Written Answers Nos. 234-254
234. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by his Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programmes or Department operations are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3710/25]
View answerMy 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 spent approximately €3,000 last year, and will expect to spend approximately €8,000 in 2025 in respect of licences and training in this regard.
My Department has not used AI or large language models for business operations.
235. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the review into the surgical management of developmental dysplasia of the hip at Cappagh and Temple Street Children's Hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3723/25]
View answerMy Department was informed by the HSE, on May 9th 2024, that a clinical audit of surgery for children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) was to be conducted by an external expert.
My Department was advised that this matter arose following raising of issues internally within CHI, and that the purpose of this audit is to assess surgical practice for this cohort across Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC), in line with international standards and practices.
The HSE has further advised that an international expert paediatric surgeon has been identified to conduct the audit which is ongoing.
236. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if any further consultation has taken place between her Department and the Health Products Regulatory Authority on the matter of uromune becoming available for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections, given that it is becoming more readily available as a treatment across the world; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3744/25]
View answerUromune is not authorised nationally in Ireland, nor is it centrally authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Our medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has also advised that, while there are some international clinical trials investigating the use of Uromune in the context of urinary tract infections, it has not received any application to conduct a clinical trial with this medicine in Ireland.
If the safe and efficacious use of Uromune in the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections is demonstrated through successful clinical trials, the marketing authorisation holder may choose to apply to the EMA or the HPRA to place the medicine on the market. The decision to make such an application can only be made by the marketing authorisation holder. The Minister for Health has no role in the authorisation process for medicinal products.
237. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health on what month this year the new HSE capital plan will be published. [3747/25]
View answer247. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the month this year the new HSE capital plan will be published. [3842/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 247 together.
The Capital Plan is an annual document that sets out the planned Health infrastructure investment within a given year. Capital investment plays a critical role in enabling and enhancing health service provision.
The Capital Plan 2025 will outline the planned investment in Health infrastructure throughout the country.
It is expected the HSE capital plan will be published this month.
238. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health what directions were given by her Department or Minister to the HSE regarding capital projects from 1 January 2024 to date. [3748/25]
View answerOn 21 January 2025, a direction in respect of health capital projects was issued by Minister Donnelly under Section 10(1) of the Health Act 2004, and has been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of Section 10(6) of the Health Act 2004.
The Direction issued was a general written direction to the HSE under Section 10(l)(a) of the 2004 Act for the HSE to progress the plan for long term residential care in the region including the CNUs for Belmullet and Ballina, as indicated in the Capital Plan 2025, and that these projects must move to Detailed Design in 2025.
The Direction also included specific written directions to the Executive under Section 10(2) of the 2004 Act to submit to the Department progress reports on the delivery of the Belmullet and Ballina CNUs on a quarterly basis throughout 2025.
239. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when she will be in a position to make a decision on the provision of a new model 3 hospital in the mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3749/25]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to improving services in the Mid West region. Significant additional funding has been allocated to the region and broader reforms are in progress, though more capacity is needed.
166 new beds have opened in acute hospitals in the Mid West region since Jan 2020 including a 16-bed rapid build unit delivered in 2024. 124 of these beds are in UHL. A further 96 new beds will be delivered in UHL by mid-2025 with a second new rapid build 16 bed unit also to be delivered this year.
Enabling works are also underway for a second 96 bed block at UHL. An additional 84 inpatient beds are planned at UHL through the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan.
HIQA is leading a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the Mid West region including consideration of the need for a second Emergency Department. HIQA published the terms of reference for the review in August 2024. An interim update is expected shortly, and a final report is expected in May 2025. The results of this review will be considered when this report is finalised.
240. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health for a full breakdown of the management teams down to local area management of all regional HSE heath division. [3750/25]
View answerThe Health Regions Implementation Plan, which was approved by Government in July 2023, sets out the high-level governance arrangements for the HSE Centre and the Health Regions. The six Health Regions took effect from March 2024, each led by a Regional Executive Officer (REO), who has overall responsibility for the planning and coordinated delivery of health and social care services for their respective populations. The six REOs report directly to the HSE CEO and sit on the Senior Leadership Team, providing regional input into the development of national policies and standards. A streamlined HSE Centre now focuses on supporting the Regions through its key functions of planning, enablement, performance, and assurance. A full breakdown of the Senior Leadership Team is available on the HSE website.
Each REO leads their region through the Executive Management Team (EMT). The structure for these teams has been agreed and phased recruitment is underway. The EMT for each Region includes a Regional Disability Lead, Regional Director for Planning and Performance, Regional Clinical Director, Regional Director for Nursing and Midwifery, Regional Director for Population and Public Health, Regional Director for Finance, Regional Director for People, E Health Director, and Regional Director for Communications and Affairs. From 1 October 2024, this management structure replaced previous Community Healthcare Organisations (CHO) and Hospital Group management structures.
Healthcare Areas are the sub-regional geographies which will deliver integrated acute and community services locally. There will be 20 Healthcare Areas and nearly all of the Healthcare Area Managers have now taken up post. The design phase of the future state Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) model that will underpin the Healthcare Areas is underway and will be rolled out from March 2025.
