Results 19,421-19,440 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Assisted Human Reproduction (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy will be aware, drafting of a bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research, based on the published General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill, is ongoing by officials in my Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. This comprehensive piece of legislation will encompass the regulation, for the first time in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 134 and 151 together. As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Patients may choose to have their treatment undertaken by any dentist who participates in the Scheme. I am aware that there has been a reduction in the numbers of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes and for the administration of the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.  Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cybersecurity Policy (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The HSE has been working since 14th May last to recover the effects of the cyber attack on its systems. The attack had the impact of removing access to most patient and care systems as well as the central business systems of the HSE. Over the last weeks many of these systems have been recovered and services have recommenced. There was a priority focus on key systems in the hospital and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 129 together. Considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the potential use of rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) in an Irish context and this will continue on an ongoing basis. In the health sector, the HSE has deployed rapid antigen tests for use for specific indications in the acute hospital setting, and as part of the response...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 161 together. The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Section 7 of the Act states that “The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act”. The review is being...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 105 and 138 together. Ireland welcomes the European Medicines Agency age extension recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty to include use in children aged 12 to 15. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee are reviewing the matter and will make a recommendation as appropriate. Currently, Ireland's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Medical Cannabis Access Programme The provision of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme as a result of recommendations by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in their “Cannabis for Medical User – A Scientific Review”. The review stated that if the policy decision is to make cannabis available for medical purposes, the HPRA advised that it should recognise patient...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The HSE is committed to the provision of high-quality GP services through the GMS GP contract.  Appointments in respect of new or vacant GMS posts are made through open competition following advertisement and competitive interview. Periodically, challenges can be experienced in regard to the permanent filling of some GP posts. In areas where this challenge is experienced, every effort is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a very rare side effect associated with adenoviral vector vaccines (Vaxzevria® and COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen®). The syndrome involves an unusual combination of thrombosis (blood clots) with thrombocytopenia (abnormally low level of the components that help blood to clot, known as platelets). Vaccine recipients are reminded to seek...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy may be aware, residential care services account for  60% of the total budget of €2.2 billion allocated for specialist disability services this year,  with over 8,100 people currently in residential placements. The HSE utilises a Disability Support Application Management Tool (DSMAT),  which enables CHOs to record and manage requests for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The provision of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme as a result of recommendations by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in their “Cannabis for Medical User – A Scientific Review”. The review stated that if the policy decision is to make cannabis available for medical purposes, the HPRA advised that it should recognise patient need, but be evidence based. It...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The development of new Primary Care Centres (PCCs) is a key component of the efforts to enhance community care, and to deliver care in a location at, or as near as possible to an individual’s home, where it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so.  The most recent update available to the Department from the HSE indicates that there are currently 142 operational PCCs...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I can confirm that I have not met with the Independent Scientific Advisory Group. As the Deputy will be aware, the COVID-19 NPHET actively monitors the epidemiological situation and provides advice to Government in relation to the application of public health measures. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Ireland has taken a public health-led, whole-of-society approach to managing the pandemic....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the provision, of a Primary Care Centre in Finglas.  The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to delivering a high quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system. Finglas has been identified as a high priority location for the development of a Primary Care Centre.In 2012, a HSE...