Malcolm Byrne
Question:1421. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update, including a timetable for delivery, for the planned new ambulance base for Gorey, County Wexford. [46793/24]
View answerAmbulance Service
Questions (1421)
Written answers
As 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.
Care Services
Questions (1422)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1422. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to outline the range of services provided at Arklow primary care centre, County Wicklow; the proposals, if any, to expand the range of services available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46794/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Care Services
Questions (1423)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1423. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to outline the range of services provided at Carnew primary care centre, County Wicklow; the proposals, if any, to expand the range of services available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46795/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (1424)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1424. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the proposals he has to increase the number of doctors operating in general practice nationally, and also specifically in both counties Wicklow and Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46796/24]
View answerWritten answers
GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,539 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the start of the December, there were no GMS vacancies in Counties Wicklow and Wexford.
A number of measures have been taken in recent years to increase the number of GPs practicing in the State and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients across the country.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice was increased by €211.6m. This provided for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees for additional services and increased practice supports. The GP Agreement 2023 further increased GP capitation fees, increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a grant support for additional staff capacity as well a practice staff maternity leave support. These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors.
Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available from 2024. 346 new entrants commenced training last year, a 21% increase on the previous year’s intake of 286.
Furthermore, recruitment of GPs from abroad commenced in 2023 under the joint HSE and ICGP International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 114 IMG GPs were in practice as of October last and funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs from outside Ireland to the country this year.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (1425)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1425. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the cost to date of work relating to the construction of the National Children’s Hospital; to indicate a timetable for opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46797/24]
View answerWritten answers
In February 2024, Government approved enhanced capital and current budget sanctions for the New Children’s Hospital (NCH) project and programme, bringing the total approved budget to €2.24billion.
Included in this is the capital budget of €1.88 billion for designing, building and equipping the NCH and the two satellite centres. A separate €362 million budget is for the programme of integration and transition of services to the NCH from the three existing children’s hospitals, including commissioning, ICT, and the Electronic Health Record system.
The timely completion of the NCH is a government priority. Everything possible is being done to ensure the project is completed as soon as possible on behalf of children, young people and their families.
The two satellite centres, which represent major milestones in the programme, are open and delivering the new model of care. Construction has advanced to over 94% complete against contract value. The project is now in the construction completion (‘snagging’ and ?nishing) phase, with the fit out of rooms and installation of fixed medical equipment and integrated building technical commissioning well underway.
The substantial completion of NCH is informed by the contractor’s programme of works and its ability to meet the targets set out in its own programme.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) advised that BAM Ireland has submitted an updated programme underpinning its intention to complete the construction and fit out of the NCH by June 2025 . On 2 December 2024, after reviewing the updated programme and its further revisions, the Employer’s Representative- the independent third party responsible for administration of the contract- deemed the programme to be compliant with the requirements of the contract.
NPHDB is continuing to use the full extent of levers available to it under the contract to hold BAM to its new commitment of substantially completing the hospital by June 2025.
Once substantial completion is achieved, the hospital will be handed over to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) for a post substantial completion operational commissioning period of at least 6 months.
To ensure operational commissioning is achieved as close to 6 months as possible, the NPHDB and CHI are engaging closely with BAM to secure 3 months early access to certain areas of the hospital, prior to substantial completion.
Ahead of the transition to the new facilities, a significant body of work is ongoing to integrate the three hospitals from a clinical, operational, and cultural perspective.
While much focus has been on the challenges faced by the project, it is important to note that once open, the NCH will provide world class facilities to its patients. The NCH is unprecedented in scale, facilities, and technological advancement. It will be transformational in how we treat and deliver care to children and their families. The hospital has been designed and constructed to be as enduring and adaptable as possible. It is a building for the next 75-100 years, rather than the 40-50 years of other hospitals internationally.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (1426)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1426. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the cost to date of work relating to the construction of the planned National Maternity Hospital; to indicate a timetable for opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46798/24]
View answerWritten answers
In July 2023, Cabinet gave its approval for the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at Elm Park, co-located with St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH), to proceed to tender for a main contractor to construct the new hospital in line with EU and national requirements.