As can be expected with a reform of this scale, a phased transition to these new organisational structures is required to minimise disruption for patients and service users. The implementation of Health Regions is still ongoing and further details on progress can be found on the HSE's dedicated webpage on Health Regions. For more detailed information on management structures, I would refer the Deputy to the HSE.
241. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE vacancies, by job title, currently in the HSE national antimicrobial resistant team; the full-year cost of filling each of those vacancies; and the estimated timeframe in which each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [3760/25]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.
|
AMRIC job title |
WTE vacancies |
Full year costs |
Estimated timeframe in which each of those vacancies will be filled |
|
Consultant Microbiologist/Infectious Diseases |
1 |
226,681 - 272,290 |
N/A EOI expressed with no applications |
|
Programme Manager/General Manager |
1 |
83,223 - 103,533 |
Recruitment process paused at short listing due to CEO directive |
|
Epidemiologist |
2 |
66,013 - 84,858 |
1 X fully funded NSP 1 X vacant post since December 2024 |
|
Totals |
4 |
242. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce regional rehabilitation services for amputees. [3761/25]
View answerThis PQ should be directed to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
243. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of carers employed by the HSE in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [3762/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
244. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the details of each time her Department, or public bodies under the aegis of her Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of her Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3785/25]
View answerIn response to your question, some of the information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available.
My officials are collating the information in respect of the Non-Commercial State Agencies and engaging with the HSE to source the information in respect of HSE expenditure.
A consolidated reply will be prepared into a full response to you as soon as possible.
245. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can reapply for access to the medicines management programme reimbursement scheme for type 1 diabetics, following misdiagnoses, if they are eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3804/25]
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 and devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
246. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health for an update on any plans to provide a new dental hospital for Cork, given that significant investment in the provision of dental services in the Cork region is urgently needed. [3815/25]
View answerThe Deputy should note that officials from the Department of Health are liaising with Cork University Dental School and Hospital regarding plans to expand capacity and train more dentists. My Department welcomes any proposal for expansion in the capacity of the dental workforce.
In 2022, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) conducted an exercise to identify options for the creation of additional capacity in a range of disciplines including Dentistry. A number of dentistry options, including an expansion in University College Cork (UCC) dentistry programme were identified. The HEA report in 2023 recommended UCC's dentistry proposal for delivering additional capacity. It must be noted that this recommendation and associated investment must be considered by Departments in the context of the ongoing National Development Plan review given the significant capital costs involved in expansion.
Health capital investment decisions are informed by Programme for Government priorities, sectoral policies, strategies and reform initiatives as set out in Sláintecare.
Work is ongoing through the appropriate processes to explore options to support the Cork University Dental School and Hospital to continue to deliver on its remit regarding both education and healthcare service provision.
248. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health what directions were given by the Minister or her Department to the HSE regarding capital projects between 1 January 2024 to date in 2025. [3843/25]
View answerOn 21 January 2025, a direction in respect of health capital projects was issued by Minister Stephen Donnelly under Section 10(1) of the Health Act 2004, and has been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of Section 10(6) of the Health Act 2004.
The Direction issued was a general written direction to the HSE under Section 10(l)(a) of the 2004 Act for the HSE to progress the plan for long term residential care in the region including the CNUs for Belmullet and Ballina, as indicated in the Capital Plan 2025, and that these projects must move to Detailed Design in 2025.
The Direction also included specific written directions to the Executive under Section 10(2) of the 2004 Act to submit to the Department progress reports on the delivery of the Belmullet and Ballina CNUs on a quarterly basis throughout 2025.
249. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if all participants in the Covid inquiry are being directed to the protected disclosures commissioner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3851/25]
View answerThis PQ should be directed to the Department Of The Taoiseach.
250. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE vacancies by job title currently in the HSE national antimicrobial resistant team; the full-year cost of filling each of those vacancies; and the estimated timeframe in which each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [3858/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if clonidine will be made available under the long-term illness scheme for persons under 16 years suffering with ADHD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3888/25]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
252. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the final HIQA report into the review of accident and emergency services in the mid-west is due; whether action will be taken if additional facilities are recommended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3902/25]
View answerIn May 2024, HIQA was requested to conduct a review of urgent and emergency care in the mid-west region with the primary objective of ensuring safe quality acute care in the region. As part of this review, HIQA was requested to consider the case for a second emergency department within the region in the context of the population changes in recent years and ongoing pressures at the ED at University Hospital Limerick.
The review is progressing well, and a final report is expected in May 2025. The report will advise me on the appropriate course(s) of action to ensure optimal quality and safety in the delivery of future urgent and emergency care services for the population of the mid-west region. I will fully consider the final report when it is available.
253. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the reason the long-term illness scheme is limited to mental health conditions for persons under 16 years-of-age; whether she has plans to extend this beyond 16 years-of-age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3908/25]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
254. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the reason a medication (details supplied) is excluded from the drugs payment scheme, as it is a necessary medication for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder to treat depressive episodes; whether its inclusion in the scheme will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3909/25]
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 and devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
