Cathal Crowe
Ceist:548. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of doubling funding for dementia day care at home. [39845/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHome Care Packages
Ceisteanna (548, 549, 550)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:549. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of increasing the number of dementia advisers by five, ten and 15 posts. [39846/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCathal Crowe
Ceist:550. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of doubling the rollout of early age dementia supports. [39847/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 548, 549 and 550 together.
Since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People in 2020, I have worked to progressively increase funding for dementia services and supports so that every person with dementia, and their families, has the support that they need to live as well and as independently as possible.
Total dementia day care at home funding currently stands at €2,300,720 and a doubling of this figure would result in a total cost of €4,601,440. In Budget 2025 an additional €250,000 in funding has been provided to increase the provision of dementia day care at home, bringing the total budget for this important support to €2.55 million for 2025.
At a cost of €70,836 per post, an additional 5, 10 and 15 dementia adviser posts would cost €354,180, €708,360 and €1,062,540 respectively. I have allocated €0.4 million in Budget 2025 to recruit 5 new dementia advisers and upgrade three posts to regional leads. This will bring the total number of advisers across Ireland to 34. Dementia advisers play a pivotal role in providing free and confidential supports and signposting to help connect people with essential services, often at a time of crisis.
Services for people with young onset dementia are provided in many parts of the health and social care system, including in acute hospitals, mental health services, disability services, and in dementia-specific services like Regional Specialist Memory Clinics, dementia adviser services and day care services. In Budget 2024, €0.3 million was allocated to ASI specifically for the development of 10 activity clubs for people with young onset dementia in Budget 2024 and this support has now been mainstreamed. To double the number of activity clubs to 20 would require an additional €300,000, bringing the total cost to €600,000.
Overall in Budget 2025, an additional €2.3 million has been provided to improve access to dementia diagnosis and care. This brings the total new investment in a range of dementia services and supports since 2021 to €19 million.
Question No. 549 answered with Question No. 548.
Question No. 550 answered with Question No. 548.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (551)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:551. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of establishing five, ten and 15 more memory assessment support services teams. [39848/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Awaiting reply from Department.
Meals-on-Wheels Services
Ceisteanna (552)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:552. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of increasing funding for the national meals on wheels network by an additional €1 million per year. [39849/24]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (553)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:553. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of establishing five, ten and 15 new day care centres. [39850/24]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (554)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:554. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of investing €100 million in expanding the enhanced community care programme and rolling out community health networks. [39851/24]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (555)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:555. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of increasing the investment in the community service hub model by €1 million. [39852/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Further information was requested from the Deputy, however as it was unable to be provided, they will revise the question and submit another question on this topic.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (556)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:556. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of one public nursing home bed. [39853/24]
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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (557)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:557. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of hiring one neurology nurse specialist. [39862/24]
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 (558)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:558. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of hiring one consultant neurologist. [39863/24]
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
Ceisteanna (559)
James Lawless
Ceist:559. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department is undertaking to assist individuals with long Covid, particularly financially (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39887/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-Covid. At the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) a number of times, most recently at the end of June when it was extended for a further 12 months on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it. The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) have been very clear that this was the final extension that would be granted, and as such, the Special Scheme will conclude on 30th June 2025. Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support. Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme.The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted.The eligibility criteria set when the Special Scheme was first introduced were designed to ensure that employees supported by the Special Scheme included those working in a COVID exposed environment in the period before PPE and vaccinations were readily available, and before community transmission became more prevalent.It was not possible, nor would it have been appropriate to provide access to the Special Scheme to all employees of the public health service who contracted COVID, as the contraction of COVID is a public health issue, and not an occupational issue.
It is also not possible to separate with absolute certainty, those who contracted COVID in the workplace from those who contracted COVID generally, and as such, while the above referenced supports are available to employees, there is no provision to cover the costs of any health expenses arising.Further to this, my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection has reviewed the EU recommendation in respect of the recognition of Covid (not long Covid) as an occupational illness, however she has determined that Covid does not meet the criteria required for recognition in respect of the Social Welfare Acts.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (560)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:560. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) has been scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39892/24]
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.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (561)
Martin Browne
Ceist:561. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting home care support in County Tipperary; the number of hours allocated in each of the past 12 months in County Tipperary; the average number of hours granted to each successful applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39894/24]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (562)
Martin Browne
Ceist:562. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of all respite beds in County Tipperary; the number of these beds that are currently operational and the number that are currently closed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39898/24]
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
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (563)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:563. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for an urgent hospital operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39901/24]
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
Ceisteanna (564)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:564. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when additional funding will be provided for a respite care facility (details supplied) in County Kerry. [39905/24]
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
Suicide Prevention
Ceisteanna (565)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:565. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to urgently review the critical position of a local suicide prevention service and ensure relevant engagement is progressed with officials within the HSE (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39906/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the planning and delivery of health services at local level, including those for Mental Health. The Department of Health does not directly fund the type of organisation referred to by the Deputy in his Question.
Under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE may support any person or body that provides or proposes to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide. It is my understanding that the organisation in question made an application for section 39 funding to the HSE. It is a therefore a matter for the HSE to make a decision in relation to this funding request. This would take account of all relevant factors including , for example, existing HSE services and how a proposal made by any organisation aligns with local HSE service priorities; Governance arrangements, Quality and Safety, resource limitation or many other matters.
I will ensure that the correspondence is brought to the attention of the HSE.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (566, 610)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:566. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to urgently intervene and ensure that a serious issue with regard to a high-tech medicine shortage (details supplied) will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39910/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Ged Nash
Ceist:610. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will re-examine the inclusion of additional medication into the high-tech drug scheme as outlined in communication from a person in Louth (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40158/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 610 together.
Under 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.
Care of the Elderly
Ceisteanna (567)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:567. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the appointment of a commissioner for ageing and older people; the benchmarking and indexation in law of the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39913/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 2025 €0.6 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.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (568)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:568. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the plans to open a new doctor's surgery in Prosperous, County Kildare, given the vital need for such a local service in light of the expanding population in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39914/24]
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 (569)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:569. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issues faced by a person (details supplied); if guidance will be provided on this matter and ensure that their return to work is facilitated in a timely and supportive manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39917/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter for the HSE, the HSE has been asked to respond to the Deputy directly.
Pharmacy Services
Ceisteanna (570)
Michael Ring
Ceist:570. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the number of applications that were made under the hardship scheme for pharmacies in each county, by month, over the past three years; the number of applications that were successful in each county, by month, over the corresponding period; the total amount paid out under this scheme in each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39922/24]
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. 571 answered with Question No. 526.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (572)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:572. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the recruitment of a consultant neurologist for Bantry Hospital; and the estimated date for their appointment. [39929/24]
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.