Written Answers Nos. 1081-1099
1081. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that the HSE assumes the cost of providing qualified sign language interpreters for treatment abroad under the Cross Border Directive (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63352/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1082. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will reconsider recognising long covid as an occupational illness for health care workers currently availing of the special scheme of paid leave; the number of staff currently availing of this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63400/25]
View answerWhile the EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety recommended the recognition of COVID-19 (not long-COVID) as an occupational illness in health and social care settings, recognition of COVID-19 nationally as an occupational illness falls under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection. After reviewing the EU recommendation, the Minister for Social Protection found that COVID-19 did not meet the requirements to be recognised as an occupational illness in the context of the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and the Social Welfare Consolidation Act. There are currently 159 Health Care workers availing of the scheme of Special Leave with pay.
1083. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the 52 clients currently awaiting home support services in the Clonmel area; the category of need for each client; the average and longest waiting times currently experienced; and the specific measures being taken to reduce waiting times for home support in Clonmel and across South Tipperary. [63413/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1084. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason the recent home support recruitment campaigns held in the southeast of the country did not include Clonmel or its environs; if there are plans to conduct a targeted recruitment drive for home support staff in Clonmel; and the expected timeline for such recruitment to commence. [63414/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1085. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the impact of current staffing shortages and the recruitment embargo on the delivery of home support services in Clonmel; the number of approved posts currently unfilled in the Clonmel area; and whether any derogations have been sought to address urgent local needs. [63415/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1086. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide a comparative breakdown of home support waiting lists and staffing levels across all areas of South Tipperary, including Clonmel, Cahir, Cashel, Fethard, and Carrick-on-Suir; and the areas which currently face the longest waiting times and most severe staffing shortages. [63416/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1087. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if her Department has undertaken any review or assessment of home support demand and capacity in the Clonmel area; and the strategic workforce planning measures in place to ensure adequate staffing levels and service provision in South Tipperary over the next 12 months. [63417/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1088. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to confirm if a community mental health group (details supplied) is eligible for State funding; and if it will be considered for a grant from the HSE. [63456/25]
View answerIt is a priority of Government to promote mental health and reduce the burden of mental health difficulties for all, supported by substantial investment in mental health services each year. This includes significant investment in Mental Health voluntary and community organisations, which receive substantial funding from the mental health budget on a yearly basis.
The Government places significant value on the role of voluntary and community organisations in mental health services in Ireland.
Over €110 million annually is provided to over 165 national or local organisations that provide valuable mental health services or supports. This includes organisations such as Mental Health Reform, Jigsaw, Pieta, Mental Health Ireland, SHINE and many other smaller local organisations doing vital work in their communities.
Funding to voluntary and community organisations is arranged through the section 39 process via local HSE Mental Health Services, once necessary criteria are met and where a need has been identified.
All such organisations must make an application for Section 39 funding, which is then assessed by local HSE Mental Health Services and will be advanced or not depending on a variety of conditions, such as the organisation supplying the required information, local operational and clinical considerations, and HSE budgetary constraints.
In any negotiations between HSE and any charity or organisation, information such as audited accounts, governance arrangements and independent board of directors details are required, so that HSE can undertake necessary due diligence. Local HSE are always available to provide guidance to any organisation on the necessary work to comply with the requirements ahead of consideration of HSE funding of their organisation.
Prior to any funding arrangement, the HSE will need full and complete details on the corporate governance of an organisation, such as information on the board responsible for independent oversight of the management of an organisation, along with an organisation's annual financial statements which comply with the most recent statutory deadlines, as well as details of what clinical governance structures are in place, if relevant.
These are essential and appropriate steps on the road to providing funding to any organisation. They are the same requirements of all bodies to whom the State provides public funding.
With regard to the specific organisation raised in your request, the HSE are best placed to advise on potential funding, and I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
1089. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that the minor injuries unit in Monaghan closes for check-ins at 7 p.m., despite being advertised as open until 8 p.m.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63525/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
1090. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Health the funding streams available for a disability day service (details supplied) in Ballina, County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63549/25]
View answerThis PQ should be directed at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
1091. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health whether GPs may claim reimbursement of €300 under the PCRS scheme for carrying out abortions in cases where medical abortion in the community is unsuccessful, and later completed in hospital; if so, the number of such reimbursements, by year, from 2019 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63551/25]
View answerGPs are reimbursed via the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme (PCRS) for the consultations undertaken with patients in respect of terminations as set out below:
|
1. |
Patient’s first visit for purpose of termination in accordance with the Act of 2018 |
€150 |
|
2. |
Termination of pregnancy in accordance with the Act of 2018 which is carried out by service provider, including aftercare |
€300 |
|
3. |
Aftercare visit with service provider where termination of pregnancy in accordance with the Act of 2018 is not carried out by service provider but is carried out in a hospital |
€100 |
Where a GP has provided termination of pregnancy service the relevant fee can be claimed, irrespective of any subsequent care provided in a hospital including cases in which the initial termination was unsuccesful. In relation to the number of reimbursements for the years 2019-2025, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1092. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average cost of an ADHD assessment in each RHA; the number of assessments carried out privately and publicly in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63575/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
1093. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health to consider including medical reports for driving licence renewal/applications for over 70's in the general medical services scheme, to alleviate financial pressure associated with driver licence costs. [63592/25]
View answerUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients, persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card, with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Eligible persons are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. The contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract. Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patient.
The requirements for the submission of a medical report from a registered medical practitioner with driving licence applications for certain categories of persons, including those aged 75 and over, is governed by the National Driver Licence Service and the Department of Transport.
1094. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of teams from the 11 catchment area ADHD teams that are fully operational; the teams which remain in the process of being established; the expected opening dates for the three remaining services funded in 2025; and the measures being taken to ensure these new services are operational without further delay. [63593/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
1095. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of posts that remain vacant across the 11 ADHD catchment area teams; the reasons for delays in approving key positions, including the two posts in Dublin south central/west, and the nursing post in Sligo/Leitrim/Donegal; and the expected timeline for filling these posts and ensuring full service capacity. [63594/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
1096. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the consultation report designed by the NCP clinical lead and ADHD Ireland to amend the current Model of Care; the expected implementation timeline for the primary care hub and the piloting of GP referral acceptance in the midlands service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63595/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
1097. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total funding provided for adult ADHD services since 2021, by year; whether additional funding will be provided to meet current demand; and the long-term plans in place to ensure sustainable staffing and service delivery across all catchment areas. [63596/25]
View answerADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
The HSE’s Model of Care for ADHD in Adults, which I launched in 2021, outlines a National Clinical Programme for ADHD in Adults based on multi-disciplinary community teams to diagnose and treat ADHD in adults. As Minister I have resourced the establishment of the teams envisioned by the Model of Care, with total funding of over €5 million on a recurring annual basis. The national network of ADHD teams is now fully funded and in recruitment, with 7 teams currently operational. I secured the funding in Budget 2025 to roll out all remaining teams envisaged in the Model of Care
In relation to the additional specific information requested regarding the operation of the ADHD National Clinical Programme, as this is an operational matter , I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
1098. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a full response will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied) relating to a Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63604/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1099. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason a cohort of children are now included in the External Expert Panel review established following the independent audit of hip surgeries at CHI and Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63605/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
