Written Answers Nos. 697-713
697. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescents on waiting lists for primary care psychology services; and the length of time they have been on said waiting lists, by CHO and LHO. [29224/24]
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.
698. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of people with disabilities currently employed in the HSE; if the same figures are available for the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29225/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
699. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a person can be compensated for a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29227/24]
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.
700. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the reason the new National Children’s Hospital is fully lit up at night once construction has ceased for the day; the estimated number of electrical units currently being expended outside the operation of construction; and the cost of same to the State. [29228/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building, and equipping the new children's hospital. I have therefore referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.
701. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have instigated legal action against the HSE over the death of their loved ones from Covid-19 in HSE-run nursing homes or hospitals; the number of cases which are ongoing; the number which have been settled; and the total amount paid out in compensation to date. [29240/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. The SCA has provided me with the information set out below and has informed me that the information contained within this report was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and is correct as at the 02/07/2024.
The SCA has received 73 wrongful death claims, in respect of COVID-19, recorded across hospitals, nursing homes, HSE locations including community healthcare locations, COVID-19 vaccine programme locations and HIQA. Of these, 18 claims have been finalised and no damages have been paid in any of these claims to date. Multiple claims may arise in respect of a single wrongful death.
702. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to list the psychiatric hospitals which have closed in the State in the past thirty years; the dates on which they closed; the bed capacity of each; the locations of each; and the current ownership status of each property in question, in tabular form. [29241/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
703. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 25 April 2024, if he will investigate if there was an entitlement to the Covid pandemic payment in the case of a person (details supplied). [29242/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
704. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the relevant departments will work together to explore how members of the fire service can supplement the work of the ambulance service in response to emergency call outs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29243/24]
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.
707. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide the number of primary care psychology posts which are currently frozen under the recruitment embargo, by role and CHO, in tabular form. [29247/24]
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.
708. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he would include primary care psychology posts under those which are exempt from the recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29248/24]
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.
709. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide the number of eating disorder care posts which are currently frozen under the recruitment embargo, by role and CHO, in tabular form. [29249/24]
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.
710. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health when the last demand-capacity exercise was carried out for primary care psychology to determine how many staff these services should have. [29250/24]
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.
711. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide the current number of primary care psychology posts staffed, or available and unaffected by the recruitment embargo, by grade and CHO, in tabular form. [29251/24]
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.
712. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health to list the members of the HSE’s National Immunisation Oversight Committee, NIOC, and their respective positions, in tabular form; to explain the role of the NIOC in relation to supporting the work of National Immunisation Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29252/24]
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.
713. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health for an update in relation to his Department’s activities at the EPSCO (Health) Council on 21 June 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29253/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted its final meeting of Health Ministers on 21 June in Luxembourg. Ireland’s delegation was led by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler.
The main agenda item was a policy debate on the legislative file relating to the Pharmaceutical Package. The Government is very conscious of the importance of retaining a competitive pharmaceutical industry in the EU and Ireland. During her intervention, Minister Butler clearly articulated the Government’s position on this crucial legislative file, and spoke of the need to find the right balance to address three key objectives:
- Access to safe and effective medicines for patients,
- Sustainability of national health systems, and
- Retention of a strong, innovative, pharmaceutical sector.
Minister Butler also emphasised that pharmaceutical companies who meet the needs of health systems should be rewarded for doing so, with transparent and predictable modulation that is not overly bureaucratic in practice.
On non-legislative items, the Council approved Council Conclusions on the Future Health Union that aim to keep Health high on the EU agenda. It also adopted a non-contentious Council Recommendation on Cancer Preventable vaccines. Ireland welcomes both initiatives.
The Belgian Presidency then updated the Ministers on (i) the events held during their presidency, (ii) negotiations of the Pandemic Agreement and revisions of the International Health Regulations, and (iii) WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Hungarian Minister then presented the work programme of their upcoming presidency (July – December 2024).
There were five A.O.B.s that were also discussed:
A call for action at the EU level to protect young people from harm caused by novel tobacco and nicotine products – Information from Latvian delegation.
Danish Position Paper on tobacco and nicotine.
Health situation in Gaza – Information from the Spanish delegation.
A call for action on HIV from the Romanian delegation.
Impact of excessive national stockpiling strategies on the EU solidarity – Information from the Czech delegation.
The meeting then concluded with a closed-door working lunch on equitable access to healthcare in EU Member States, attended by Minister Butler.
