Written Answers Nos. 153-172
153. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of current TAO and SAO employed in each division per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24371/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all our technical grade streams and locations, and to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan through which current and future staffing needs are addressed.
Overall staffing levels and required skills are continually monitored to ensure business needs are met, subject to the limits of the annual estimates process, the usual budgetary constraints and approvals by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
The table below provides further details on the numbers of Technical Agricultural Officers and Supervisory Agricultural Officers currently within the Department per division and by county as of 24th May, as requested by the Deputy.
|
County |
Division |
SAOs |
TAOs |
|
Carlow |
Direct Payments, Integrated Controls |
1 |
|
|
One Health, One Welfare Northeast |
1 |
4 |
|
|
One Health, One Welfare Southwest |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Cavan |
Ag Environment & Structures |
1 |
1 |
|
Direct Payments, Integrated Controls |
2 |
6 |
|
|
Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
1 |
1 |
|
|
One Health, One Welfare Northeast |
6 |
8 |
|
|
One Health, One Welfare Northwest |
3 |
7 |
|
|
Dairy Controls |
|
2 |
|
|
Clare |
Ag Environment & Structures |
2 |
|
|
One Health, One Welfare Northeast |
|
1 |
|
|
One Health, One Welfare Southwest |
1 |
|
|
|
Cork |
Ag Env and Structures |
4 |
5 |
|
Direct Pay, Int Controls |
1 |
7 |
|
|
Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
6 |
|
|
Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Plant Health & Hort |
1 |
|
|
|
OHOW NE |
5 |
12 |
|
|
OHOW SW |
3 |
13 |
|
|
Ruminant Animal Health |
1 |
|
|
|
Dairy Controls |
|
1 |
|
|
Donegal |
Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
3 |
|
Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
6 |
|
|
Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
3 |
|
|
Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
1 |
|
|
|
OHOW NE |
1 |
4 |
|
|
County |
Division |
SAOs |
TAOs |
|
Dublin |
CD3 Communications and Corporate Affairs |
|
1 |
|
FSP1 Plant Health & Hort |
1 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
|
1 |
|
|
Galway |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
3 |
2 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
9 |
|
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
1 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
1 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
1 |
5 |
|
|
FSP3 Ruminant Animal Health |
1 |
|
|
|
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
3 |
2 |
|
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
9 |
|
|
Kerry |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
2 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
5 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
1 |
6 |
|
|
PD2 Dairy Controls |
|
2 |
|
|
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Kildare |
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
1 |
5 |
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
1 |
5 |
|
|
FSP1 Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
1 |
4 |
|
|
FSP1 Pesticide Controls |
2 |
2 |
|
|
FSP1 Plant Health & Hort |
5 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
2 |
15 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
1 |
9 |
|
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
1 |
5 |
|
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
1 |
5 |
|
|
FSP1 Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
1 |
4 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
4 |
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
2 |
3 |
|
|
PD2 Dairy Controls |
|
1 |
|
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
4 |
|
|
Laois |
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
|
1 |
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
1 |
4 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
|
2 |
|
|
FSP3 Ruminant Animal Health |
1 |
|
|
|
PD3 Lstock Breed, Prod, Trade |
2 |
|
|
|
Leitrim |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
2 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
5 |
|
|
FSP1 Plant Health & Hort |
1 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
2 |
7 |
|
|
FSP3 Ruminant Animal Health |
1 |
|
|
|
County |
Division |
SAOs |
TAOs |
|
Limerick |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
2 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
7 |
|
|
FSP1 Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
1 |
1 |
|
|
FSP1 Plant Health & Hort |
2 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
1 |
3 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
1 |
11 |
|
|
FSP3 Ruminant Animal Health |
1 |
|
|
|
PD2 Dairy Controls |
|
1 |
|
|
Longford |
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
|
1 |
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
|
3 |
|
|
Louth |
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
3 |
|
Mayo |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
1 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
8 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
5 |
8 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
2 |
6 |
|
|
Meath |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
2 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
1 |
5 |
|
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
2 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
4 |
14 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
