Results 30,381-30,400 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Overcrowding (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I must say I agree with much of what the Deputy has just said. On building up the acute capacity, it is the biggest expansion in a single year ever to have been attempted, as far as I am aware, and the reports back from the HSE are very positive. On the Deputy's point, there are areas where the planned expansion is not on target, largely because of Covid and the cyberattack, and obviously...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Tests (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for her question. In line with the evolving public health policy advice, the HSE has put in place a comprehensive, reliable and responsive testing and tracing operation. Testing and contact tracing continues to be an important element of our response. Our current swabbing capacity is 175,000 tests per week. Demand for testing and tracing is high, as the Deputy will be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to update the House on my Department's processing of parliamentary questions since the cyberattack on 13 May. Parliamentary questions are a core part of how democratically-elected representatives seek information from Ministers on behalf of the people of Ireland. The cyberattack caused severe disruption to my Department's parliamentary question...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Hospital Overcrowding (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I acknowledge that our hospital system is facing challenges and has been close to full capacity in recent weeks. It is very important to acknowledge this has caused distress for patients, their families, and of course for our frontline healthcare workers who are working in very challenging conditions. Attendances at emergency...

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

Stephen Donnelly: At the start of last year, permanent adult critical care capacity was 255 beds, according to the National Office of Clinical Audit. Funding for 40 additional beds was provided in March 2020, initially on a temporary basis,  as part of the response to Covid-19.  The Strategic Plan for Critical Care aims to bring permanent capacity to 321 by the end of 2021 and to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Hospital (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The Promotion of Women’s Health is a priority for this Government. In that regard, the Government is committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital planned for the St Vincent’s campus. The proposed corporate and clinical governance arrangements were set out in the Mulvey Agreement. This Agreement provides for the establishment of a new company –...

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

Stephen Donnelly: I am conscious of the significant suffering caused to those affected by narcolepsy.  Since 2012, the HSE, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and my Department have worked together to provide a wide range of services and supports for those affected by narcolepsy as a result of receiving the H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix. The health supports include counselling services,...

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

Stephen Donnelly: 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 progressed this year and it will be led by an...

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

Stephen Donnelly: Covid-19 is a new disease so information on it, its features and its course are still emerging. Scientific and clinical evidence is evolving on the long-term effects of COVID-19. An increasing number of reports and studies are now being published on the topic, however, at present there is no agreement on the definition or the terminology. We do however, know that the clinical course of...

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

Stephen Donnelly: Ensuring access to termination of pregnancy services remains an ongoing priority for the Department of Health.   It was originally intended to provide for safe access to termination of pregnancy services in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. However, a number of legal issues were identified which...

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

Stephen Donnelly: Merlin Park University Hospital provides elective Medical and Surgical (Orthopaedic and minor surgery) services, renal services including a Haemodialysis unit, two designated rehabilitation units along with a number of specialist outpatient clinics. Funding has been provided in 2021 for this project which will deliver two Orthopaedic Theatres with ancillary accommodation for the provision...

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

Stephen Donnelly: My Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are committed to delivering on the recommendations that were made for Public Health in the Crowe Horwath report. The report recognised the very important role that public health medicine plays in the health of our population and in how our health service is managed and delivered. An agreement was reached with the Irish Medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tribunals of Inquiry (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: The CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020 under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019. Establishment of the Tribunal was finalised with the appointment of the nominated members to the Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020. The Tribunal has indicated to my Department that it has received seven claims. I am advised that there has been further interest expressed in...

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

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports they require to meet their needs. Reflecting this commitment, the HSE has allocated funding of the order of €600,000 to the...

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

Stephen Donnelly: From March 2020 to 30 June 2021, the gross amount of Covid-19 related payments by my Department to external suppliers was €26.7 million. In 2020, my Department recouped €10 million of these costs from the Dormant Accounts Fund. This offset the full amount paid by my Department for its contribution to the Covid Stability Fund. The Covid Stability Fund was operated by Pobal on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care of the Elderly (13 Jul 2021)

Stephen Donnelly: In early 2016, a Capital Programme for Older Persons Residential Centres was developed and agreed with the Department of Health in response to the introduction of HIQA’s, National Residential Care Standards for Older People. To progress the Community Nursing Unit project in Ennis, the HSE have secured lands comprising of 5.09 acres at Turnpike junction, on grounds adjacent to St...

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

Stephen Donnelly: The HSE has been working since the 14thof May 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 central business systems. It has advised that many of these systems have been recovered and services have recommenced. In relation to the UL Hospitals Group specifically, I am advised that the...

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

Stephen Donnelly: This information isn't collected centrally. However, it is worth noting that the Delta variant is now the dominant variant in Ireland. It is currently estimated to represent over 82% of all cases (using S-Gene Target Failure as a proxy for Delta detection) and will grow further in the coming weeks. While there will always be a lag time between a rise in cases and any subsequent...

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

Stephen Donnelly: The HSE has advised that the installation of a permanent MRI at Wexford General Hospital is a priority capital investment for the Ireland East Health Group.  Engagement is taking place between the Hospital Group and the Health Service Executive (HSE) regarding the funding of this initiative through the 2022 Estimates process. The HSE has advised that there is currently an MRI service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (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...