Leo Varadkar
Question:794. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health to explain why melatonin when prescribed is not reimbursed on the DPS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25144/24]
View answerMedicinal Products
Questions (794)
Written answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (795)
John McGuinness
Question:795. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if full payment will continue to be made to a person (details supplied) out of work since 2020 with COVID related health issues [25160/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational issue, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the deputy on this matter.
Medical Register
Questions (796)
Róisín Shortall
Question:796. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the frequency and capacity of Dental Council’s registration examination for non-EEA dentists will be increased, in view of the fact that the exam is currently only held once a year and is oversubscribed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25176/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulatory body for the dental profession in Ireland. As such, issues concerning the registration of dentists are a matter for the Dental Council to consider.
The Dental Council advises that it is continuing to look at the potential to further increase capacity for the Dental Council examination for non-EEA dentists. For the 2024 examination, capacity was increased by 50% in co-operation with the Dublin and Cork dental schools whose support, clinical resources and expertise are a key component of the examination.
Noting that the examination provides a route to registration and practise for dentists, the Dental Council will continue to maintain a focus on competence and patient safety throughout its efforts in this area.
Home Help Service
Questions (797)
Robert Troy
Question:797. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when additional home help hours will be put in place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25182/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Help Service
Questions (798, 799, 800)
Johnny Mythen
Question:798. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for the intensive homecare plan for dementia sufferers that have been granted to people in County Wexford from 2022 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25183/24]
View answerJohnny Mythen
Question:799. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of intensive homecare plans for dementia sufferers that are in place for people in County Wexford from 2022 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25184/24]
View answerJohnny Mythen
Question:800. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for the intensive homecare plans for dementia sufferers that are pending for people in County Wexford from 2022 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25185/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 798, 799 and 800 together.
As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 799 answered with Question No. 798.
Question No. 800 answered with Question No. 798.
Mental Health Services
Questions (801)
Holly Cairns
Question:801. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question 204 of 22 May 2024, what data of clinical activity are recorded by individual psychologists of the CHO 4 primary care services; if the information in table 1 of the response refers to both individual and group client sessions; and if he could clarify if the figures cited in Table 1 of the response are limited to clinical sessions with clients or include other forms of contact such as phone calls. [25194/24]
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.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (802)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:802. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will review the system in place for people on the drugs payment scheme where they are renting a CPAP machine, where a person has to fill out the required form every month for the same repeated cost of the machine; if an easier system can be considered for life-long use of a CPAP machine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25197/24]
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.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (803)
Pearse Doherty
Question:803. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the future of the GP surgery in Ardara, County Donegal after the resignation of the surgery’s GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25217/24]
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 (804, 805)
Marian Harkin
Question:804. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the case of a person (details supplied), he will provide clarity and transparency around the procedures used for the allocation of beds in the cancer care centre at UCHG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25220/24]
View answerMarian Harkin
Question:805. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the measures he proposes to urgently remediate the systemic problem at UCHG to fulfil its mandate to operate as a Centre of Excellence (details supplied). [25221/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 804 and 805 together.
As Minister for Health, I have supported the National Cancer Strategy with substantial funding of €50m on for national cancer treatment and screening. There has been over €300m in cumulative additional funding for cancer treatment services allocated to the Strategy since 2017. This funding has enabled the recruitment of more than 670 staff to our national cancer services since 2017, including an additional 200 nursing staff, 100 consultants, and 180 health and social care professionals in designated cancer centres. This means that our national cancer services have been strengthened, that more patients are receiving treatment, and that waiting times to access treatment are reduced.
University Hospital Galway (UHG) is one of eight adult designated cancer centres and provides cancer care services in the West and Northwest. Among the cancer control services provided in UHG are the Symptomatic Breast Disease clinic and Rapid Access Clinics for Lung and Prostate, which provide access to diagnostics for people with a suspected cancer, as well as access to medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology.
In 2023, construction on a new €70m radiation oncology centre in UHG was completed and I officially opened the facility in October 2023. The newly built radiotherapy unit will lead to an increase in capacity for radiotherapy treatments. The new technology available in the centre also significantly increases the ability to accurately target and treat tumours. This will ensure equal access to cutting edge therapies for patients throughout Ireland.
Performance at cancer centres is closely monitored by the HSE National Cancer Control Programme, who have a monthly performance dialogue with officials from my Department. Any issues of performance are addressed by the Programme who engage with the cancer centres.
As part of this question relates to a service matter, I have referred this part of the question to the HSE for direct reply as soon as possible.
Question No. 805 answered with Question No. 804.
Health Services Staff
Questions (806)
Gino Kenny
Question:806. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the target number of psychologists that need to be employed to ensure full national coverage of psychology in primary care for adults; the current number of psychologists employed in the adult roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25224/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (807)
Gino Kenny
Question:807. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of people seen by the psychology in primary care adults’ service in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date respectively [25225/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (808)
Gino Kenny
Question:808. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received by the psychology in primary care adults’ service in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25226/24]
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.
Home Help Service
Questions (809)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:809. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who is currently a resident at the rehab unit of St. Ita’s Community Hospital, Newcastle West, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25233/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Public Sector Staff
Questions (810)
Michael Lowry
Question:810. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health regarding the status of the Civil Registration Office for the register of births, deaths, and marriages located at the Roscrea Primary Care Centre; if he is aware that a position within this office has recently become vacant due to retirement; if he could provide information on when this position will be filled, as the timely appointment of a new staff member is essential to ensure that the Civil Registration Office can continue to operate efficiently and meet the needs of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25240/24]
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 (811)
Mark Ward
Question:811. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the target number of psychologists that need to be employed to ensure full national coverage of Psychology in Primary Care for those under 18 years of age, the current number of child psychologists (counselling/educational/clinical) employed in these roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25242/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (812)
Mark Ward
Question:812. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of people seen by the Psychology in Primary Care children's service in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25243/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (813)
Mark Ward
Question:813. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received by the Psychology in Primary Care children's service in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25244/24]
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.