Written Answers Nos. 451-469
451. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to tackle the rising numbers of drug related deaths; if he is aware that Ireland topped the EU table for drug deaths with more than four times the average number of fatalities according to the European drug report 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26978/24]
View answerMonitoring of drug induced and drug related deaths is an important objective of the National Drug Strategy and the 409 drug related deaths reported in 2020 (the latest data available) is a serious public health concern. Care should be taken when commenting on these data given the age of the data (four year ago) and the possible impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on drug deaths in that year.
The National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) is the national epidemiological database on drug and alcohol induced deaths (poisonings) and indirect deaths among people with a lifetime history of using drugs (non-poisonings or drug related deaths) and/or were alcohol dependent, in Ireland. The NDRDI is acknowledged in Europe as one of the best examples of a Special Register for drug-related deaths due to its robust methodology.
Other EU member states used different methodologies to measure drug-related deaths. The EU Drugs Agency urges caution regarding comparisons of drug deaths between countries as methodological differences in how data is collected must be considered when comparing jurisdictions. Furthermore, it should be noted that the number of drug deaths for Ireland represents 5 percent of the total number of deaths for all the EU member states, based on the data published by the EU Drugs Agency.
Other factors to take into account are the type of drugs used in a country, and the age and gender profile of those affected. For example, Ireland has more drug induced deaths involve opioids, who also tend to be an older population.
It is a strategic priority under the National Drugs Strategy to enhance access to, and the delivery of, drug services in the community. Additional investment is increasing the availability of drug services for those who need them.
Over €160 million a year is allocated for the provision of addiction services. Over the last four years, a particular emphasis has been placed on the provision of medication to be used in Opioid Substitution Therapy. HSE Addiction services are now providing Opioid Substitution Therapy to almost 1000 more individuals than at the end of January 2020.
The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) for 2023, published by the Health Research Board, shows there were 13,104 cases of treatment in 2023, an increase of a third (3,400) compared to 2020. This demonstrates that the increased investment under the National Drugs Strategy has improved access and availability of treatment for people dealing with addiction issues.
It is a priority for me to reduce drug-related harms, including premature death. Each death represents a tragic story for the individual, their family and local community. The data are a reminder of the social cost of problematic drug use and are a call to intensify actions to reduce the harm.
452. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be seen by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26989/24]
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.
453. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health to confirm if a derogation can be used for the conversion of agency staff to permanent staff where that conversion would reduce agency expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26994/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
454. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to expand the range of tests carried out under the national newborn bloodspot screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27001/24]
View answerThe expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a key objective of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been actively progressing work in this regard.
NSAC is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured, validated and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress continues to be made on the expansion of the NBS Programme. As the Deputy will be aware, last year I approved two recommendations from NSAC for the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme. This will bring the number of conditions screened for as part of what is commonly known as the ‘heel prick’ test in Ireland to 11, once implemented. I would highlight that this will represent a 37% increase achieved under the lifetime of this Government.
I can confirm that work commenced at the start of this year, with ongoing collaboration between officials in my Department and the HSE National Children’s Screening Programme on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID.
In February of this year, I was pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the rollout of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant funding increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants. This investment will be crucial to providing additional funds for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training to facilitate addition of new conditions to NBS programme.
I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. Screening will make a real difference to their lives, which is why I am determined to see the continued expansion of newborn screening.
455. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who attended a lung rapid access clinic; and the absolute number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by University of Limerick Hospital Group within ten working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [27002/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
456. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who attended a prostate rapid access clinic; and the absolute number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by University of Limerick Hospital Group within ten working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [27003/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
457. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who attended a lung rapid access clinic; and the absolute number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Ireland East Hospital Group within ten working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [27004/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
458. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who attended a prostate rapid access clinic; and the absolute number who were offered an appointment in each of the relevant hospitals managed by Ireland East Hospital Group within ten working days of the date of receipt of a letter of referral in the cancer office in each quarter from 2016 to 2023 [27005/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
459. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an overview of funding, initiatives and capital works that have been approved and delivered in County Clare since the current Government took up office in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27016/24]
View answerAs this question relates to expenditure at an operational level, I have referred it to the HSE for direct response.
460. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for current and continued investigations on providing approval for a medication (details supplied) on the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27047/24]
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.
461. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists taking part in the dental treatment services scheme; the number who have discontinued in each of the past three years; his plans to increase participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27055/24]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, additional fillings and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients, are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon.