2 |
10 |
|
|
FSP3 Ruminant Animal Health |
1 |
|
|
|
Monaghan |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
1 |
|
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
|
1 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
4 |
5 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
1 |
|
|
|
Offaly |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
3 |
4 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
4 |
|
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
1 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
|
5 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
2 |
9 |
|
|
FSP3 Vet PubHealth Pig Poultry |
|
1 |
|
|
Roscommon |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
2 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
1 |
4 |
|
|
FSP1 Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
1 |
1 |
|
|
FSP1 Plant Health & Hort |
1 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
3 |
6 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
2 |
6 |
|
|
Sligo |
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
|
1 |
|
FSP3 OHOW NW |
|
1 |
|
|
County |
Division |
SAOs |
TAOs |
|
Tipperary |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
2 |
3 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
2 |
6 |
|
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
1 |
|
|
FSP1 Feed, Fer, Grain, Poultry |
1 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
6 |
13 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
3 |
9 |
|
|
Waterford |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
3 |
3 |
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
1 |
6 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
4 |
8 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
2 |
4 |
|
|
FSP3 Ruminant Animal Health |
1 |
|
|
|
Westmeath |
FSP3 OHOW NE |
2 |
6 |
|
Wexford |
AP1 Ag Env and Structures |
3 |
4 |
|
AP1 Organics & Market Supports |
1 |
|
|
|
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
3 |
5 |
|
|
FSP1 Crop Evaluation & Cert |
|
3 |
|
|
FSP1 Plant Health & Hort |
1 |
|
|
|
FSP3 OHOW NE |
2 |
6 |
|
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
|
6 |
|
|
Wicklow |
AP2 Direct Pay, Int Controls |
|
1 |
|
FSP3 OHOW SW |
1 |
1 |
154. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ECO payment will be made to a person in County Mayo (details supplied) and ask that the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24427/24]
View answerProcessing of the eco-scheme applications for the herdnumber provided by the Deputy has been completed and they will receive their advance (70%) Eco-Scheme payment in week beginning 27th May 2024, with the balancing payment of 30% to be issued in early June 2024.
155. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24216/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
156. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the ECCE capitation grant by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24145/24]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme scheme is a universal scheme which provides 2 years of free preschool to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. My Department funds private early learning and care service providers to provide the ECCE programme at a standard rate of €69 per week per child attending the ECCE programme.
With the addition of the Core Funding Scheme in 2022, services providing the ECCE programme who are also signed up to Core Funding receive a minimum of €79.20 per child per week in capitation. This figure can rise to a maximum of €95.85 with additional funding for graduate lead educators and graduate managers for sessional services.
To calculate the first year cost, officials in my Department used the ECCE allocation for August 2024 to December 2024 which is €107 million. Using this allocation the estimated first year cost of increasing ECCE capitation by 10% would be €10.7 million.
In calculating the full year cost, officials in my Department used the total budget allocation for the ECCE scheme for 2024 which is a total of €256 million. Using this allocation the estimated full year cost of increasing ECCE capitation by 10% would be €25.6 million.
It is important to note that these estimates does not account for change in usage resulting from this proposed subsidy increase. Any changes to subsidies may create a change in behaviours, for example, an increase in the number of services offering the scheme or families availing of ECCE for the first time.
157. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the affordable childcare subsidy for children under three years of age by €1 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24146/24]
View answerThere are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme:
• Universal Subsidies are available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €1.40 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week. This rate will be increased to €2.14 per hour from September 2024.
• Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and will be calculated based on the applicants individual circumstances. The rate varies depending on level of family income, child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in the family.
The Deputy has requested the estimated first year and full year cost of increasing the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidy for children under three years of age by €1 per hour. It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the income assessed subsidy available under the NCS as the universal subsidy does not does not change based on the age of the child.
