Thomas Gould
Question:297. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people availing of a community detox programme in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [30199/24]
View answerAddiction Treatment Services
Questions (297)
Written answers
As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Legislative Measures
Questions (298)
Thomas Gould
Question:298. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the full commencement of all of the sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. [30207/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 was developed to address the harmful consumption of alcohol in Ireland. It was enacted on 17 October 2018.
To date 28 of the 31 provisions of the Act have been commenced-
Three sections of the Act came into operation on November 12th 2019 relating to: alcohol advertising on public service vehicles, stops and stations and within 200 metres of schools, creches and playgrounds; alcohol advertising in cinemas; and a prohibition on children’s clothing that promotes alcohol. These measures aim to create an environment free from alcohol advertising in areas frequented by children and will ensure that children can grow up in circumstances where they are not regularly exposed to alcohol advertising.
In November 2020, Section 22 came into effect which provides for the separation of alcohol products from other grocery products in retail outlets. This provision restricts children’s exposure to alcohol products and also alcohol advertisements in mixed retail stores.
In January 2021, regulations made under Section 23 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 came into operation which regulate alcohol promotions where it is sold at low prices that promote alcohol consumption.
In November 2021 sections 15 and 16 of the Act came into effect which restrict alcohol advertising and sponsorship promoting alcohol products, and prohibit alcohol advertising and sponsorship at events aimed particularly at children or at which the majority of participants or competitors are children. The purpose of these provisions is to reduce children’s exposure to alcohol products at such events, to break the link between alcohol consumption and sports events within the sports area and to break the link between alcohol consumption and driving events.
On 4 January 2022 the provision relating to the Minimum Price of Alcohol Products came into operation. Minimum unit pricing sets a floor price below which alcohol cannot be sold. Evidence has shown that MUP will not affect the majority of alcohol products but targets only alcohol products that are currently very cheap relative to their strength. In addition, a minimum price will mean that strong alcohol products are not cheaply available for children and young people.
In May 2023, the Minister for Health signed into law the Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and the remaining provisions of Section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, to come into effect on 22 May 2026. The law provides that the labels of alcohol products will warn about the risk of consuming alcohol when pregnant and will also warn of the risk of liver disease and fatal cancers from alcohol consumption. The labels will also direct the consumer to the HSE website, www.askaboutalcohol.ie, for further information.
Health warnings on the labels of alcohol products will inform consumers that alcohol consumption is not risk free so that they can make an informed choice about their drinking. The labelling law also requires that those selling alcohol online or in on-license premises must provide health information to consumers.
On 13 November 2023, the Minister for Health commenced the Broadcast Watershed provision of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. Section 19 restricts the hours permitted for advertising alcohol products on television and radio to reduce children’s exposure to alcohol advertisements. The provision will come into operation on 10 January 2025.
Two provisions yet to be commenced deal with the content of advertisements and advertisements in publications.
Section 13 of the Act regulates the content of advertisements for alcohol products. In addition, advertisements for alcohol products will be required to include health warnings and details of the HSE alcohol information website. The aim is to protect children from exposure to alcohol advertising and to break the positive associations between alcohol and lifestyle. Work on the drafting of the advertising Regulations is continuing in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Once finalised, the draft Regulations will require submission to the EU Commission for assessment and once they have successfully completed that process, they will require notification under the WTO process.
Section 18 of the Act introduces a restriction to alcohol advertisements in hardcopy publications sold in Ireland. The provision, while limited to print media aims to reduce exposure to alcohol advertising.
Health Strategies
Questions (299)
Thomas Gould
Question:299. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an updated traffic light table of the actions undertaken as part of the National Drugs Strategy. [30205/24]
View answerWritten answers
Progress on the Strategic Action Plan 2023-2024 is reported on a quarterly basis to the National Oversight Committee (NOC) where the actions and any barriers to implementation are discussed on a standing agenda item at the meeting. The progress updates on each action within the Strategic Action Plan are then published online.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/39e48-national-oversight-committee/#reporting-on-strategic-action-plan-2023-2024
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (300)
Catherine Murphy
Question:300. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by his Department from EU sources in respect of covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details supplied). [30225/24]
View answerWritten answers
Please see the table below which provides the requested information, i.e. totality of the funds requested and drawn down by the Department of Health from EU sources in respect of Covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. Note: that with respect to Covid-19 there was no application (and therefore no drawdown) for funding from these funds for 2023 and 2024 to date.
|
EU Covid-19 related Funds |
Total Fund requested by DoH |
Total Received 2020 |
Total Received 2021 |
Total Received 2022 |
Total Received 2023 |
Total Received to-date (up to 09 July 2024) 2024 |
|
IE - Grant agreement No. LC- 01623254 , Emergency Support Instrument |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ - |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ - |
€ - |
€ - |
|
ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY SUPPORT INSTRUMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – Support for the interoperability of the Digital Green Certificate (DGC) - |
€ 999,999.88 |
€ - |
€ 800,000.00 |
€ 199,999.88 |
€ - |
€ - |
|
EU Solidarity Fund |
€ 43,759,771.00 |
€ 23,279,441.00 |
€ 20,480,330.00 |
€ - |
€ - |
€ - |
|
Total |
€ 44,909,770.88 |
€ 23,279,441.00 |
€ 21,430,330.00 |
€ 199,999.88 |
€ - |
€ - |
Nursing Homes
Questions (301)
Seán Canney
Question:301. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of beds now occupied in a nursing unit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30250/24]
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.
