Colm Brophy
Ceist:542. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to meals on wheels services by 10%. [45935/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHome Help Service
Ceisteanna (542)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (543)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:543. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of proving one million home support hours. [45936/24]
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.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (544)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:544. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing 250,000 home support hours for people with dementia. [45937/24]
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 (545)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:545. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing ten day centres for older people and disabled people. [45938/24]
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.
Hospice Services
Ceisteanna (546)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:546. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to a charity (details supplied) by 10%. [45939/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Clinical Trials
Ceisteanna (547)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:547. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing investment in clinical trials research by 10%. [45940/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has invested more than €150 million over the last 15 years in clinical trials and research support services. This investment has resulted in the development of key clinical research infrastructure which is supporting the conduct of clinical trials across the country. The annual investment in clinical trial research would equate to around €10million per year, with a 10% cost increase resulting in approximately €1million per year.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (548)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:548. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing 100 day service places for school leavers with disabilities. [45942/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (549)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:549. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing 100 personal assistant hours. [45946/24]
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
Eating Disorders
Ceisteanna (550)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:550. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of establishing one eating disorder team. [45949/24]
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.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (551, 552)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:551. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to addiction services by 10%. [45950/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraColm Brophy
Ceist:552. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing funding to community drug services by 10%. [45951/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together.
As this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Question No. 552 answered with Question No. 551.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (553)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:553. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost increasing funding to local drug and alcohol taskforces by 10%. [45952/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and in coordinating action at local level, so that there is a targeted response to the problem of substance misuse in local communities.
Every effort has been made to protect the budgets of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in recent years. In excess of €27.88m in core funding has been allocated to Task Forces by the HSE and the Department of Health for community-based drugs initiatives this year.
The cost of a 10% increase to Local Drug and Alcohol Taskforces is approximately €2m.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (554)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:554. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing pay parity to section 39 and section 56 organisations. [45953/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Section 39 and section 56 funded organisations are privately owned an run. The Department of Health has no sight of, or part in, the terms and conditions of staff in these organisations. As such, it is not feasible for the Department to cost.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (555)
Johnny Mythen
Ceist:555. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health can he confirm if one of the two promised national injury units recommended in the 2023 National Injury Review, will be located in County Carlow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45983/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to thank you for your question concerning the announcement of an Injury Unit (IU) in Carlow.
The development of IU’s is a strategic initiative for this Government to assist with alleviating pressures in Emergency Departments.
A National Injury Unit review was undertaken by a HSE Working Group in 2023. The recommendations from this review were:
• to expand all existing acute hospital governed IUs to operate from 8am to 8pm, and,
• to expand geographical coverage and prioritise locations for the provision of IUs.
Resources are provided under the NSP 2024 to standardise all IUs to open from 8am to 8pm by Q4 2024.
An IU expansion programme is due to commence in 2025. It is estimated that additional IUs could be delivered in 2025. The criteria for the prioritisation of new IUs includes population, existing IU locations, and gaps in geographical coverage for the entire population.
The proposal is currently under review by my Department and subject to approval.
A unit in St Dympna’s has been identified as a potential location for an IU serving Carlow.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (556)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:556. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the updated position regarding a new health centre for Mountrath, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45990/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (557)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:557. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in Mayo accepting medical card patients in 2022, 2023 and 2024. [45996/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (558)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:558. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number, grade, position and location of staff vacancies across the healthcare sector in Mayo. [45998/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy on this question.
Departmental Budgets
Ceisteanna (559)
Colm Brophy
Ceist:559. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding BreastCheck to 45 years to 74 years, BowelScreen to 50 years to 74 years and BowelScreen to ensure it reaches 60% target of participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45999/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, currently invites women aged 50 to 69 years at regular periods to have a routine mammogram. Under commitments in the Programme for Government, BreastCheck eligibility has been expanded to women aged 69 years since 2021.
Since October 2023, BowelScreen, the national bowel cancer screening programme, invites men and women aged between 59-69 to take the free at-home screening test. This is an important part of a phased approach to expanding the screening age, in line with available capacity and resources. When full expansion is complete, people aged 55-74 will be invited for screening.
I would highlight that any decisions about further changes in cancer screening, including further extension of the age ranges, will be made on the advice of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC is already progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has submitted a request to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to consider the evidence for a further expansion of the age range eligibility for the BreastCheck and BowelScreen programmes.
HIQA is currently focused on two Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes underway to examine the expansion of the BowelScreen programme and the potential development of a population-based screening programme for Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA). Work has already commenced in this regard and a report is expected to be submitted to NSAC for consideration in 2025. The evidence review for the expansion of the BreastCheck programme remains a key priority for NSAC and is expected to commence once the ongoing HTAs have concluded.
HTAs facilitate the assessment of relevant evidence and knowledge on the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies to guide decisions regarding the appropriate use of technology and efficient allocation of resources. They involve a multi-disciplinary assessment of the clinical, economic, ethical, legal and societal perspectives that may be impacted by the introduction of a new technology. They are time intensive and rigorous processes.
It is not possible to provide an estimated cost of expanding the BreastCheck and BowelScreen programmes at this time, as the financial cost is but one factor that will be considered in the decision-making process. Due to the complex nature of the evaluation process and the criteria against which a decision is made, it would be impossible to accurately quantify the cost of expansion until a full evidential assessment is completed.
Finally, I would like to emphasise that population-based screening programmes are for people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact their General Practitioner.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (560)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:560. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding a new health centre for Ballylinan in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46000/24]
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
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (561)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:561. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding a new health centre for Rathdowney in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46001/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.