The maximum NCS income assessed subsidy for children under 3 are in the below table, along with the proposed increases.
|
Age |
Current Maximum Income Assessed Rates |
Increased rates |
|
6 months- 1 year |
€5.10 |
€6.10 |
|
1-2 years (pre ECCE) |
€4.35 |
€5.35 |
Officials in my Department used the ESRI SWITCH model to estimate the quantum of these changes and applied to the Departments baseline cost of the NCS for 2024. Using this methodology it was estimated that the first year cost of this change would be €2.9m, the full year cost of this change was estimated at €8.78m.
The above estimates come with a number of caveats.
Firstly, it should be noted that due to the nature of the NCS income assessment, families on the maximum income assessed subsidy (i.e. those on the lowest income) would benefit the most from increases to the maximum income assessed subsidy. This effect would taper downward as applicants reached the higher income threshold for the Scheme (€60,000) however all families not at this threshold would benefit.
Additionally, the above costing is based on the NCS as it operates currently and it rates as time of this PQ being asked. As part of Budget 2024 I announced an increase to the NCS universal subsidy from €1.40 per hour to €2.14 and an extension of the NCS to a larger cohort of childminders from September 2024. As these are not yet implemented, the impact of these changes have not been factored into the above costing.
Lastly, the costing is made on the basis of a static system; that is, the model assumes that the level of usage of eligible early learning and childcare remains static. Any changes to subsidies may create a change in behaviours in families, for example, women returning to workforce and using formal early learning and childcare for the first time.
158. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 16 May 2024, if, in view of the fact that compliance with planning law is a standard requirement for all such tenders, he will clarify his statement purporting to demonstrate such compliance could be regarded as being 'of a commercially sensitive nature'. [24232/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for her question.
The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) template and any resulting contract is commercially sensitive and is not divulged by the Department.
The planning legislation relied upon forms part of this process.
With all new properties contracted by the Department to provide accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants, the Local Authority have a regulatory role in verifying that properties meet the required planning regulations.
159. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting on an assessment of need, by each health area; the number of children for last year waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24236/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
160. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years assistants, room leaders, deputy managers, and centre managers in the childcare sector to date, or as of the most recent date for which data is available. [24282/24]
View answerIn line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC and to raise the profile of careers in the sector.
During the development of Nurturing Skills, the Steering Group agreed that final decisions on terminology for the profession should be a matter for future decision by a professional body for the sector, whether that is a professional regulator or a professional association. However, in the interim, the working title chosen to describe those working in centre-based ELC is the term that attracted the greatest support in the public consultation process.
Nurturing Skills identified initial roles as:
- Early years educator / School-age childcare practitioner;
- Lead Educator,
- Manager (both ELC and SAC).
Every year Pobal compiles data on behalf of my Department from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP). The most recently published data for the 2020/21 programme year provided the below breakdown of staff working directly with children by roles. The below data is extrapolated based on the response rate of the survey.
|
Title |
No. of Staff |
|
Centre Manager |
3,161 |
|
Deputy Manager |
1,549 |
|
Early Years Educator |
12,860 |
|
Lead Educator |
8,495 |
161. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 594 of 30 April 2024, the number of children currently based in designated accommodation centres, the number of those children who were provided a school place education after two, four, six, eight, ten and after 12 weeks, in tabular form. [24330/24]
View answerThe Senior Educational Welfare Officer in Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), has requested for this parliamentary question to be redirected to Tusla for response.
162. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE pathfinder project associated with Tallaght University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24125/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
163. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding glaucoma to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24155/24]
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 conditions 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 currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI 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 in-patient 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.
In 2023, further measures have facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30 (further extended to those aged 31 from 1 January 2024). These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
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 under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. 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%.
164. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of drug reimbursement recommendations contained within a report published in March 2023 (details supplied); the reason the recommendations contained have not been implemented to date, resulting in substantial financial pressure being placed on families, in particular the sanctioning of fenfluramine for the treatment of Dravet syndrome as per this report. [24159/24]
View answer166. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently expedite the approval of fenfluramine for the treatment of Dravet syndrome (details supplied). [24161/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 166 together.
