Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:463. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reducing the DPS threshold to €50 and €100, respectively. [28817/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (463)
Freagraí scríofa
The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:
• From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
• From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no individual pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The estimated full year cost of reducing the DPS threshold to €50 is €66m. The estimated full year cost of reducing the DPS threshold to €10 is €200m. These costings do not take account of demographic changes, changes in eligibility (e.g., loss of medical cards), or how the reductions in the DPS threshold may impact claimant behaviour.
Hospital Charges
Ceisteanna (464)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:464. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of abolishing accident and emergency charges. [28818/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (465, 476, 482)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:465. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to reinstate the 2008 dental treatment services scheme. [28819/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRichard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:476. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing free dental care for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28831/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRichard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:482. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost in 2023 of reinstating all the benefits that were available under the dental treatment services scheme before the economic crash; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28838/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 465, 476 and 482 together.
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as additional fillings, dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon. These services are provided by dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE.
Having been suspended in 2010, the scale and polish item was re-introduced for all medical card patients in 2022 along with an expansion of the oral examination to include provision of preventative advice, using €10 million awarded in Budget 2022.
The cost of providing free dental care to the whole population would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population and the level of take-up of such services.
The Government is committed to reforming dental services, including the DTSS, through the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte. The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs. An implementation plan for the 2024-2026 phase of rollout is being drafted by my Department and the HSE, for consultation and subsequent publication in the third quarter of this year. The HSE is committed to the design and development of packages of expanded preventative care, and will consult with the profession this year on this draft design, as the first phase of reform of the DTSS.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (466)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:466. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of permanently increasing and staffing fully and on a permanent basis the number of acute beds to get 85% occupancy in our hospital network. [28820/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (467)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:467. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of the current levels of nursing home care provided through the public health system. [28821/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (468)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:468. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of the subsidies paid to private nursing homes. [28822/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Fair Deal was designed to protect and support vulnerable older people, to ensure equal access to nursing home care based on what they could afford. This gives certainty to people and families.
The budget to support approximately 23,000 people to live in nursing homes through Fair Deal is approximately €1.5 billion this year.
Budget 2023 saw over €40 million in additional funding for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS).
An additional €45.6 million has been allocated to support nursing homes in Budget 2024, including a new €10 million fund to support private and voluntary nursing homes with HIQA compliance.
The Resident Safety Improvement scheme is designed to target and support structural improvements in nursing homes to assist their meeting HIQA compliance plans in respect of protection against infection and fire precautions. It is active as from 1 January 2024 and can be backdated for eligible works to 1 January 2020. To date, €3.2M has been paid out to 141 nursing homes.
The Government has provided substantial support to help stabilise the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the last number of years, this includes:
• Over €151m of financial support has been provided to private and voluntary nursing homes through the COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS).
• The provision of free PPE and oxygen to private nursing homes has costed approximately €77 million to date.
• A €10 million scheme (TIPS) was established in 2022 to support private and voluntary nursing homes with increases in energy costs, covering 75% of year-on-year cost increases up to a monthly cap of €5,250 per nursing home. This scheme was extended for a second time to the end of June 2023.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (469)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:469. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of the fair deal scheme. [28823/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Fair Deal was designed to protect and support vulnerable older people, to ensure equal access to nursing home care based on what they could afford. This gives certainty to people and families.
The budget to support approximately 23,000 people to live in nursing homes through Fair Deal is approximately €1.5 billion this year.
Budget 2023 saw over €40 million in additional funding for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS).
An additional €45.6 million has been allocated to support nursing homes in Budget 2024, including a new €10 million fund to support private and voluntary nursing homes with HIQA compliance.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (470)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:470. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of subsidies paid to the private hospital network. [28824/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The public health system does not subsidise the private healthcare system in Ireland.
The public health system does procure services from private healthcare providers to help support the public health system and provide services to public patients. Such services are procured by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), through panel agreements with private hospitals, uses the private sector as well as the public sector to purchase services for patients on public hospital waiting lists.
In addition, whilst there have always been local arrangements between public hospitals and adjacent private hospitals, the HSE has a procurement framework to allow public hospitals to access services in private hospitals. The framework was updated and extended in 2023, and covers procedures not procured by the NTPF.
