Written Answers Nos. 241-266
241. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of children currently missing in Ireland, by the total number, the year they went missing and whether or not they were under the care of the State (Tusla) at the time. [24506/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe care and welfare of children in care is a priority for the Department and this is continuously reviewed with Tusla. The Department continue to keep the issue of safeguarding all children in the care of the state as a top priority.
The Department receive fortnightly reports for all children and young people missing in care from Tusla. These reports include children receiving mainstream care and those children who are referred to Tusla's dedicated separated Children seeking International Protection team (SCSIP) that include separated children and unaccompanied minors. Below is a breakdown of the two cohorts of children missing in care.
Mainstream care children in the care of Tusla
The latest data provided by Tusla, as of the 9th May 2024, states that there are eleven children missing from ‘mainstream’ care (i.e. not in the service for separated children seeking international protection). Of these eleven children, seven had been missing for between one and three days, while four had been missing for between three and seven days. None had been missing for a longer period.
Separated Children/Unaccompanied Minors
The latest data provided by Tusla as of the 9th of May 2024, states that there are twenty three children in the Separated Children Seeking International Protection service remain missing from care. Of these one child is missing since 2022, thirteen from 2023 and nine to date in 2024.
The Deputy should note that information related to the number of children not in the care of the State who are missing is a matter for the Department of Justice.
242. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1440 of 9 April 2024, if he will provide an update on the current status of the National Ambulance Service recruitment process; the expected timeline for further communication or placements for those on the current panel; if the HSE embargo is having an impact on the recruitment and placement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24434/24]
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.
243. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will review the cost demands being placed on private nursing homes by HIQA, considering the large financial cost that can be placed on a nursing home after a HIQA inspection, and considering that numerous HIQA inspections at the same nursing home and the demands arising out of these can make the operations of a private nursing home financially unviable, resulting in their closures across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24435/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Chief Inspector of Social Care and the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) is the national independent regulator of designated centres for older people including public community nursing units and private nursing homes. These nursing homes are subject to registration and inspection by HIQA, a process which is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising of Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and National Quality Standards. I fully support HIQA in upholding these vitally important regulatory standards, as they provide a key role in the health system and are central to the success of the nursing home sector in undertaking its functions to ensure a safe, quality service is being provided to residents.
Where issues are identified during a HIQA inspection of a designated centre, the provider must act to address them, and inform the Chief Inspector in writing through a compliance plan how and when issues will be resolved. HIQA is committed to an open and transparent relationship with its stakeholders.
The Government is conscious of the financial challenges faced by the nursing home sector overall, especially smaller and voluntary nursing homes that may not have access to the same economies of scale as larger homes or groups. The Department of Health seeks to identify improvements to the ways in which the nursing home sector is supported to ensure that long-term nursing home care is sustainable, accessible, and affordable to everyone. The Government is committed to delivering additional support to the nursing home sector and have delivered increases in year-on-year funding for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS or Fair Deal).
In addition, in December 2023, I announced the implementation of a €10 million scheme to improve infection prevention and fire safety in private and voluntary nursing homes. The Nursing Home Resident Safety Improvement Scheme commenced on January 1st 2024, and provides funding towards structural works carried out to improve compliance with the standards published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) under Regulation 27 (Protection against infection) and Regulation 28 (Fire precautions). This scheme opened for applications on the 2nd of February 2024 and the closing date for applications is the 15th of November 2024.
This scheme is a vouched scheme which is open to all operational voluntary and private nursing homes registered with HIQA and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) as of 1 January 2024. Up to €25,000 is available to each qualifying nursing home for eligible works under this scheme. Nursing homes may also claim retrospectively for works covered by this scheme if they were carried out since 1 January 2020.
I encourage all eligible nursing homes to make an application if they have not already done so.
It must be recognised, however, that many nursing homes are privately owned and operated businesses and nursing home owners may choose to exit the market for a variety of reasons.
244. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24451/24]
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.
245. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, in relation to a nursing home (details supplied), who made the decision to deregister, HIQA or the management company;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24457/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply concerned to learn that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) had to cancel the registration of Lucan Lodge Nursing Home. This cancellation, which followed concerns for the care and welfare of residents, took effect from 10:00 on 17 May 2024.
The HSE has taken interim charge of the nursing home from 10:01 Friday, 17 May 2024. The HSE will act as the interim registered provider to support residents and their families during this time.
This is an evolving situation, and all options are being explored. Regular engagements are taking place between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). HSE staff are on-site and committed to regular communication with residents and their families.
Ensuring the welfare and safety of residents is secured is of the utmost importance, and work to alleviate the concerns of residents, their families and staff is a priority during this difficult time.
246. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the GP surgery in Lettermacaward in County Donegal will be open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24472/24]
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.
247. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 619, 620 and 621 of 25 April 2023, to provide a full update on the matter; to provide details on the discussions or engagement that have taken place within his Department and the HSE further to his statement that his Department “is currently examining all of the issues around the scope of the scheme, including this issue”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24476/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended) which provides that arrangements may be made for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines or medical and surgical appliances to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature.
Various regulations were made in the 1970s prescribing 16 illnesses 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.
The LTI Scheme has its basis in long-standing statute and is only one aspect of the overall eligibility landscape.
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. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
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. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
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 Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The Scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals who are not eligible for a medical card but who have ongoing expenditure on medicines.
248. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1737 of 17 January 2024, if he can seek an urgent update and outcome of the business case that was submitted to the HSE for additional funding and approval to open the nine new development beds; if approval has been granted to provide an update from older persons' services as to the recruiting of additional staffing to support these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24479/24]
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.
249. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when respite services will be available again at Killybegs community hospital; when the service will be returned to a five-day-a-week service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24481/24]
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.
250. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the spark initiative (details supplied) will be considered for long-term funding and/or expansion across all of CHO8, considering the impact and effectiveness the programme has had to date and with consideration of the award it has won for innovation in the CHO8 awards. [24482/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health and HSE are co-ordinating the provision of healthcare services for more than 107,000 Ukrainian refugees (Beneficiaries of temporary Protection) together with a further 35,000 International Protection applicants who have arrived in Ireland since 2022.
€50 million has been made available for the provision of healthcare services for refugees and migrants in €2024. This funding is used to deliver a suite of healthcare services that are responsive to areas of higher demand and local health service factors.
The HSE has developed a Refugee Health Model to provide a flexible healthcare response to address the health needs of refugees who are living in temporary accommodation, including the new Designated Arrival Centres for Ukrainian refugees. Refugees can access a range of health care services from the HSE, including Covid-19 vaccinations, GPs, community care and hospital or emergency care. This is in addition to services for children’s health, mental health, disabilities, maternity care, and older people.
The roll-out of specific measures, including mental health services and initiatives, across Community Healthcare Organisations is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. As such, I have requested that the HSE respond directly to Deputy O'Dowd.
251. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to provide a comprehensive breakdown of funding for trainee counselling psychology positions at Trinity College Dublin; what options are available to students in positions that are unfunded; if efforts will be made to fund these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24485/24]
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.
252. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason no response has issued to a previous Parliamentary Question from the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24494/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
253. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when colposcopy testing will resume in Portlaoise Hospital, given that women who need this procedure in the midlands have to travel to either Galway or Dublin. [24502/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
254. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if a nursing home (details supplied) in Nenagh has received HIQA accreditation. [24503/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSt Conlon’s Community Nursing Unit, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary is registered as a Designated Centre for Older People with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) for a period of 3 years from 20 June 2021. The most recent HIQA inspection took place on the 30th of January 2024, and the subsequent inspection report was published on April 22nd 2024 and is available to view on the HIQA website at the following address:
www.hiqa.ie/areas-we-work/find-a-centre/st-conlons-community-nursing-unit.
255. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the services and supports that have been put in place for a child (details supplied); if he has responded to correspondence from the child’s mother; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24504/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Office issued a response to another Deputy on this case on 9 October 2023. As the issue now raised still relates to this individual case, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to Deputy McGuinness.
256. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the conditions reported at a transitional care unit (details supplied); if this is a HSE-run facility; and if he will ensure that an inspection of this unit is carried out urgently. [24507/24]
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.
257. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange an immediate autism assessment for a child (details supplied); if the range of services they urgently require will be put in place; and if he will expedite the matter. [24517/24]
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.
258. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will publish a fully funded comprehensive newborn screening programme given how far off Ireland is from the EU average for newborn screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24519/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, all newborn babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’) for rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life.
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a key objective of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been actively progressing work in this regard.
NSAC is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured, validated and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress continues to be made on the expansion of the NBS Programme. As the Deputy will be aware, last year I approved two recommendations from the Committee for the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme. This will bring the number of conditions screened for as part of what is commonly known as the ‘heel prick’ test in Ireland to 11, once implemented. I would highlight that this will represent a 37% increase achieved under the lifetime of this Government.
In February of this year, I was pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the rollout of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant funding increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants. This investment will be crucial to providing additional funds for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training to facilitate addition of new conditions to NBS programme.
I can confirm that work commenced at the start of this year, with ongoing collaboration between officials in my Department and the HSE National Children’s Screening Programme on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID.
In terms of further expansion of our newborn screening programmes, Ireland has always evaluated the case for commencing a national screening programme against international accepted criteria – collectively known as the Wilson Jungner criteria. The evidence bar for commencing a screening programme should and must remain high. This ensures that we can be confident that the programme is effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards. There is no doubt that newborn screening programmes have the potential to be rapidly transformed by new technologies and new therapies but this highlights the need to continue with a robust, methodologically sound and detailed analysis of the evidence in each and every case against internationally accepted screening criteria.
