 23 February 2023, if his Department is aware of undue delays currently in accreditation of international cardiac physiologists by the Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Science; if his Department has taken or proposes to take any steps to assist with the current challenges being experienced by the IICMP to ensure that internationally qualified clinical measurement physiologists who wish to work in the healthcare sector here can obtain visas to do so in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11335/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, many professions employed in the health service are not subject to statutory regulation, and this includes Clinical Measurement Physiologists. At present, eligibility criteria for posts within the HSE and HSE-funded services are approved by the HSE’s National Director of HR in consultation with stakeholders and with regard to recruitment challenges, skill-mix, and continuing professional development.
Accreditation of education programmes by professional representative bodies is a matter for the professional bodies and education institutions involved. Internationally qualified Clinical Measurement Physiologists who wish to work in Ireland can apply for recognition of their qualifications through the Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Science.
The HSE is exploring a number of approaches to support the Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Physiology with regard to accreditation of international qualified Clinical Measurement Physiologists.
Mental Health Services
Questions (639)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:639. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the implications of Cork HSE management requesting and recently being granted a three year extension of the registration of a centre (details supplied) as an approved centre by the Mental Health Commission; its meaning in the context of HSE plans to close the facility which had been due to conclude by 31 October 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11352/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.