Written Answers Nos. 450-468
450. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a HSE building (details supplied), its current use and future plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45687/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
451. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if chronic kidney disease will be included in the expansion of the chronic disease management programme in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45702/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period.
The Opportunistic Case Finding Programme identifies those at high risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes for entry to the CDM Prevention Programme and those with undiagnosed chronic disease(s) are enrolled in the CDM Treatment Programme.
Budget 2025 provides resources to permit the extension of the CDM Treatment Programme to adult GMS patients who have stage 4 or 5 Chronic Kidney Disease from 1 July 2025.
In addition, from 1st July 2025 adult GMS patients who have stages 1 – 3 Chronic Kidney Disease will be included the CDM Prevention Programme.
452. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the €10 million ring-fenced funding for oncology drugs announced in Budget 2025 will be sourced from the €30 million allocated for new medicines; the details of the specific ring-fencing of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45703/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra472. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of new medicines funding in Budget 2025; the exact amount allocated to oncology and non-oncology medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45750/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA record of over €3 billion, nearly €1 in every 8 of public funding spent on health, was spent last year on medicines. This is an unprecedented level of investment in supporting patients through the availability of the latest and wide range of medicines.
The State has made an additional €128 million available since 2020 which has seen 187 new medicines or new uses for existing medicines approved for reimbursement by the HSE. This includes 67 medicines for oncology. Dedicated funding has enabled the HSE to approve reimbursement for 16 new medicines so far in 2024. Six of these are for treating cancers and seven are ‘orphan drugs’ for treating rare diseases.
Budget 2025 includes an allocation of €30m for new medicines, to be generated from efficiencies. Continuing into 2025, the Minister for Health will ensure that his Department, the HSE and all relevant agencies and stakeholders place a priority focus on achieving the most efficient and effective use of available resources. The State is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines to all patients.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
454. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a person in Mayo (details supplied) who suffers from scoliosis and associated respiratory impairment; the support he can offer to the family of this person regarding the replacement of a modified vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45706/24]
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.
455. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the current number of respite hours that each respite facility in Donegal provides, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45708/24]
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.
456. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres operated under a leasing arrangement, by count; and the annual cost of these leases, in tabular form. [45716/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
457. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS GPs available and the number of GMS patients in Cork in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. [45717/24]
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.
458. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting their school-age dental appointments, by waiting time, in Cork, by LHO, in tabular form. [45718/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
459. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the elective hospital for Cork; the amount spent to date; and the date it is expected to first open and be fully operational. [45719/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has set out its plan to deliver new standalone national elective hospitals which will cater for high volume, low complexity (i.e. non-emergency) cases. Between them, the hospitals will deliver nearly 1 million procedures, treatments, and diagnostics every year. Separating elective and non-elective care will further help to free up capacity in existing healthcare facilities to better address unscheduled care needs.
In 2021, the Government approved the National Elective Ambulatory Strategy to establish the elective hospitals in Cork, Galway, and Dublin. In December 2022, the government approved Preliminary Business Cases for this programme as a whole and for preferred sites in Cork and Galway. The business case for Dublin is currently under development and will be brought to Government in due course.
The HSE as the sponsoring agency for the development of the new Elective Hospitals, will shortly appoint an Architect-led Integrated Design Team to provide architectural, design and engineering services alongside a Project Control Team which will support the HSE to manage, control and administer their design and construction programme.
I have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the new elective hospital in Cork to respond to you directly in relation to progress on the project. At all times, the Elective Care Programme has followed the requirements of D/PENDR’s Infrastructure Guidelines (previously Public Spending Code). These guidelines note it is imperative for Sponsoring Agencies that output requirements for infrastructural investment proposals are accurately, precisely, and comprehensively specified at the start or as early as possible in the investment proposal delivery process – this is the primary purpose of Design and Planning. Without this diligent investment proposal preparation at earlier phases of a project lifecycle, projects may require amendment after project design or construction has begun. Such changes inevitably give rise to delays or additional costs.
The process of extensively planning projects at the early stages of project development before construction begins can help to reduce cost and schedule risk in major projects and programmes. However, there is a cost associated with this in order to mitigate the risks of greater costs later in the project development lifecycle. In relation to the Elective Hospitals Programme, the following work has been carried out on behalf of the Department of Health:
|
Service Provider |
Service |
Contract value ex. VAT |
|
EY Consulting |
Sláintecare Elective Only Hospitals engagement |
€89,850 |
|
Quinn Agnew |
Market Soundings Exercise for Elective Hospitals Programme |
€18,750 |
|
Frank Keane |
Chair of Elective Hospitals Oversight Group |
€150,000 |
|
Kevin Jackson Architects |
Architectural Master-Planning Advice on Elective Hospitals Site Selection |
€21,000 |
|
ARUP |
Traffic, Transport, Access and Related Matters Advice for Elective Hospitals Site Selection |
€23,750 |
|
Cunnane Stratton Reynolds |
Planning Advice on Elective Hospitals Site selection |
€16,700 |
|
PA Consulting |
Development of Elective Hospitals Preliminary Business Case |
€317,000 |
|
Archus |
External Assurance and Review (EAP) for Elective Care Preliminary Business Cases |
€113,286 |
|
Total |
€750,336 |
It should be noted that the above costs are for work carried out in relation to the programme as a whole, i.e. including Cork, Galway and Dublin. The costs for individual sites are not separated out.
460. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on a site (details supplied). [45720/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
461. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of beds currently operational in Heather House; the number temporarily closed; and the reason for this closure. [45721/24]
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.
462. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people on a waiting list for Heather House. [45722/24]
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.
463. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently awaiting a nursing home place in Cork. [45723/24]
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.
464. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of requests for respite, to date in 2024; and the number refused. [45724/24]
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.
465. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to drug and alcohol taskforces, respectively in 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2024. [45725/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra466. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the total number of respite hours provided to families in Cork over each of the past 12 months; the total number that has been provided each month since March 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45741/24]
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.
467. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of overnight respite beds for children and adults, respectively in Cork in 2019 and 2024, in tabular form. [45742/24]
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.
468. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on the waiting list for ophthalmology in Cork; the average waiting time for an appointment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45744/24]
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.