The expansion of newborn bloodspot screening is being continually reviewed across Europe where the number of conditions screened for varies significantly. For example, the UK currently screens for a similar number of conditions as Ireland. However, as noted by HIQA in their 2021 ‘Review of processes in use to inform the expansion of newborn bloodspot Screening programmes’, international comparisons of the range of conditions screened is likely to reflect complex decision-making processes and local inputs. These may include differing opinions with respect to assessment of conditions against criteria, differences in practice with respect to organisational structure and laboratory implementation, differing levels of tolerance for false positives and false negatives and differing local epidemiology with respect to condition prevalence and the genetic composition of the local population.
Nevertheless, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. This is why I remain committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice.
259. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that new facilities (details supplied) will be provided in all hospitals and in other major health care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24526/24]
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.
260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 2 May 2024, if the case will be considered for even a partial contribution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24560/24]
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
261. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if a permanent cath lab for University Hospital Sligo will be provided; when the National Cardiac Review will be published; and if he expects Sligo to be included in that review of cardiac services. [24561/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSligo University Hospital is recognised in providing significant cardiac services. This is further recognised through recent investment, which includes the provision of a second CT scanner in undertaking cardiac diagnostics.
The consideration of the National Review is an ongoing process. The recommendations of the review will inform the future provision of cardiac services nationally.
262. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the limits that are placed on the provision of free tests for sexually transmitted diseases (details supplied); if he plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24562/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a successful initial pilot in Cork, Kerry and Dublin, funded by the Sláintecare Integration Fund in 2021, the free home STI testing service was gradually expanded in 2021-2022, and launched nationally in October, 2022. €3.5m was allocated to support the scheme in 2023.
The scheme has been very successful, adding approximately 33% to national testing capacity. Additional funding of €720,000 to support increasing demand for the scheme has been allocated through Budget 2024, bringing funding this year to €4.22m.
In 2022, through the home STI testing service, over 90,000 kits were dispatched, while preliminary figures for 2023 indicate that just under 110,000 kits were dispatched. Reactive results are detected in approximately 10% of returns on average.
The scheme is reaching many who may have been reluctant to visit STI clinics in person, with more STIs being detected and treated. Those receiving reactive results are referred for further treatment, including to an in-person STI clinic for confirmation of testing results, and treatment where required. Since late 2023, on a pilot basis, users with a positive chlamydia result are offered the option of an online assessment and prescription to a community pharmacy of their choice or referred to a participating clinical service for the appropriate follow up and clinical management.
The National Condom Distribution Scheme supports both STI prevention and accessible contraception for men and their partners. Free condoms can be accessed through the national network of STI clinics, participating charity and NGO partners and on participating 3rd level campuses. Since 2023, free condoms have also been supplied with orders for free home STI testing kits.
Whilst STIs are usually easily treatable when detected early, many STIs can cause serious health issues, if undetected and untreated for longer periods of time. STIs are often asymptomatic. The key prevention messages are to use condoms for vaginal, oral and anal sex, and to get tested if experiencing possible STI symptoms, when changing sexual partners, in the event of having multiple, sequential or overlapping partners or if a partner (or former partner) has been diagnosed with an STI.
The ongoing nationwide STI prevention campaign, through www.sexualwellbeing.ie , promotes condom use and free home STI testing alongside a range of other messages supporting positive sexual health and information on how to access testing, treatment, contraception and other related sexual health services. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre provides weekly and annual reports on rates of STI infection nationally, available through www.hpsc.ie/.
Home STI test kit orders are dispatched from within Ireland; 97% of test kits are dispatched within two working days, with most service users report receiving their test kit within three days of placing their order. Returned samples are also processed within Ireland. STI rates are rising, both nationally and internationally, therefore capacity within the online STI testing scheme is monitored carefully on an ongoing basis.
As this question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
263. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a response will issue from the HSE to a representation reference (details supplied) submitted on 26 February 2024; if measures will be put in place to deal with the unacceptable delays in receiving timely responses from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24570/24]
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.
264. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24571/24]
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.
265. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocation to each HSE and public voluntary hospital in each of the years since 2020, in tabular form. [24574/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is responsible for the allocation of budgets at individual hospital level and I have referred your question to them for direct answer.
266. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 18 April 2024, the status of the strategic review of radiation therapy which commenced in December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24575/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the incredibly important role of Radiation Therapists in the provision of cancer services in this country.
As the Deputy is aware, the independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession was agreed between the HSE, Department of Health and SIPTU, under the auspices of the WRC. This strategic review considered issues such as organisation structure, career development in line with Health and Social Care Professional Frameworks, strategic workforce planning and recruitment and retention strategies. The Radiation Therapist review commenced in December 2022.
A report including recommendations continues to be drafted. Outcomes of the review will then be given due consideration by the Department of Health. Implementation of any recommendations from the review are subject to approval from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform.
