Written Answers Nos. 1631-1648
1631. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the annual budget allocation inclusive of mainstream and interim funding allocated by his Department and drugs programmes to local drug and alcohol recovery task forces from 2006 to date by year. [18501/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe attached table details funding for drug and alcohol task forces for the last ten years, since the task forces came under the remit of the Department of Health. In 2019 task forces were allocated an additional €20,000 in funding of which €10,000 was one off and €10,000 was recurring.
A further €750,000 was provided for strategic drug and alcohol health initiatives in 2020, delivered by drug and alcohol task forces.
1632. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with regional and local drug and alcohol task forces to hear their funding needs ahead of budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18502/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDrug and alcohol task forces have a key role in coordinating inter-agency action and supporting evidence-informed approaches to problem substance use. The network of 24 task forces receives €29 million in annual funding from the Department of Health and the HSE. These resources should be directed towards interventions and strategies which are most likely to reduce problem substance use and improve public health.
As committed by the Programme for Government, Budget 2021 allocated an additional €1m for targeted drug and alcohol initiatives through the network of drug and alcohol task forces.
The impact of problem drug and alcohol use is a national issue, affecting people from all walks of life. Accordingly, the Department is committed to a population-based approach to allocating resources for drug and alcohol services. This will ensure funding is allocated on an equitable and rational basis in accordance with health and social needs.
The allocation of the additional funding will also be informed by the priorities arising from the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, which my Department is undertaking in conjunction with stakeholders.
I value the contribution of drug and alcohol task forces in responding to drug and alcohol use in local communities and in supporting targeted initiatives. The allocation of resources for task forces is decided on an annual basis as part of the Estimates process. As last year. I will engage with task forces to inform this process.
1633. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long to get their registered number to work here with the HSE during a pandemic; if the application will be dealt with as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18505/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is an operational matter, I have asked CORU (the Health and Social Care Professionals Council) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1634. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18507/21]
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.
1635. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for ophthalmology services in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18508/21]
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.
1636. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of syringes that have been procured to date; the timescales by which they have been delivered to date; the planned delivery of syringes over the next few months; and the dates on which they will arrive here. [18514/21]
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.
1637. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it can be found possible to provide appropriate treatment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18516/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1638. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which provisions have been put in place to meet the requirements of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18517/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1639. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in meeting requirements of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18518/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1640. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been hired as Covid-19 vaccinators up until 31 March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18530/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1641. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of medical students who have been hired as Covid-19 vaccinators up until 31 March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18531/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1642. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of retired persons who have been hired as Covid-19 vaccinators up until 31 March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18532/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1640 to 1642, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1643. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the way in which he will prevent further instances of double booking for vaccine appointments in which patients have received appointments for vaccination centres and their local general practitioner or hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18533/21]
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.
1644. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when the 2015 report by two UK specialists into the HSE orthodontic service will be published; the reason the HSE has delayed the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/21]
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.
1645. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when the full results from a recent audit of 7,500 patient files in public orthodontic services will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18535/21]
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.
1646. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when staff in the Irish Prison Service can expect to be vaccinated. [18536/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
On the 23rd of February, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy. In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death. The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.
On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department, following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).
The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by: protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most; facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country; improving transparency and fairness.
Further details are available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/
1647. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the procedure to be followed in relation to the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18549/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to information held by the Health Service Executive, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Executive for a direct reply to the Deputy.
1648. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 692 of 7 July 2020, if the home support waiting list review in County Wexford that was due to commence in Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 in 2020 was conducted; if so, the outcomes of the review; if the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18554/21]
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.
