Written Answers Nos. 472-495
472. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of radiation therapy staff at each radiation oncology unit; the number required to adequately staff each unit for each of the past five years, to date in 2024; the number of cancer treatment machines closed; the number of new build treatment machines and scanners not being utilised, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38717/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
473. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the current number and waiting times for each radiation oncology unit, in tabular form. [38718/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
475. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated and spent in each CHO for each year from 2022 to date in 2024, on intensive home care packages and dementia-specific packages; the number of hours sought, approved, and delivered, in tabular form. [38724/24]
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.
476. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current status of the consultant psychiatrist position at Dungarvan, County Waterford; the length of time to date the position has remained vacant; when the position is expected to be filled; and what arrangements have been put in place for affected patients. [38728/24]
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.
477. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of suicide crisis assessment nurse positions in Waterford city and county; the number of these positions that are vacant; the periods during which positions have been vacant; and when it is expected that all positions in the area will be filled. [38729/24]
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.
478. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of current vacancies in child and adolescent mental health services in community health area 5, detailing the location and duration of each vacancy, in tabular form. [38730/24]
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.
479. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the application for funding to develop a Jigsaw youth mental health service in Waterford; to provide a timeline for delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38731/24]
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.
480. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he can advise regarding correspondence received in relation to abatement of public service occupational pensions from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Circular 2024/2022 received by rehired mental health nurses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38741/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an administrative matter for the HSE, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
481. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the possibility of HSE audiologists conducting visits to HSE-owned nursing homes to ensure that residents can have their hearing checked and looked after; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38745/24]
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.
482. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to ensure that a person (details supplied) will have their surgery carried out under the National Treatment Purchase Fund without any further delay. [38761/24]
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.
483. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health for an update on a new base for the National Ambulance Service in Athlone. [38762/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
484. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to review medical card eligibility (details supplied) for a 16-year-old constituent who suffers from the life-long illness, Tetralogy of Fallot disease, and is doubly incontinent, but whose medical card is being reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38767/24]
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.
485. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he is taking steps to implement the recommendations of the National Radiation Therapist Review report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38786/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the incredibly important role of Radiation Therapists in the provision of cancer services in this country.
I am glad that the independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been finalised. This strategic review considered important issues such as organisation structure, career development in line with Health and Social Care Professional Frameworks, strategic workforce planning and recruitment and retention strategies.
This review has published 16 recommendations which aim to help and support the Radiation Therapy profession into the future.
As the terms of reference for the review state, the implementation of any recommendations from the review will remain subject to the approval from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform.
487. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2472 of 23 July 24, the progress of the orthodontic services waiting list initiative for grade 5 patients; the location and number of successful tenderers; when the first patients will be seen; the number of patients it is anticipated will be seen per year when this scheme is operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38806/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHSE has advised that there were 16 private service providers awarded onto the Framework Type Agreement for the provision of orthodontic services for HSE Grade 5a patients. HSE is now progressing various business processes which are mandatory to ensure service provider compliance with legislation and for patient safety.
For 2025, €8.4 million is being provided on an ongoing basis to continue initiatives aimed at addressing primary care waiting lists for children. This ongoing funding will provide an opportunity to drive innovative solutions built on the learnings from previous successful Waiting List Action Plan initiatives to address the increasing level of demand for primary care services.
Once the allocation of this funding across primary care is finalised for 2025, the proportion assigned to orthodontics will be applied across the various available orthodontics waiting list initiatives in a manner that best addresses the current waiting lists, in terms of both specific clinical need and geographic spread.
489. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a child (details supplied) will be reviewed; if the needs of this child will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38832/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
490. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health in light of the review report in Nature Medicine by Dr. Al-Aly et al in August 2024 (details supplied) if he will review the public health measures around infection due to the risk of long COVID; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38843/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra491. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health in light of the review report in Nature Medicine by Dr. Al-Aly et al in August 2024 (details supplied) if his Department has given consideration to the impact of new long-Covid latent sequelae on our health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38844/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 491 together.
As the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
492. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to examine the case of a care service withdrawn for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38848/24]
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.
493. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm receipt of the pre-Budget 2025 submission from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38856/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn its pre-budget submission the organisation to which the Deputy refers is seeking the "speedy establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People that would account directly to the Oireachtas, with a mandate to safeguard and protect the interests and well-being of older people and an ageing population."
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to supporting positive ageing across the life-course as well as to ensuring that older people can continue to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible. This commitment is enshrined in the National Positive Ageing Strategy , which provides a blueprint for promoting older people’s engagement in economic, social, cultural and community life and for fostering inter-generational solidarity.
Under Sláintecare we have taken great strides in achieving these objectives through a range of initiatives, including the Enhanced Community Care Programme, the on-going development of a statutory home support scheme, the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, and the diversification of housing options for older people.
However, despite this good progress, we recognise that there remain significant challenges, which the COVID-19 pandemic set in relief and which will be exacerbated as our population ages. It is within this context that, in fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government established an independent Commission on Care for Older People on 21st March 2024. In Budget 2024 €1.243 million was allocated to the Commission, which is being supported by a secretariat from my Department.
The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts. Collectively the members of the Commission provide expertise across the areas of geriatrics, gerontology, health economics, health policy and management, primary care, health ethics, health technologies, and ageing and disability, as well as representation of the community and voluntary sector and of older people.
The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and with making recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life-course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports. Accordingly, it is envisaged that consideration of matters such as the merits of establishing a Commissioner for Ageing and Older People will fall within the Commission’s remit.
494. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare can avail of a compensation measure to confirm their nursing qualifications; the opportunities available to them to complete this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38864/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The NMBI is an independent regulatory body established under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011.
As the query raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.
495. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on the provision of a new hospital in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38868/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
