Written Answers Nos. 237-257
237. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a consultant will be put in place in CHO1, more specifically CAMHS Sligo, to prescribe medication for those children and adolescents that need it, and more specifically for those that have been weaned off medication and have now been left with out any proper care (details supplied). [14287/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
238. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health in relation to the ADMiRE Clinic of CAMHS, the reason for delay in accessing an assessment from the service; what actions are being taken to ensure timely assessments for those who require them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14297/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
239. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health to provide insight into why recruitment has been halted for the speech and language therapy department in Sligo; if she is aware that there are currently hundreds of children awaiting assessments by this department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14305/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
240. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 657 of 4 March 2025, if she will provide further details regarding the actions which have not yet been fully implemented in respect of recommendation 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 of the National Maternity Strategy; the status of work to progress the remaining actions under these recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14317/25]
View answerRecommendation 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 of the National Maternity Strategy relate to the delivery of care through the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme.
These recommendations are as follows:
62. The HSE will ensure that women continue to have the option to receive their antenatal care as part of a shared model of care with the GP under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme, and will be encouraged to avail of this scheme.
63. The HSE will ensure that a review of the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme is undertaken, and any necessary adaptations made, to reflect the new Model of Care proposed in the National Maternity Strategy.
64. The HSE will ensure that any review of the Maternity and Infant Care scheme considers the feasibility of extending coverage to include a preconception consultation and postnatal check at three to four months and/or additional postnatal GP visits where further pregnancy related needs have been identified.
65. The HSE will ensure that the reimbursement of GPs under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme is centralised in the Primary Care Reimbursement Service in line with other fee payments under the funded health sector contracted schemes.
66. The HSE will ensure that a detailed national standardised dataset is introduced, to support the effective monitoring and evaluation of the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme.
A review of the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme has been initiated within the HSE, and hence work is currently underway to progress the outstanding actions of these recommendations.
241. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be accepted on to the CAMHS waiting list for an urgent assessment following his GP referral for suspected ADHD; and when the required therapies, outlined as urgent by his medical practitioners, will begin. [14329/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
242. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health whether income limits for medical card applications for over 70s are assessed based on gross or net income; if other age cohorts are assessed based on their gross or net income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14333/25]
View answerEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. The weekly gross medical card income thresholds for people aged 70 and over are currently €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees.
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
243. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of sex selective abortion occurring in Ireland (details supplied); and the steps being taken to prevent this happening. [14334/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 permits termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Prior to the Referendum on the 8th Amendment, the General Scheme of the Bill to regulate termination of pregnancy was published. The final legislation enacted is consistent with the published proposals.
Under the Act, certain data on termination of pregnancy is required to be collated by my Department via the notification procedure. However, to protect the privacy of the person seeking the termination, this information is limited to:
• The Medical Council registration number of the medical practitioner who carried out the termination of pregnancy;
• The section of the Act under which the termination was carried out, i.e., section 9, 10, 11 or 12;
• Medical Council registration number(s) of the medical practitioner(s) who made the certification concerned;
• The county of residence, or place of residence (where the woman resides outside of the State) of the woman concerned;
• The date on which the termination of pregnancy was carried out.
No additional information relating to the termination is captured.
244. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the HSE clinical definition of type 1 diabetes; and the healthcare professional that is ultimately responsible for making the clinical decision on whether a patient has type 1 diabetes. [14342/25]
View answerI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.
245. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the options available to a couple (details supplied) seeking an IVF treatment that is not available in Ireland, and if there is any scheme that would assist them with costs [14345/25]
View answerThe Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) in order to ensure that fertility-related issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
This Model of Care comprises three stages, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e., the six Regional Fertility Hubs located across the country) and then, where necessary, AHR (assisted human reproduction) treatment (e.g., IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) and ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection)), with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.