To support practitioners to provide care under the Scheme, I approved a range of measures that were put in place on 1 May 2022 to introduce and reintroduce elements of preventative care and increase the fees paid to dental contractors for most treatment items by 40-60%. These measures have improved access to care - in 2023, 154,864 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, with over 26,700 extra patients treated when compared with 2022.
In the longer term, the Government is committed to reforming dental services, including the DTSS, through the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP), Smile agus Sláinte. An implementation plan for the 2024-2026 phase of rollout is being drafted by my Department and the HSE, for consultation and subsequent publication in the third quarter of this year. The HSE is committed to the design and development of packages of expanded preventative care, and will consult with the profession this year on this draft design, as the first phase of reform of the DTSS.
As the number of dentists taking part in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme and the number who have discontinued in each of the past three years are service matters, these have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
462. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the training provided to parents of children with type 1 diabetes in Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny on the use of insulin pumps; if there is a shortage in the provision of insulin pumps in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27074/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
463. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a position within the HSE (details supplied) that had been funded for recruitment and selection, but the selected candidate has been let go since the formal ending of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27076/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
464. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when veoza will be made available on the drug payment scheme and the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27105/24]
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.
465. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will confirm the number of people on panels in each CHO area concerning home care positions with the HSE; the number of directly employed homecare workers who were appointed by the HSE in each CHO area for 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27108/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
466. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health his views on the shortcomings of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service whereby children with behavioural issues who have reduced school attendance that are referred to CAHMS are returned as not in their remit; if consideration has been given to a locally based layered system of support for families under pressure that shows up as behavioural dysfunction that is all too often medicated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond Directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
467. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the €5 million funding announced in Budget 2023 to support the HSE public dental services in addressing backlogs in children’s and special care services has been issued; to provide an update on the work undertaken by his Department to reduce the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27116/24]
View answerRegarding access to public oral healthcare services for children, I acknowledge that there are access issues in respect of the current model of service provided, which aims to offer the first of three appointments to children while they are in second class (approximately aged 7). Due to the impact of the pandemic on the operation of HSE dental clinics, the HSE has had to prioritise patient groups, to ensure emergency care remains available for all children up to the age of 16, and to give highest priority to children and adults with special care needs, followed by children in 6th class.
In the short-term, HSE’s ongoing efforts to address the backlogs that emerged have meant that the backlog in sixth class appointments has now been cleared in most areas. In the longer-term, the National Oral Health Policy sets out a significant expansion of care through the provision of comprehensive oral healthcare packages across the lifecourse, starting from birth. These prevention-focused packages will be provided by a local dentist under contract to the HSE. The HSE is currently developing these oral healthcare packages, starting with 0-2 years olds, and supported by an additional €4.75m in funding.
Regarding orthodontic services, investment in private waiting list initiatives, including an additional €10 million in 2023, has reduced orthodontic treatment waiting lists by 8,700 patients, or 44%, between end-March 2019 and end-December 2023. This funding has also supported the commencement in September 2023 of a new orthognathic (jaw) surgery initiative to ensure patients can access these life-changing procedures, when they are required as part of public orthodontic treatment. A further €3.35m is being invested this year on a one-off basis to support the continuation of measures to reduce orthodontics waiting lists.
Regarding access to public oral healthcare services for adult medical card holders, additional investment of €10m has, from May 2022, supported the introduction and reintroduction of preventative care to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) for adult medical card holders over 16 years and an increase in contractor fees of 40-60%. This has resulted in increased numbers of patients seen and treatments provided. Comparing the claims made by DTSS contractors nationally, in 2023, 154,864 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, with over 26,700 extra patients treated when compared with 2022.
I acknowledge that access issues remain in some areas and that complete modernisation of care, the service model and subsequently contractual arrangements for adult medical card holders is required, as set out in the Policy. The HSE is committed to the design and development of packages of expanded preventative care, and will consult with the profession this year on this draft design, as the first phase of reform of the DTSS.
The use of the €5 million in one-off funding made available to the HSE for 2023 to support the HSE Public Dental Service in providing care has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
468. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of additional patients seen on the dental treatment services scheme under the €5 million waiting list reduction scheme 2023; and the estimated total cost of these sessions per CHO area, in tabular form [27117/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
469. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total spend on the dental treatment services scheme in 2009; the cost to maintain 2009 levels of spending on the scheme between the years 2010 and 2023 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27119/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
