Written Answers Nos. 812-833
812. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 19 February 2025, the means by which people with lived experience will be involved in the Gender Healthcare programme; and if it will be in line with the Inform, Consult, Discuss or Collaborate degree of engagement in the HSE's Better Together: The Health Services Patient Engagement Roadmap. [15728/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
813. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the percentage of social media videos posted on her Department's social media accounts that included closed captioning or subtitling and Irish sign language translations between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [15743/25]
View answerThe Department of Health is committed to maximising the accessibility of all content in order to inform all members of the public about health policy and how it impacts them. The Department uses the National Disability Authority Communication Toolkit for Public Service as a guide on best practice.
Links shared by the Department of Health on social media direct to the Department's website, gov.ie/health, which is consistently updated, with reliable, useful information available in both English and Irish.
Information in respect of the other bodies under the aegis of the Department, including the Health Service Executive (HSE), is an operational matter for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
Please see following a table outlining the requested information for 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024:
|
Platform |
Number of videos |
% Subtitled/Captioned |
% ISL Translated |
|
YouTube |
42 |
79% |
0% |
|
|
137 |
100% |
0% |
|
|
137 |
100% |
0% |
|
X (formally Twitter) |
110 |
100% |
0% |
|
|
137 |
100% |
0% |
814. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health for her plans to outline her plans to reduce excessive waiting times for accessing genetic counselling services for individuals discharged from hospital care with a genetic diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15747/25]
View answerThe Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) is working to improve genetics and genomics services offered in Ireland in order to deliver a world-class patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and lifespan of patients.
The National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO) was established in 2023 to drive the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland and improve Ireland’s genetic and genomic medicine services. The Department of Health has been working closely with the NGGO to manage and implement this hugely valuable programme of change and to overcome the present and historical challenges associated with delivery of genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland.
The Department of Health has provided the resources to deliver the priorities which have been approved as part of the National Service Plan 2025 and include recruitment of front-line staff including Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Genetic Counsellors and Genetics Resource Associates.
Already this year we have seen the launch of the National Test directory for rare diseases (January 2025) which will be expanded in due course to cover wider health care areas. In addition, resources have been approved to set up laboratory elements of the service, such as the National Genomics Processing Service and to improve access to clinical services.
The Department of Health is fully committed to implementing the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland and taking the required next steps to support the NGGO in delivering on this objective, both during 2025 and beyond.
815. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health for what supports exist post-discharge for families dealing with complex medical conditions, particularly regarding feeding difficulties and early intervention; what plans there are to improve post-discharge services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15748/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
816. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that terminal cancer patients are being deprioritised for life-saving and urgent treatment in accident and emergency in favour of flu patients, given the critical nature of their condition and the urgency of their care needs; if she will commit to a review of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15765/25]
View answer817. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the current policy is in cancer care centres of excellence regarding the prioritisation of terminal cancer patients requiring life-saving and urgent treatment over patients presenting with non-life-threatening illnesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15766/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 816 and 817 together.
As this is a service matter, I have forwarded your query to the HSE and asked that they respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
818. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will conduct a review into a number of inquests and High Court cases (details supplied); if not, her reasoning; the research, if any, her Department has undertaken into the role of a technique in avoidable baby deaths since 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15767/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
819. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of investigations and reviews held into serious reportable events in maternity units between 2016 and 2023 which resulted in negative outcomes in terms of patients’ care and staff conduct (details supplied); if she cannot provide this data, to ask the masters of those hospitals to provide said data in respect of outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15768/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
820. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the basis for the HSE’s current definition of perinatal mortality rate for the purposes of inclusion on maternity patient safety statements (details supplied); the body that agreed this definition; the reason for this limited definition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15769/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
821. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if there are any regularly updated public-facing data sources that can be easily accessed by members of the public which state the number of babies under 2.5 kilogrammes, regardless of whether they had a congenital anomaly or not, that died in any given month, on a monthly basis and on a hospital-by-hospital basis; if so, the name of this data source; the reason it is not part of the same public reporting as the maternity patient safety statements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15770/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
822. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the total number of primary care centres in the State, by regional health area and integrated healthcare area (details supplied), in tabular form; the number planned for delivery; the number in HSE owned properties; and the number under lease agreement. [15773/25]
View answerAs 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.
823. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the rate of yearly rent on each primary care centre under a lease agreement, and the length of each lease agreement, by primary care centre, in tabular form. [15774/25]
View answerAs 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.
824. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the strategic review of general practice; the timeline she is working towards for publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15775/25]
View answerA Strategic Review of General Practice is currently underway, led by the Department of Health and supported by the HSE. With input from key stakeholders, the review is examining a range of issues affecting general practice including GP training, GP capacity, Out of Hours services reform, the eHealth Agenda, and the financial support model for general practice. The Review will identify the arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GP care as part of a primary care-focused health service.
Significant progress has been made under the review which is to be completed this year. Following its completion, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice. The report will be published subsequently.
825. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health if she plans to give greater statutory recognition and entitlements to women who experience pregnancy loss. [15804/25]
View answerI appreciate and acknowledge the devastating impact that pregnancy loss can have on women and families.
Statutory entitlements for women who experience pregnancy loss are covered by the Maternity Protection Acts and the Social Welfare Acts, which are under the remit of the Department of Social Protection.
The Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Act 2024 has expanded access to the stillbirth register for those who can request a certificate. Changes were made, through the Act, to the criteria for the registration of stillbirths with a reduction of the weight and gestational age thresholds. These changes mean that more babies will now be included on the official register of stillbirths. The Civil Registration Act is the responsibility of the Minister for Social Protection.
The implementation of the National Maternity Strategy, under the remit of my Department, has provided for Bereavement Specialist Teams in all 19 maternity hospitals/units across the country, to assist and support parents, families and professionals dealing with pregnancy loss. The implementation of a number of maternity service reforms within the Programme for Government are currently being assessed, including the development of a successor to the National Maternity Strategy.
826. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown, by local health office or local electoral area of the 152 drug poisoning deaths reported for Dublin by the health research board in 2021 (details supplied). [15816/25]
View answerThe Health Research Board report on drug poisoning deaths in Dublin (city and county) by Local Health Office (LHO) place of incident: NDRDI 2021 is attached.
827. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the population covered by each Local Health Office. [15817/25]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are in the table below. The figures correspond to the population as of Census 2022.
|
Local Health Office name |
Census 2022 population |
|
Carlow/Kilkenny |
144,671 |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
142,452 |
|
Clare |
113,083 |
|
Donegal |
159,227 |
|
Dublin North |
284,727 |
|
Dublin North Central |
170,003 |
|
Dublin North West |
226,036 |
|
Dublin South City |
151,981 |
|
Dublin South East |
141,806 |
|
Dublin South West |
169,735 |
|
Dublin West |
169,806 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
144,060 |
|
Galway |
277,737 |
|
Kerry |
156,458 |
|
Kildare/West Wicklow |
268,118 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
175,027 |
|
Limerick |
182,675 |
|
Longford/Westmeath |
142,972 |
|
Louth |
138,781 |
|
Mayo |
137,970 |
|
Meath |
225,083 |
|
North Cork |
99,617 |
|
North Lee |
206,436 |
|
Roscommon |
70,259 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan |
114,459 |
|
South Lee |
216,582 |
|
Tipperary North/East Limerick |
117,301 |
|
Tipperary South |
98,252 |
|
Waterford |
142,878 |
|
West Cork |
61,521 |
|
Wexford |
163,919 |
|
Wicklow |
135,507 |
|
Total |
5,149,139 |
|
Source: HSE Health Atlas |
- |
828. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the number of patients approved for home support in Cork and waiting for the care to commence; the HSE’s plan on recruitment of home support workers; the way the HSE and agencies providing the care are being allocated; if this is completed on the date home support is awarded or on location and availability of carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15821/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
829. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for primary care speech and language therapy in Cork per community health network, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15847/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
830. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels in community healthcare network 4, northwest Cork; the current vacancies that exist in the network and the measures being put in place to recruit staff for the network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15848/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
831. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health for an update on the rollout of eating disorder teams; the funding allocated to the rollout for 2024 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15850/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly with the Deputy as soon as possible.
832. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the amount three hospitals (details supplied) earned in car parking fees in 2024. [15851/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
833. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults that presented to accident and emergency departments with eating disorders in 2024 and to date in 2025. [15853/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly with the Deputy as soon as possible.