Phase One of the roll-out of the Model of Care has involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of six Regional Fertility Hubs within maternity networks covering the entire country, in order to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with fertility-related issues at this level of intervention. Patients are referred by their GPs to their local Regional Fertility Hub, which provides a range of treatments and interventions.
Phase Two of the roll-out of the Model of Care relates to the introduction of AHR treatment, including IVF, provided through the public health system at tertiary level.
Appropriate funding is available to support access to AHR treatment via HSE-approved private providers. As well as IVF and ICSI, this allocation is also being used to provide IUI (intrauterine insemination), which can, for certain cohorts of patients, be a potentially effective, yet less complex and less intrusive form of treatment.
Referrals for publicly-funded, privately-provided AHR treatment commenced in September 2023. Criteria prospective patients should meet in order to access fully-funded AHR services were agreed by the Department and the HSE and subsequently approved by Government in July 2023.
The criteria were agreed following consultation with experts in the field of reproductive medicine and include limits in respect of the age of the intending birth mother, body mass index (BMI) and the number of children a couple already have. They are very much in keeping with those applied in other jurisdictions, even though in most European countries, for instance, such treatments are only partially funded and require often significant out-of-pocket payments by patients.
Following the consultation process, it was agreed that couples referred for IVF or ICSI will be offered a maximum of one IVF or ICSI cycle which comprises one episode of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation and transfer of one fresh embryo (if appropriate, with single embryo transfer as standard), followed by the freezing of other suitable embryos and the subsequent publicly-funded transfer of such frozen embryos (provided the patient(s) still fulfil the access criteria) until depletion. At the same time, the publicly-funded AHR treatment scheme allows for a maximum of two cancelled IVF/ICSI cycles (instances where, based on clinical determination, the egg collection procedure did not proceed following ovarian stimulation). A publicly-funded cycle could also potentially include a Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) procedure, for instance.
More details on public fertility services, including information on the publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative, are available from the HSE at: www2.hse.ie/conditions/fertility-problems-treatments/fertility-treatment/
To date, over 2,000 couples have been referred by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant for AHR treatment following extensive investigations and/or secondary level treatment within the Regional Fertility Hubs. Furthermore, the Hubs have successfully and directly managed numerous patients presenting with fertility-related issues who have been referred by their GP. Not all couples experiencing fertility challenges actually require such advanced and invasive interventions as IVF.
Given the complex regulatory and clinical issues to be addressed in respect of certain categories of AHR treatment, including donor-assisted treatment, public funding of certain AHR services have been of necessity commenced on a structured and phased basis. Decisions in respect of any proposed changes to the access criteria and/or the range of services provided through the publicly-funded scheme require further extensive consultation between Department of Health officials, colleagues in the HSE and also with relevant specialists in the field of reproductive medicine.
I want to reassure you that my Department and the Government are focused, through the full implementation of the Model of Care for Fertility, on ensuring that patients receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced AHR treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the public health system.
246. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether ambulances are now required to commence shift at the Kinsale road, as there is no ambulance located at the Saint Mary’s site in Cork city. [14360/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
247. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date a contract was signed with a company (details supplied) in Cork University Hospital; the amount spent on this contract to date; and the purpose of this contract. [14361/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
248. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people working in HR roles in the south and south west hospital region. [14362/25]
View answerI have asked the HSE to answer the Deputy Directly
249. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is continuing to wait on a triple by-pass in the Mater Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14375/25]
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.
250. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health the procedures required to facilitate doctors from abroad, particularly Ukraine, to practice as GPs in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14376/25]
View answerAny qualified doctors, including GPs, wishing to practise medicine in Ireland are required to first register with the Medical Council and the Council is obliged to ensure that all doctors it registers meet the necessary standards to practise medicine here.
Doctors from Ukraine, depending on their qualifications and experience, may apply for registration in the General, Specialist, or Supervised Division.
GPs seeking Specialist Registration undergo an evaluation of their training and experience.
