Written Answers Nos. 426-446
426. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing benefits such as reduced-cost GP care, reduced-cost hospital-stay fees, and so on, for staff who work in the public healthcare sector, so as to acknowledge their invaluable contribution to healthcare overall, and to potentially entice more into the healthcare professions and ensure staff retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38482/24]
View answerI would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of all staff working in our Health Service, who I know go above and beyond every day to provide exceptional care for those who are most in need within our communities. The HSE are dedicated to supporting all staff members and continue to examine and consider all initiatives that may support attracting and retaining staff into the Health services.
As part of the employee offering the HSE has extensive occupational health, and significant health and wellbeing supports in place which can be utilised by all employees as required.
There has been an unprecedented level of investment by this Government in the health service workforce in recent years, with the growth in the number of staff recruited in 2023 being the highest since the foundation of the HSE. As of August 2024, there are 147,714 staff employed in the HSE this represents an increase of 27,901 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staff since December 2019.
427. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the provision of continuous glucose monitoring sensors for a person in Meath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38484/24]
View answer466. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to review and respond to major concerns raised by a person in respect of his urgent medical requirement for insulin pump sensors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38697/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 466 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to review and respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
428. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the person within the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board that signed off on the tender contract for the National Children’s Hospital, and their rank, given that the tender contract would had to have been signed off at Departmental level also; the person, and their rank, within his Department that signed off on the tender contract for the National Children’s Hospital; and the name of the Minister for Health who signed off on the National Children’s Hospital. [38487/24]
View answer429. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the investigations into the suitability of the Palmershill site for the development of a community nursing unit in Cashel, County Tipperary; to provide an update on all matters pertaining to the proposed development of a community nursing unit in Cashel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38500/24]
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.
430. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by the HSE to address an issue in relation to vacant posts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38502/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
431. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by the HSE to address an issue in relation to vacant posts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38503/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
432. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by the HSE to address an issue in relation to vacant posts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38504/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
433. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by the HSE to address an issue in relation to vacant posts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38505/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
434. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by the HSE to address an issue in relation to vacant posts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38506/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
435. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to address a staffing issue with the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38509/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
436. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting on CAMHS waiting lists in Donegal, by area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38518/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
437. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will address an issue in relation to a director of nursing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38520/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
438. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is an important public health aspect to excise duties for both alcohol and tobacco which account for the external societal cost resulting from the consumption of specific harmful products and ensure that such externalities are reflected in their price; if he is aware that the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, the World Health Organisation, the OECD, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank recommend that these should be increased regularly in order that they maintain their public health value; if he has concerns that alcohol excise duties have not been increased in a decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38523/24]
View answerI recognise that policy initiatives on excise duties and other taxes can significantly influence population behaviour in relation to tobacco products and alcohol products and therefore have a positive impact on individual and population health and ultimately on the health of our economy.
In that context I write to the Minister for Finance each year, in advance of the Budget, seeking increases in excise duties on tobacco products and alcohol products. These increases are likely to generate additional revenues as well as promote healthier lifestyles in adults and children and thereby enhance efficiencies in our health services.
439. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug interferon alfa (pegasys) is in short supply and unavailable for those who are living with MPNs; if the drug besremi will be made available under the drug payments scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38531/24]
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.
440. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if there are plans for a primary health care centre for Santry, Whitehall, and Beaumont, Dublin, given the significant growth in population in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38539/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
441. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the proportion of work time of the clinical lead for transgender services which is dedicated to clinical practice at the National Gender Service; the proportion dedicated to the development of the new model of care; and the special arrangements, if any, which apply for the duration of the development of the new model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38553/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
442. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the steps the clinical lead for transgender services has taken to date to engage with the patient community, the transgender community and other stakeholders; the steps which will be taken and the engagements which are planned; if the clinical lead intends to engage with an organisation (details supplied). [38554/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
443. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if there is full cover for CAMHS and for adult mental health and psychiatry patients in the Dungarvan area in County Waterford, or if it is only emergency locum cover that is available to users of these services in this area; and if service users cannot get appointments with the same recurring psychiatrist in the Dungarvan area, whether they can be transferred to Waterford city services [38569/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
444. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address a pension abatement liability being faced by a worker (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38575/24]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the HSE, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
445. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the HSE’s plans for the former Baggot Street Hospital, which is not being used, and could be a very useful community facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38576/24]
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.
446. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to clarify the current policy regarding the acceptance of referrals from private hospitals to the new community care and rehabilitation centre in Nenagh, County Tipperary; whether patients referred from private hospitals, such as Barrington’s Hospital in Limerick, are eligible for admission to the community care and rehabilitation centre in Nenagh; if not, the rationale behind this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38580/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