Nursing Homes
Questions (302)
Seán Canney
Question:302. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when the day centre will be operational in a nursing unit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30251/24]
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.
Nursing Homes
Questions (303)
Seán Canney
Question:303. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of beds now occupied in a nursing unit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30252/24]
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.
Primary Care Services
Questions (304)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:304. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the closure of the Laytown health centre; if there are any plans to re-open it; to provide an update on the proposed future use of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30255/24]
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.
Disease Management
Questions (305)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:305. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the treatment available in Ireland for those diagnosed with Lyme disease; the funding available for those who have to travel abroad for treatment for Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30270/24]
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 Strategies
Questions (306)
Richard Bruton
Question:306. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his Department has reviewed the investment in facilities needed to drive forward the national cancer strategy; if he is aware of the considerable pressure for more capacity in a cancer centre (details supplied), given its existing patient treatment rates and growing population catchment; and how such needs are assessed in drawing up the health capital plan. [30275/24]
View answerWritten answers
Successive National Cancer Strategies have delivered continuing improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients in terms of earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and improved rates of survival.
As Minister for Health, I have supported the National Cancer Strategy with substantial funding of €50m for cancer treatment and screening services. Since 2017, there has been additional (new development) investment of €456m in cancer services, including €81m on cancer prevention, screening, and treatment; €316m on cancer medicines; and €59m on cancer research grants through the Health Research Board. Capital funding of over €140m has been used to provide state of the art radiation oncology facilities in Galway and Cork under the National Plan for Radiation Oncology, to update cancer infrastructure in chemotherapy wards and lab facilities for the benefit of patients, and for the new National Cervical Screening Laboratory.
New development 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.
The National Plan for Radiation Oncology is a strategic programme setting out the projected infrastructure and equipment required to meet the needs for radiation oncology. Under Phase 2 of this Plan, there is the planned provision of additional radiation oncology facilities at Beaumont Hospital and an equipment replacement programme. This is currently at Detailed Design stage on the HSE Capital Plan.
Additionally, the Department of Health has received a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the development of an Acute Ward Block development, which intends to provide additional bed capacity and improved hospital services.
Any such planning and delivery of services is done with future demand as well as current needs in mind. This and any similar developments must be considered in the context of and be compliant with the Infrastructure Guidelines introduced in 2024, which supersede the Public Spending Code (PSC). The final decision to proceed with the construction of a given project cannot be made until the tender process has been completed and the costings reviewed to ensure that the proposal remains affordable and delivers value for money.
The delivery of cancer services across a limited number of designated cancer centres is in line with international best-practice, allowing the full integration of high-quality cancer care, combined with research and education. This ensures adequate case volumes, multidisciplinary working, and infrastructural requirements, which are important determinants for patient outcomes. The Strategy notes that cancer patients should have access to high quality care staffed by appropriate specialists as close to home as possible, with specialist services centralised into the designated cancer centres as required to optimise outcomes for patients.
In the context of the National Cancer Strategy the capacity in each of the eight designated cancer centres is kept under regular review, and my Department works closely with the National Cancer Control Programme in ensuring that services and treatments are delivered for cancer patients in the appropriate setting, taking into account the resources, facilities and expertise needed at each centre.
Health Services Staff
Questions (307)
David Cullinane
Question:307. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on agency staff in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month, in tabular form. [30309/24]
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 (308)
David Cullinane
Question:308. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on recruitment firms in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month, in tabular form. [30310/24]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
Departmental Consultations
Questions (309)
David Cullinane
Question:309. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on management consultants in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month, in tabular form. [30311/24]
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (310)
David Cullinane
Question:310. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on private ambulance services in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month, in tabular form. [30312/24]
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
Questions (311)
David Cullinane
Question:311. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on private diagnostic services in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month, in tabular form. [30313/24]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
Hospital Services
Questions (312)
David Cullinane
Question:312. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital cancellations, by hospital and type, in 2023 and to date in 2024, by month, in tabular form. [30314/24]
View answerWritten answers
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellations or postponements, they can happen for a variety of reasons, including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way, hospitals follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Cancelled hospital appointments and procedures are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Questions (313, 314, 325, 326)
David Cullinane
Question:313. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of 999 calls received nationally, and by division, where the patient was deceased by the time an ambulance reached the scene, in each of the past ten years including to date in 2024, in tabular form. [30315/24]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:314. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average ambulance response time per region, per year, for each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [30316/24]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:325. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the percentage of incidents responded to by a patient-carrying vehicle in 18 minutes and 59 seconds or less, by clinical status nationally and by ambulance region, for each quarter of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [30327/24]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:326. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average length of ambulance response times nationally and by region for each quarter of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [30328/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 314, 325 and 326 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 314 answered with Question No. 313.
Ambulance Service
Questions (315)
David Cullinane
Question:315. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have retired from the national ambulance service in each of the past five years, by staff grade; and the number of new persons employed by the national ambulance service in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [30317/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter for the National Ambulance Service (NAS), I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.