Written Answers Nos. 814-834
814. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to report on the status of the waiting list action plan for psychology services for children and young people that has been funded through the HSE's National Service Plan 2024; the actions being taken under the plan; the impact of the action plan to date in 2024; the targeted outcome of the plan by the end of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25245/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
815. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health for an itemised breakdown of how the 2023 mental health budget allocation was spent; what percentage of the allocation was spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25246/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
816. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health for an itemised breakdown of the cost of funding one adult eating disorder team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25247/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
817. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is looking into setting up a fund for the Covid vaccine injury (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25257/24]
View answerWork is ongoing to design a proposed model for a vaccine damage scheme and officials in my department are working through related policy matters. The development of such a model needs detailed consideration to ensure that it is appropriately designed. Once the model is developed, I will bring it to Cabinet for approval.
818. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25258/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
819. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently attending the transgender clinic in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. [25260/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for response.
820. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the model of care used by the transgender clinic in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. [25261/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for response.
821. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently attending the transgender clinic in University Hospital Galway. [25262/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for response.
822. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the model of care used by the transgender clinic in University Hospital Galway. [25263/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
823. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the proportion of the National Gender Service’s clinical staff’s time that is spent on each of the assessments, other clinical work and administration. [25264/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
824. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals to the National Gender Service that were affected by the issue with closed cases to Cluain Mhuire late last year; and how this is being resolved. [25265/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
825. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason the speech and language service in Dublin South West has been closed; and the action he is taking to address this. [25266/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
826. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can receive an earlier appointment in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25269/24]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
827. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if all referring organisations are made aware of the reimbursement parameters around accessing cataract procedures in Ireland under the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25274/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
828. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if the reimbursement parameters for cataract surgery covered under the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme versus the EU Cross Border Directive scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25275/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
829. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the length of the waiting list and how much it currently costs to receive cataract surgery under the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25276/24]
View answerIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments.
As part of the multi-annual approach to reducing waiting lists, and just as importantly the length of time that patients are waiting, I published the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan on 27th March. Total funding of €360 million has been provided for the plan this year which sets out 19 Actions across three themes: Delivering Capacity, Reforming Scheduled Care and Enabling Scheduled Care Reform.
The Waiting List Action Plan multi-annual approach, initiated in 2021, encompasses a two-pronged approach of short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
The 2024 Plan builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services. This year’s plan aims to achieve a reduction in the overall number of patients on waiting lists while three of the four overarching targets in the Plan are specifically focused on improving waiting times.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) have advised my Department that there were 5,678 patients on the Inpatient and Day Case waiting list for treatment for cataracts at the end of May 2024. With regard to how much it currently costs to receive cataract surgery under the Health Service Executive (HSE), as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
830. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of clients referred to the north Lee, south Lee, west Cork and north Cork primary care child and adolescent psychology services for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [25277/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
831. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the name of the Secretary General who signed off on the construction contract for the National Children’s Hospital. [25281/24]
View answerDepartment of Finance Circular 33/06 requires all public works projects that are delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the Government's capital plan i.e. the National Development Plan, to be procured in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). This was reaffirmed in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 01/16.
The CWMF is an integrated set of contractual provisions, guidance material, technical templates and procedures which cover all aspects of the delivery process of a public works project from inception to final project delivery and review to assist contracting authorities in meeting their ongoing procurement requirements.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is statutorily responsible for the design. build and equipping of the new children's hospital (NCH). The form of contract used for the NCH capital project is based on the standard Office of Government Procurement (OGP) public works contract under the CWMF for employer designed projects. The NPHDB sought variations to the public works contract, which were minor in nature and mostly to facilitate the two-stage tendering process. These variations were subject to engagement with the Government Contracts Committee for Construction (GCCC). The GCCC is a forum for the discussion and development of public policy in the tendering and contracting of all aspects of construction projects.
In April 2017, Government approved the construction investment decision to enable the NPHDB to award the main construction contract with the successful tenderer.
The contract, signed between NPHDB and BAM in August 2017, allowed the below ground works (Phase A) to commence immediately. Prior to proceeding to the award of Phase B, the above ground construction, further approval was sought from Government and received in December 2018.
832. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person who is due to retire (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25284/24]
View answerAs this an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy
833. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an application for a home care package for a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25288/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
834. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will allow a derogation to fill a role (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25291/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