The main tender process, which began in September 2023, is programmed to run over a period of c.18 months.
The budget for the main construction works is subject to the outcome of this tender process, the selection of the most economically advantageous tenderer(s), and the subsequent updating of the final business case for Government approval to proceed. It is expected that construction of the hospital will commence later this year and be completed in 2029.
Construction Costs to date:
A series of works were initially carried out to de-risk the campus in advance of the construction works for the new hospital and as part of the ongoing investment in our legacy health estate to address the risks on acute hospital campuses. This included enabling works, decanting, junction upgrades, and prevention works, some of which were specific planning requirements. As part of the SVUH Campus Development Plan a new pharmacy facility and extension to the existing multi storey carpark were completed in 2021.
In parallel to the ongoing tender and procurement process, and in order to construct the proposed NMH development as a single-phase development and de-risk the future site as much as possible, a number of buildings are required to be completed in advance of the commencement of the main NMH works. This will enable the decant of existing facilities away from the footprint of the new NMH and improve campus-wide resilience in terms of mechanical and electrical energy for both SVUH and the new NMH.
Construction commenced on these works in December 2023. It is expected that these enabling works and the main tender process will both be completed in tandem by mid-2025. The overall spend to date on these enabling works, and important projects in their own right, is €124m.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (1427)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1427. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the cost to date of the May 2021 cyberattack on the Health Service Executive; the measures that have now been implemented to protect against future such attacks; and any concerns that he may have concerning cybersecurity in the Health Service. [46799/24]
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.
Cybersecurity Policy
Questions (1428)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1428. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to outline supports provided by his Department and/or the Health Service Executive to section 38 and section 39 organisations to address cybersecurity; if he is satisfied as to the level of such security in such organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46800/24]
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.
Artificial Intelligence
Questions (1429)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:1429. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence within the Department; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI (including large language models) in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments [46801/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has an approved policy on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence which 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.
Training is currently being provided to a small number of staff regarding possible use cases of Gen AI, including improved efficiency and productivity.
My Department has not used AI or large language models in the preparation of primary or secondary legislation.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
Details for other bodies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1430)
Robert Troy
Question:1430. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health for Health if a CAMHS appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied). [46802/24]
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.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (1431)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1431. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health what Teva pharmaceutical products, if any, are being used in Irish hospitals; if he has plans to use substitute products from other companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46804/24]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the procurement of medicines the Department of Health does not have a role in the procurement of any medicine under the EU Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU. The directive applies to the procurement of medicines using public funds. It outlines the rules for competitive tendering, transparency, and equal treatment of all suppliers. These guidelines must be followed when purchasing medicines for health systems in Europe.
Care Services
Questions (1432)
Thomas Gould
Question:1432. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on primary care centres in Blarney, Glanmire and Mayfield. [46805/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1433)
Thomas Gould
Question:1433. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the current number of children awaiting a CAMHS appointment, by wait time, in tabular form. [46806/24]
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.
Departmental Investigations
Questions (1434)
Thomas Gould
Question:1434. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the taskforce handbook review. [46807/24]
View answerWritten answers
Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in the implementation of the national drugs strategy. Task forces are required to have proper arrangements in place for the selection and renewal of the Chairperson, Members of Task Forces and for addressing conflicts of interest.
The governance and operation of the task forces is set out in a handbook published in 2011. It defines the role of the task forces within the national and local framework required to address the existing and emerging threats from problem drug use.
The Department has commissioned a consultant to develop a Governance and Performance Framework for Drug and Alcohol Taskforces and work on this action is ongoing. The framework will inform the revision of the handbook.
To inform the next national drugs strategy, the Department is holding a consultation event on the planning and deliver of drug services in the content of the new health regions. This will include consideration of governance and performance issues for task forces.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (1435)
Thomas Gould
Question:1435. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the elective hospital in Cork. [46814/24]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE, as sponsoring agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the elective hospital in Cork to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1436)
Robert Troy
Question:1436. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for surgery can be expedited for a person (details supplied). [46828/24]
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.
Departmental Data
Questions (1437)
Sorca Clarke
Question:1437. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to psychiatric hospitals or units, and child and adolescent units, in 2024. [46830/24]
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.