Written Answers Nos. 286-306
286. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health how many WTE diabetes clinical nursing posts and WTE dietitians have been recruited to date to staff the HSE ECC specialist ambulatory care hubs diabetes service; how many of each of these grades have physically taken up post; how many of each grade are currently going through the HSE recruitment process; how many posts remained unfilled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20972/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
287. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health how many people living with Type 2 diabetes have been treated in HSE ECC specialist ambulatory care hubs to date, by individual hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
288. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health how many HSE ECC specialist ambulatory care hub diabetes services are actively seeing people with Type 2 diabetes; if further hubs will open this year; how many more are planned to open in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20974/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
289. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the total spend on homeless specific measures by his Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, and to provide a breakdown of the spend each year, in tabular form. [20988/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the health needs of people who are experiencing homelessness and improving their access to healthcare is a key priority for the Department of Health. In 2023, the Department provided €500,000 in funding to implement the Traveller Health Action Plan. This funding is being used to improve healthcare services and address the social determinants of health for Traveller women who experience homelessness and who are transitioning to independent living. It is being developed in consultation with Traveller groups.
Under the Health Acts, in particular the 1953 Act, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the delivery of health and social care supports to people who are experiencing homelessness either directly or through Section 39 funded services. As the matter of expenditure on homeless health-related services is the responsibility of the HSE, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
290. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on addiction services in 2023 by local authority area, in tabular form. [20989/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
291. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 690 of 16 April 2024, the reason the question was referred to the National Women and Infants Programme section, despite the relevant programme not having scope over the relevant policy area as the question refers to the diagnosis of, and supports for, children with FASD, as opposed to prevention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20990/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
292. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the waiting times for appointments for the dermatology clinic in Peamount Hospital in Dublin. [20999/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
293. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is no longer funding wigs for people with alopecia. [21012/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
294. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an ENT appointment in Letterkenny University Hospital; if it can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21020/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
295. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health to explain the process and criteria used by his Department to assess the potential benefits and opportunities of EATRIS membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21025/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra296. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health whether his Department is the appropriate departmental body to consider the possibility of Ireland joining EATRIS, the ERIC for translational research; whether he is of the opinion that this should fall to a separate Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21026/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra297. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will set up an interdepartmental working group to consider the benefits of Ireland joining EATRIS, the ERIC for translational research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21027/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 295, 296 and 297 together.
The membership of the EATRIS network could play a key role in furthering our capacity in the development of new healthcare therapeutics, products, and services with potential to improve health outcomes for patients. Membership could also benefit the economy of Ireland and make unique research infrastructures and centres in Ireland more visible, thereby increasing the opportunities to participate in major European research projects.
In considering the potential value of membership of EATRIS, Ireland’s ability to influence the priorities of the network would be evaluated. Awareness of EATRIS in the research community, access to resources and tools and participation in pan-European studies might also inform any decision to join the network.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the main funder of translational research. Considering the remit of SFI and its parent department, the Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, it would be important for my department to consult with these bodies and other key stakeholders such as the Health Research Board and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in determining how best to support and coordinate a potential membership process.
The Impact 2030 steering group, comprised of the government departments most active in research investment, would in the first instance be the most appropriate forum to consider membership of EATRIS. Should a decision be taken to join the European Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (EATRIS), a memorandum for government would be required to set out how membership of the network would complement and align with existing strategies and investments. A government decision would then be necessary to formally join the network.
298. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to his recent statement (details supplied) that a consultant psychiatrist had been recruited by the HSE for children's gender healthcare and that a new team is being built up by the HSE, he will identify the post that has been filled; the person selected to fill the post; where the consultant and the new team will be based; when the HSE appointment and the new team will commence services; to provide details of the membership of the new team to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21030/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
299. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a HSE report on the death of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be completed; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21036/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
300. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health how often HIQA inspections are carried out at St. James’s Hospital, Tallaght Hospital, and St. Vincent’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21037/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
301. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of ‘children in case’ social worker posts in County Clare; the number currently in post; and the length of time any posts have been vacant. [21055/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
302. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the average waiting time on waiting lists for operations at CHI for those with spina bifida without scoliosis and those with scoliosis [21058/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
303. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review a case (details supplied); if this person can use the Wicklow-based company for this service in future; and if they do use it, whether the Government supports will still be available to them. [21068/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
304. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when he, in consultation with the HSE, will lift the recruitment embargo currently in place within the HSE (details supplied). [21074/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding has been made available for an additional 2,969 staff for 2024. This represents 2,268 via the Department of Health and 701 via the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and is outlined in the HSE National Service Plan approved and published on 14 February 2024.
I have approved the New Developments allocation of the resources relevant to the health budget and plans to recruit these 2,268 additional staff are now in motion. This will enable the HSE to set out its recruitment targets in each area for 2024 and will inform decisions at local level on the filling of available posts, including the engagement of new staff, transfer of staff across locations and placements of those returning to work following a career break.
305. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all orphan medicines reimbursed in 2023; to confirm the date of the HSE executive management team decision; the date on which a reimbursement decision was subsequently made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21075/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
306. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to increase the numbers of GP practices and practitioners throughout the country to alleviate the current difficulties in registering with a GP as a private patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21080/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs 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.
The Government is working to increase the number of GPs practicing in the State and thereby improve access to GP services 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. Figures released by the ICGP show that 1,311 medical graduates applied for GP training in 2024, a notable increase on the previous year and higher than any other year.
The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased significantly in recent years, with 286 new entrants in 2023 and 350 places planned for new entrants for this year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% from 2015 to 2023, and the number of new entrant places to be available this year is a 22% increase on last year's intake.
Furthermore, GP recruitment is ongoing under the joint International Medical Graduate Rural GP Programme between the HSE and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). 121 non-EU GPs were enrolled under the training programme last year and it is planned to recruit up to 250 more non-EU GPs to Ireland this year. The placement of GPs under the programme is targeted to rural and underserviced areas.
Lastly, a Strategic Review of General Practice is underway. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity. When completed, the review will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