In addition, to help alleviate the ongoing pressures on public emergency departments, the Framework for Urgent and Emergency Care was stood up by the HSE in December last year for the provision of private capacity to help support Urgent and Emergency Care.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (471)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:471. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of public health consultants in the employ of the public health service; and the estimated full-year cost of employing them. [28826/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (472)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:472. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of employing an additional 100 neurological nurses. [28827/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (473)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:473. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of giving all health service staff a 10% pay increase. [28828/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (474)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:474. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of ensuring that the living alone allowance is not assessable income for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28829/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the correspondence concerns a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (475)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:475. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of reducing the maximum payment on the drug payment scheme to €40; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28830/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:
• From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
• From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no individual pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
The estimated full year cost for reducing the DPS threshold to €40 is €95m.
This costing does not take account of changes in demographics or in eligibility numbers (i.e., changes in the number of medical card holders). It also does not take account of how a reduction in the DPS threshold may impact on claimant behaviour.
Question No. 476 answered with Question No. 482.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (477)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:477. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of abolishing all inpatient and emergency department charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28832/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Dept of Health Finance does not hold the specific information to estimate this cost so I have referred this PQ to the HSE as they would have the income from these numbers in their accounts and better placed to estimate the full year effect.
Prescriptions Charges
Ceisteanna (478)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:478. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of abolishing all prescription charges for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28833/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Prescription charges were introduced in the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010. On 1 November 2020, prescription charges were reduced as follows:
• For those aged over 70, €1 per item with a maximum charge of €10 per month.
• For those aged under 70, €1.50 per item with a maximum charge of €15 per month.
The estimated full year cost of abolishing all prescription charges is €95.2m.
This costing does not take account of changes in demographics or in eligibility numbers (i.e., changes in the number of medical card holders). It also does not take account of how the abolition of prescription charges may impact on claimant behaviour.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (479)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:479. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of abolishing all parking charges at public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28834/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (480)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:480. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of introducing a fully funded universal contraception scheme. [28835/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, for women and girls ordinarily resident in Ireland, aged 17-25. The scheme was gradually extended to women aged 17-31 inclusive and was further expanded on July 1st, 2024 to include women aged 32-35. Almost 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies in all regions of the country have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date; it can be accessed across the country. Following the most recent expansion, the budget for the scheme in 2024 is approximately €48m.
The scheme covers the cost of consultations, and, where appropriate, fittings, checks and removals of contraceptive devices, with GPs, family planning, student health and primary care centres. It also covers the cost of prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available through the Health Service Executive (HSE) Re-Imbursement List. These options include long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs); injections, implants and hormonal and copper coils. It also includes emergency contraception in addition to the oral contraceptive Pill, patch and ring.
The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in 2019, and still available on my Department's website, estimated the likely costs of a universal, fully funded State scheme for contraception. Based on uptake rates of 50% - 100%, the report estimated total costs as between €83.15 million to €156.64 million to extend the scheme to 16-44 year-olds. Adjusting these estimates to 17-55 year-olds, the costs would range from €108m to €203m.
However, real world information drawn from the operation of the scheme to date shows that original cost estimates were overestimated; typical access rates are currently slightly less than 50% for eligible age cohorts, reducing with age. Furthermore, peak per capita access to the scheme seems, from data available so far, to be from ages 19-24. As women reach their late 20s and early 30s and a larger proportion take breaks from contraception to plan families, costs are reducing. Moreover, the clinical guidance on some of the long-acting reversible contraception has changed; for example, some of the hormonal coils can be left in for longer, while still retaining effectiveness. On balance, based on the current data available to us from the first 18 months of scheme operation, the most likely cost range for the extension of the FCS to 17-55 year-olds will be between €85m and €105m.
The above estimate is based on the mix of contraceptive methods currently available on the HSE Re-Imbursement List and is therefore subject to change. For example, any increase in LARC uptake will be associated with an increase in costs in the short-term given its relatively high up-front costs, although this is likely to be marginal and should be offset in the longer term, given the greater cost-effectiveness of such products over their lifespans. The costs of including women over 40 are likely to vary from younger cohorts - LARC uptake in this cohort may be higher as hormonal coils and implants are effective in treating peri-menopausal symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, and may be preferred by women who have completed their families.
It should also be noted that the introduction of new products to the Re-Imbursement List, ongoing incremental changes in contraceptive preferences and changing clinical guidance over time can all have different impacts on the costs of a demand-led service such as the free contraception scheme.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (481)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:481. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of staffing public health teams to the WHO recommended levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28836/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 482 answered with Question No. 465.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (483)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:483. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if hearing aids will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28895/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.