In February 2023, I published the Mazars Review which examined the governance arrangements around the HSE’s Drug Pricing and Reimbursement Process. The Report found that the reimbursement process is operating in line with the legislation and that it is delivering results in line with international norms. I fully support the recommendations contained in the Mazars report around improving the process, increasing transparency, providing easier access, and supporting value for money.
The Group has conducted two rounds of targeted stakeholder consultation. The insights gained from stakeholders have been considered by the Group as it continues its work on progressing the various recommendations of the Review. The Group’s work is now nearing completion and a report on this will be submitted to me in the coming weeks.
In 2024, there will be significant investment in additional staff resources to enhance the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement process. This is a recommendation of the working group established following the publication of the Mazars Review in February 2023.
Funding has been allocated for an additional 34 WTE for the agencies involved in the HSE’s medicines pricing and reimbursement system has been granted. This will enable them to conduct timely and efficient evaluations of medicines for reimbursement. It will also maximise the use of this substantial public investment to support access to more medicines for more people. Funding has also been approved for an online tracker which will allow patients and industry to follow the progress of an application through the assessment process. This will enhance transparency for all stakeholders.
The HSE have advised the following in terms of the specific details of the application for pricing and reimbursement of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®):
Dravet Syndrome
The HSE received an application for pricing and reimbursement of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®) on the 28th July 2023 from UCB Pharma (the applicant) for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome as an add-on therapy to other anti-epileptic medicines for patients two years of age and older.
The first step in the process is the submission of a Rapid Review dossier (a clinical and economic dossier) to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) for assessment. The HSE commissioned the Rapid Review process on the 31st July 2023.
The NCPE Rapid Review assessment report was received by the HSE on the 7th September 2023. A full health technology assessment (HTA) was recommended to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®) compared with the current standard of care.
The HSE commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the 29th September 2023 as per agreed processes.
A full submission was received from the applicant on the 16th May 2024.
A preliminary review was sent to the applicant on the 20th May 2024.
The NCPE publishes details of medicines where the HSE has commissioned a Rapid Review assessment and / or a full health technology assessment on their website. The website is updated at regular intervals and includes assessment outcomes and updates on reimbursement for each individual medicine and indication listed. Details of the assessment(s) of Fenfluramine (Fintepla®) for Dravet Syndrome are available at: www.ncpe.ie/fenfluramine-fintepla-for-dravet-syndrome-hta-id-23048/.
The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications.
The Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE Drugs Group includes public interest members. The pharmacoeconomic report will be reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group along with the outputs of any commercial negotiations, and any patient group submission(s) received. The HSE Drugs Group will consider all of the evidence and make a recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team.
The decision making authority in the HSE is the HSE Executive Management Team. The HSE Executive Management Team decides on the basis of all the demands it is faced with (across all services) whether it can fund a new medicine, or new use of an existing medicine, from the resources that have been provided to it in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
165. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has a role in upkeeping the houses which are falling into derelict especially in North Strand Dublin when the owners are in a nursing home as part of the fair deal scheme. [24160/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
167. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the funding of a specific drug for a child, on compassionate grounds (details supplied). [24162/24]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
168. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a person under the age of 65 years can qualify for home support services where they have great medical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24163/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 584 of 8 May 2024, the areas in which the discharge scheme has commenced (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24173/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
170. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE can step in to take over/purchase two nursing homes (details supplied) following HIQA concerns, to prevent their closure and protect the 117 residents living in these facilities and prevent them from losing what is effectively their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24174/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if the bed spaces of residents in a nursing home (details supplied) are being relocated, acquired/arranged on a per-resident basis at the time of that resident’s removal/relocation; if not, if the beds were block-booked in numbers and in advance of any removal/relocation of the residents concerned; if so, the cost associated with this action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24175/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
172. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if an ex-gratia payment will issue to a widower of a former employee (details supplied) without the requirement of a grant of administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24176/24]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
