Written Answers Nos. 218-233
218. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied) who has been awaiting occupational therapy at Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin 10; when this child will be seen by an occupational therapist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3694/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
219. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric occupational therapists allocated to Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin 10 and or its network; the current waiting list size for paediatric occupational therapy at Cherry Orchard Hospital and its network; the average wait time for paediatric occupational therapy patients in this network who have received a referral; the wait times target for paediatric occupational therapy patients in this network; the number of paediatric occupational therapists that should staff Cherry Orchard Hospital/network; when additional paediatric occupational therapists can be hired for this network; what are the obstacles to hiring the necessary paediatric occupational therapy staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3695/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
220. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health for clarification on the Government's policy towards the farming of hemp, particularly in light of a number of cases of licensed hemp farmers being monitored and raided by An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3906/25]
View answerI would like to set out the legal status of cannabis and the cultivation of hemp.
Hemp is a plant of the genus Cannabis Sativa L, is a Schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs legislative framework and is subject to the strictest levels of control.
In the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (as amended) Cannabis" (except in "cannabis resin") means any plant of the genus Cannabis or any part of any such plant (by whatever name designated) but includes neither cannabis resin nor any of the following products after separation from the rest of any such plant, namely—
(a) mature stalk of any such plant,
(b) fibre produced from such mature stalk, or
(c) seed of any such plant
Therefore the stalk, fibre and seed of the hemp plant are not subject to control measures once removed from the plant. However the leaves and flower of the plant remain Schedule 1 controlled drugs. The most notable cannabinoids contained in the flower are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive Schedule 1 controlled drug, and Cannabidiol (CBD) which is not a controlled drug.
Schedule 2 of S.I. No. 211/2022 - Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Designation) Order 2022 (as amended by S.I. No. 237/2023 - Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Designation) (Amendment) Order 2023) permits the:
“growing of hemp from seed varieties specified, by the Commission of the European Communities, as being eligible for the purposes of Article 1 of Regulation (EU) No. 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 ;subject to such licensing provision under the Act and the Regulations made thereunder as are applicable.”
The seed varieties referred to yield a plant that contains no more than 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis and a Schedule 1 controlled drug. The licence to cultivate hemp does not permit access to the THC contained in the plant.
Licences may be issued for the cultivation of hemp by the Minister for Health pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The Health Products Regulatory Authority process licence applications for the Minister for Health and applicants must personally sign an undertaking that the controlled parts of the hemp plant, namely the leaves and flower, must not be processed or sold onwards (both offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977) and must be destroyed on cultivation.
In closing, it would be inappropriate for the Minister for Health to comment on operational matters of An Garda Síochána.
221. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the roll-out of free HRT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3618/25]
View answerMenopause is an important health and wellbeing issue which has been prioritised as part of the Government’s commitment to improved women’s health outcomes.
Much important work has been done in this area, driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans, launched in 2022 and 2024.
The new Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future continues to emphasise this important commitment to improving women’s health outcomes and experiences. The new HRT measure represents another step to widen access to menopause related treatments and services and follows on from all the other developments that have taken place over several years.
Budget 2025 announced the intention to fund the medicine cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products prescribed to a woman to help manage the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause.
On Tuesday, 5th November the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024 passed all stages in the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law.
This legislation means that where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products will be met by the State.
For the purpose of this measure, menopause means, in relation to a woman, the various stages for the treatment of menopause symptoms and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause and medically induced menopause.
This measure will cover any HRT medications and products which are currently reimbursable by the HSE, which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause. The cost of GP consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing fees are not included in the measure.
The Department of Health engaged with both the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Pharmacy Union in relation to the practical rollout of this measure.
The Department of Health is working to introduce this measure as soon as possible.
222. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the position of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3658/25]
View answerAs 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.
223. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the position of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3659/25]
View answerAs 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.
224. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the position of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3660/25]
View answerAs 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.
225. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health for a timeline on the drafting, publication and introduction of the general scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2024; if pre-legislative scrutiny is planned in respect of the same planned legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3663/25]
View answerCabinet approval was given on 10 September to proposals for a Bill to further regulate nicotine inhaling products. The general scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill was also published at this time. Those proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General.
Pre legislative scrutiny was waived by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 25 September. The waiver was requested on the basis that the provisions in the Bill primarily stem from the recommendations made by the Committee during pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019.
226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the proposed new license fees for retail of tobacco products will be collected by the Revenue Commissioners similar to the collection of fees for licenses for other excise categories such as intoxicating liquor, betting, mineral oils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3664/25]
View answer228. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the revenue generated from the new licensing system for tobacco and vapes will be ring-fenced for expenditure on increased inspection and test-purchasing of retail units to ensure compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3667/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 228 together.
The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 introduces a licensing system for retailers with the specific intention of denormalising tobacco retailing and reflecting the seriousness of the harms caused by tobacco compared to other products.
The Act provides that the Health Service Executive is the relevant authority for the operation of the licensing system including collection of fees, and for enforcement of the overall legislation. This is being undertaken by the National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) within the HSE. The NEHS is the appropriate authority to administer the licensing system because it is, first and foremost, a public health measure. The NEHS is currently operating the registration system that the licensing system will replace, and is responsible for enforcing all existing tobacco control law.
Funding for enforcement activity is determined via the annual Budget process and subsequent National Service Plan.
227. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health for detailed guidance to retailers on the operation of the new licensing system for tobacco and vapes, including details of how to register and deadlines for registration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3666/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
229. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the current status of a grant application for a centre (details supplied), which is currently with the property review group; when this grant will be available to draw down; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3681/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
230. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the status of a dental appointment for a person (details supplied). [3686/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
231. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the status of a pain clinic appointment (details supplied). [3688/25]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
232. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health to detail the HSE's recommended schedule for post-natal developmental checks; whether the HSE is appropriately staffed to carry out the recommended schedule for post-natal developmental checks; whether she is aware that new mothers in Ballyfermot are being advised by the local public health network that they are not staffed to perform post-natal developmental checks except for at two weeks and three months of age; whether Ballyfermot and/or its network needs additional public health staff to perform post-natal developmental checks and how many additional staff members would be needed to appropriately staff the network; whether all the other networks in Dublin are appropriately staffed for these checks; are there plans to hire such additional staff members and when; what are the obstacles to bringing staffing to appropriate levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3696/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
233. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE were informed of the deaths from bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, of monkeys at Dublin Zoo in 2024; the steps that were taken to avert the danger to public health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3699/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
