Written Answers Nos. 714-730
714. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health to report on Ireland’s contribution on combatting vaccine-preventable cancers at the EPSCO (Health) Council on 21 June 2024; the reason for not contributing verbally on this topic; the planned next steps towards achieving this goal in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29254/24]
View answerThe Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted its final meeting of Health Ministers on 21 June in Luxembourg. Ireland’s delegation was led by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler.
The main agenda item was a policy debate on the legislative file relating to the Pharmaceutical Package. On non-legislative items, the Council approved Council Conclusions on the Future Health Union that aim to keep Health high on the EU agenda. It also adopted a non-contentious Council Recommendation on Cancer Preventable vaccines. Ireland welcomes both initiatives.
The Belgian Presidency then updated the Ministers on (i) the events held during their presidency, (ii) negotiations of the Pandemic Agreement and revisions of the International Health Regulations, and (iii) WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Hungarian Minister then presented the work programme of their upcoming presidency (July – December 2024). There were five A.O.B.s proposed by the delegations. The meeting then concluded with a closed-door working lunch on equitable access to healthcare in EU Member States, attended by Minister Butler.
Ministerial interventions are decided following an assessment of their strategic needs, as well as based on the time allocated by the Presidency for each agenda item (typically three minutes for policy debate and one minute for other interventions).
Seeking to intervene on each agenda item is not a practical approach, especially within the very tight schedule that the Presidency is trying to keep. If all 27 Member States were to express their support on all non-contentious items for approval, the Presidency would have an impossible task in chairing these meetings.
For example, Ireland had already indicated its support and approval of the two non-legislative files (the Council Conclusions and Council Recommendations) during the meetings of the Working Party on Public Health where they were negotiated, and as Ireland had no concern nor objection on either of these files, there was no strategic value in seeking a one-minute intervention to re-iterate said support.
Therefore, interventions at EPSCO were focussed on (i) the political debate on the Pharmaceutical Package, (ii) on equitable access to healthcare at the working lunch, and (iii) on A.O.B. items related to tobacco & nicotine, the healthcare situation in Gaza, and stockpiling.
The Deputy will be aware that Ireland has had a HPV vaccination programme in place for girls since 2010 and for boys since 2019.
As the HPV vaccine is preventative, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme, in line with NIAC advice, targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage and protection.
Ireland recently ran a targeted HPV vaccination catch-up programme. The Laura Brennan HPV vaccination catch up programme commenced in late 2022 and ran until December 2023, offering HPV vaccines free of charge to females who were 24 years of age or younger and males who were 21 years of age or younger. Approximately 11,000 people received HPV vaccination through this programme.
In relation to uptake, a provisional uptake rate of 78.4% was recorded for the HPV vaccine in first year for 2022/2023 (refers to single dose only, due to policy change to a single dose of HPV vaccine).
More generally, the HSE has established a National Immunisation Oversight Committee (NIOC) which meets quarterly to discuss immunisation challenges and to agree actions. The group focus on vaccine uptakes rates and the actions that are currently being undertaken to increase uptake rates across programmes.
In addition, a HSE Taskforce has been set up in response to declining immunisation rates. Through analysis of available data and intelligence, it will provide evidence-based expert advice and guidance to increase uptake of recommended vaccine programmes to target coverage levels and reduce the risk of outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases.
715. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); whether an updated report on data since 2021 has been compiled or is in the process of being compiled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29255/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
716. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health to provide the most recent data on the national vaccination coverage rate for adults eligible to receive the pneumococcal vaccine through the national immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29256/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his Department has ever used artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, in drafting Dáil speeches or in drafting responses to Parliamentary Questions.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29281/24]
View answerThe Department of Health has not implemented AI systems yet but recognises the possibilities offered by AI and, in particular, generative AI.
It is currently developing its own policy for the potential use of generative AI in a safe and controlled manner. The policy is based on recommendations from the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies and DPENDR’s Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service.
The default approach is that GenAI is not to be used for departmental business, unless there is an approved business case, following appropriate risk assessments.
719. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of laptops or mobile phones owned by his Department that have been lost or stolen in each of the past ten years. [29299/24]
View answerThe table below outlines the number of Departmental mobile phones and laptops reported as lost\stolen in the specified period.
|
Year |
Phones |
Laptops |
|
2015 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
1 |
0 |
|
2017 |
5 |
0 |
|
2018 |
3 |
0 |
|
2019 |
1 |
0 |
|
2020 |
0 |
1 |
|
2021 |
1 |
0 |
|
2022 |
1 |
1 |
|
2023 |
5 |
3 |
|
2024 (to date) |
1 |
0 |
720. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has been waiting a long time for a much-needed procedure.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29308/24]
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.
721. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that essential radiology scans for cancer care patients on maintenance treatments, which must happen at three-month intervals for optimum outcomes, have been delayed by up to seven months, as in the case of a person (details supplied); and that this delay means that consultants cannot ascertain the best course of action, which can be the difference between life or death for the patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29317/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
722. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the provision of services for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29319/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
723. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider an outright ban on the use of sunbeds in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29330/24]
View answerThere are no immediate plans to introduce an outright ban on sunbeds. The policy and legal aspects to prevent exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) from sunbeds are being considered by my officials.
The EU's response to tackle cancer is set out in Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. This includes Action 18 on measures to prevent exposure to ultraviolet radiation, including from sunbeds. I understand an EU Recommendation on reducing human risks associated with the use of sunbeds is expected to be published.
It is acknowledged that there is no safe limit for exposure to UV radiation from sunbeds when it comes to cancer risks.
The National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 sets out the actions to tackle our high rates of skin cancer. The plan uses a multi-strategy approach including education, public awareness and behavioural change campaigns. Under the Public Health (Sunbeds) legislation a range of measures are enforced by the HSE National Environmental Health Service.
724. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if a company has been recruited to run the proposed step-down facility for UHL that it is proposed will be based in Nenagh community nursing home; if so, the name of the company; and when it is proposed will commence. [29348/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
725. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours provided by the HSE to residents in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary for each of the years 2019 to 2023, in tabular form. [29349/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
726. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours offered to residents in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary for each month from May 2023 to May 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [29350/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
727. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if the in-depth feasibility study that was being carried out by the HSE regarding the potential acquisition of a nursing home (details supplied) has been concluded; if so, whether he will publish the study; and if it is not completed, the reason therefor. [29351/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
728. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29356/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
729. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when he plans to increase the remuneration paid to opticians for standard eye exams and glasses for medical card holders; the amount of the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29358/24]
View answerThe Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.
Eligible patients can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.
The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013 (SI 274 of 2013) sets the fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians under the Community Optometric Services, Community Spectacle Dispensing Services and Health Amendment Act Card Schemes.
Department officials have been meeting with Optometry Ireland to discuss the contribution that optometrists provide to our healthcare service and how this contribution could be further expanded.
There will be engagement between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform during the Estimates 2025 process in regard to the funding needed to progress healthcare priorities, including the provision of eyecare.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community optometrists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded ophthalmic service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs and improve access to public health services while ensuring value for money.
730. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if a price has been agreed for the purchase of a nursing home (details supplied) and site in Roscrea that has been referenced in the HSE's capital plan; and the dates and attendees of all meetings between the HSE and the owners of the site and any other parties to date, in tabular form. [29359/24]
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.
