Written Answers Nos. 358-378
358. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he has read the report produced by an organisation (details supplied) on the warmth and well-being pilot scheme; if he will confirm the link between poor housing and poor health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26728/24]
View answer359. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to commission a comprehensive national study on the impact of housing conditions on health in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26729/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together.
There is compelling evidence that the drivers of fuel poverty (low income, poor energy efficiency and energy prices) are strongly linked to living at low temperatures, and that low temperatures are associated with a range of negative health outcomes.
Conversely, energy efficiency measures can support good physical and mental health primarily by creating healthy indoor living environments with healthy air temperatures, humidity levels, noise levels, and improved air quality. The potential benefits of energy efficiency measures include improved physical health such as reduced symptoms of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, rheumatism, arthritis and allergies, as well as fewer injuries. In cold climates, energy efficiency improvements can lower rates of excess winter mortality.
Recent evidence shows that chronic thermal discomfort and fuel poverty also have negative mental health impacts (anxiety, stress, and depression). Energy efficiency improvements targeting fuel poverty can therefore improve mental, as well as physical well-being.
My Department is represented on the cross-Departmental Energy Poverty Steering Group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which looks at avenues to support improvements to living conditions of people living with fuel poverty and with chronic respiratory issues. One initiative under this Steering Group, the Warmth and Wellbeing pilot scheme, tasked the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with carrying out an independent review of the health impacts of energy efficiency upgrades.
Their findings captured a range of health benefits associated with such work, including:
• Warmer, more comfortable homes, with heating systems that are easier to control;
• Improved physical health including reduced pain;
• Improved mental health and wellbeing including reduced feelings of anxiety and depression;
• Reduced visits to GP and A&E and fewer incidences requiring hospitalisation;
• Reduced prescription drug usage for their respiratory conditions;
• Being more comfortable inviting other to their homes.
In December 2022, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan which sets out the range of measures implemented to meet high energy costs, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford these increased energy costs are supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes.
The implementation of this Action Plan is driven by the Energy Poverty Steering Group, which meets periodically to review progress towards its objectives, including short and long-term actions to support people to meet the cost of energy.
An Annual Report outlining progress under the various actions in the Action Plan has been published on gov.ie Significant progress has been made against the actions set out, and price reductions have been announced by all suppliers for domestic customers in recent months.
The Steering Group also held an Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum in July 2023. The Forum sought to improve and accelerate the implementation of the plan, by fostering dialogue and cooperation among NGOs, industry representatives, and public bodies. It provided a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, assess progress on objectives from across the action plan, and share new ideas to combat energy poverty. A report setting out the recommendations and outcomes of the Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum is available on gov.ie.
In addition, a public consultation held by the Energy Poverty Steering Group between March and May of this year provided stakeholders with an opportunity to make submissions to assist in the development of a revised Energy Poverty Action Plan and provide material in advance of Budget 2025 discussions.
The Steering Group will discuss proposed support measures and actions during the second Annual Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum on June 24th . A revised Energy Poverty Action Plan will be essential to the continued provision of a coherent structured, whole of Government response to energy poverty. This is especially urgent given the continued high cost of energy for households.
360. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses employed by the HSE covering the Dublin south central area (D6w/8/10/12); the number of vacancies in each; and to provide a timeline for recruitment, in tabular form. [26732/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
361. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health for an update on when the Covid inquiry will commence. [26734/24]
View answerThis is a matter for the Department of Taoiseach's and was answered in PQ 26411/24 on the 19th June.
362. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE transitional funding will be paid to a nursing home for the care of a patient in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26740/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
363. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the problem facing a GP’s surgery (details supplied); the efforts being made to provide residents with a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26744/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
364. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if the embargo on recruiting HSE staff has been completely lifted; if nurses are being hired for hospitals; the number of nursing jobs that are currently advertised by the HSE in the Cork, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Limerick areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26749/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
365. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number of disease-protected hospital beds in Ireland, by hospital, region and disease category, in tabular form. [26750/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
366. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the disease-protected beds that are ringfenced for particular diseases in Irish hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26751/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
367. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the statistics recorded relating to instances of those in need of disease-protected beds in hospitals being unable to avail of them due to lack of availability; to provide a breakdown of these statistics for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26752/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
368. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of non-consultant hospital doctor posts which are currently unfilled at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; the total number of NCHDs at the hospital for the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26754/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
369. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant clinicians in post at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, broken down by specialism, between the years 2020 and 2024 inclusive; if he will confirm the number of consultant posts at the hospital which are currently unfilled, broken down by specialism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26755/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
370. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the latest update on the extension to the emergency department and new acute medical admissions unit at Mayo University Hospital; the timeframe to for the delivery of the project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26762/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
371. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen in the SouthDoc Blackpool centre, excluding those seen in their own homes by a doctor, in each month to date in 2024 and in each of the first six months of 2019, in tabular form. [26767/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
372. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors in each of the SouthDoc centres in 2019 and in 2024, in tabular form. [26768/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
373. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors available for house calls; and number of cars in each of the SouthDoc centres in 2019 and in 2024, in tabular form. [26769/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
374. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that currently there is only one doctor servicing all of the Cork metropolitan area, a large portion of west and east Cork for SouthDoc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26770/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
375. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the key dementia policy initiatives that he and his Department have taken in the past year to improve supports for people with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26771/24]
View answerSince I became Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People in 2020, I have worked with the Government to progressively increase funding for dementia services and supports so that everyone with dementia and their families have the supports that they need to live as well and as independently as possible.
376. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with Sjögren's disease who have availed of complex care under the dental treatment services scheme in each of the years since 2020, in tabular form; and the procedures received. [26773/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
377. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the procedures available to patients with Sjögren's disease under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme. [26774/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Please reply to the Deputy in this case.
378. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that patients who have surgery under the national treatment purchase scheme are not receiving any aftercare from the hospital that carries out the surgery or the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26775/24]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised my Department that the NTPF tenders for procedures from its Panel of Private Hospitals. These procedures are all tendered as “packages of care”. Patients who are outsourced from their referring hospital to a private hospital for treatment are done so under the obligations of these tenders. All outsourced procedures and consultations include a package of care which includes but is not limited to consultation, standard laboratory testing, diagnostics, radiology, procedure and review consultations. Treating hospitals maintain clinical responsibility for patients they treat under outsourcing for three months for any matters arising from the patient’s referral, except for orthopaedic surgery patients who must be followed up for 12 months.
