Thursday, 3 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 436-449

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (436)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

436. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE dentists employed in County Kerry as of December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5603/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (437)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

437. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will hire additional HSE dentists in County Kerry to address the growing need for public dental care for adults and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5604/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (438)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

438. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of private dentists in County Kerry who provide services to medical card holders as of January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5605/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (439)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

439. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a Covid-19 vaccine booster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5612/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.The NIAC has recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) be offered to those aged 16 years and older with the rollout now underway. The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines and will make further recommendations if required.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (440)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

440. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the reason private healthcare workers contracted to State bodies do not qualify for the €1,000 bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5624/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.

The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Those public sector front-line healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.

I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.

The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.

There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector front-line healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those front-line workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.

Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own front-line workers for their work during this most trying period.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (441)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

441. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a case worker will be appointed in the case of a person (details supplied); and the reason the health services have not addressed this issue to date. [5626/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (442)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

442. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if all workers involved in hospital emergency settings will be paid the special Covid payment of €1,000 based on their direct input in assisting and processing patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5627/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.

The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Those public sector front-line healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.

I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.

The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.

There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector front-line healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those front-line workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.

Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own front-line workers for their work during this most trying period.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (443)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

443. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the steps to be taken relative to the interim report submitted to his Department on a case (details supplied); if the investigation into the 47 persons who were referred to the Houses of the Oireachtas will commence; and if not, his plans in relation to the matter. [5628/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Phase One of the work of the Commission is still ongoing. Following the completion of its work under Phase One the Commission will undertake as per its terms of reference to specify the scope of the further investigations. Phase Two will commence following consideration of the Phase One final report and the Commission's written statement on the scope of its further investigations.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (444)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

444. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the dates in order that led to the report on the orthodontic services in Dublin and mid-Leinster being commissioned; the actions taken arising from the report; the lessons learned from the report; the improvements that were initiated; the number of patients affected; the number given an appointment for treatment; the number yet to be contacted; the number that failed to respond; if the lookback review promised in 2021 has commenced; if so, the timeframe for completion; the person or body conducting this review.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5629/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Primary Care Centres

Ceisteanna (445)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

445. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of the progression of the Finglas primary health care centre project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5630/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (446)

Kieran O'Donnell

Ceist:

446. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health if issues in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5635/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (447)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

447. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when visiting restrictions will be lifted in hospitals and in other healthcare settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5636/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Guidance relating to visitor access in acute hospitals and other healthcare settings is developed by HSE AMRIC and published on the HPSC website. This guidance is regularly reviewed and updated, with recent NPHET advice taken into account in guidance reviews.

As the review and implementation of visiting guidance is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Abortion Services

Ceisteanna (448)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his views that anyone appointed to the research strand of the review of the Health Regulation (Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 should not have demonstrated or campaigned on either side of the Eighth Amendment campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5639/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022. 

As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review. 

Research to inform the service user strand is being carried out by Dr Catherine Conlon, Associate Professor, Trinity College, who is progressing a large qualitative study to analyse unplanned pregnancy and abortion care. The study, which was commissioned by the HSE’s Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme in September 2019, will generate an in-depth understanding of the experiences of women who have accessed abortion care services since the commencement of the Act. As the Deputy may be aware, I have appointed Ms Marie O'Shea B.L. as the independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

The independent Chair will assess the extent to which the objectives of the Act have been achieved, analysing in that regard the findings of the three strands of information on the effectiveness and operation of the Act. The Chair may also consult with stakeholders to gather information on their experiences as well as their observations on the operation of the legislation and draw on the findings of other relevant peer-reviewed research.

I look forward to receiving the Chair's final report, incorporating her conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (449)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

449. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if home help workers will receive the €1,000 bonus for frontline healthcare staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5646/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.

The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Those public sector front-line healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.

I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.

The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.

There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector front-line healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those front-line workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.

Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own front-line workers for their work during this most trying period.