Alternatively, doctors can seek registration in the General Division via the PRES route. In order to gain full registration, doctors must pass both a computer exam (known as the PRES 2) and a clinical skills exam (known as the PRES 3).
Officials from my Department, the HSE and the health profession regulators have been actively supporting doctors fleeing the war in Ukraine to gain registration and take up employment in Ireland. Following an initial assessment, it became clear that specialist English language training would be needed to enable doctors to meet the necessary standard. A number of other supports are also in place including online access to Continuing Professional Development resources while registration is pending and access to HSE training materials. My Department has made over €1m available for training and registration costs since 2022.
Officials from my Department will continue to engage with colleagues in the HSE and the Medical Council to assist Ukrainian doctors to gain registration and employment here.
251. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when her Department officials last met with the Data Protection Commissioner to ensure the highest standards are being met by the Department, and all agencies under its remit, in terms of compliance with data protection legislation. [14443/25]
View answerIn addition to monitoring the application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Commission (DPC) also promotes awareness of data protection compliance and assist organisations through the consultation function.
Under data protection legislation, the Department is required to consult with the DPC during the preparation of a legislative measure that relates to processing of personal data. As part of this legislative consultation process, officials in my Department liaise with the DPC during the drafting of legislation and meet with the DPC when appropriate and as necessary. My Department also engage regularly with the DPC on specific projects to identify risks to personal data and seek guidance to mitigate against risks.
For example, officials met with the DPC in February 2025 to provide an update on the Health Information Bill.
Agencies under the remit of my Department are data controllers in their own right and are therefore responsible for complying with their data protection obligations. These agencies routinely engage directly with the DPC for advice and guidance as appropriate.
252. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if not, the reason the law has not been upheld. [14453/25]
View answerThe Department of Health has no remit in the administration of Justice. An Garda Síochána, the DPP and the courts services are under the remit of the Department of Justice. As such, this question should be directed to the Minister for Justice for response.
253. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the short-term and medium-term plans to improve the provision of public health nursing services in Dublin mid-west. [14467/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
254. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the considerations her Department has given to the inclusion of fibromyalgia as a recognised illness on the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14477/25]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
255. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an initial appointment at the paediatric rheumatology services at Children's Health Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14485/25]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, adult and child waiting list information by hospital and specialty is published monthly by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) on its website: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
The information is now being made available through an interactive visual tool which provides users with a much-improved way of accessing and analysing waiting list information.
256. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs in Longford and Westmeath that take medical cards. [14500/25]
View answerIreland's National Physical Activity Plan, launched in 2016, laid the foundations for strong and effective collaboration with the objective of increasing population levels of physical activity in the country. My Department works closely with a range of Government Departments and agencies, including Sport Ireland, in this regard.
Mechanisms supporting the types of initiatives referred to by the Deputy would fall more appropriately within the remit of either Sport Ireland or the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. My Department has no direct function in this regard.
257. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health her views on the planned industrial action as a result of the HSE pay and numbers strategy (details supplied); the steps she is taking to avert this action; the engagements she has had with the relevant trade unions since notice was served; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14524/25]
View answerGiven the unprecedented investment and growth in the number of staff working in our health service over the last 5 years, it is difficult to understand why some health sector unions believe that taking industrial action is justified.
Recruitment of staff over the past 5 years has been the highest since the foundation of the HSE, with over 28,500 staff now working in the health system than there were at the beginning of 2020, a near 25% increase, which includes: 9,794 more nurses and midwives, 4,785 more health and social care professionals and 3,646 more doctors and dentists. Staffing in every hospital has increased by double digit percentages since 2020.
The HSE publish a Pay and Numbers Strategy every year. It is not a new thing. It is a document derived from the Budget and National Service Plan which basically sets out the numbers and allocation of staff that the HSE has approval and funding for in any given year.
There is a narrative that the Pay and Numbers Strategy is just a recruitment freeze under another name. This could not be further from the truth. It In fact, funding has been provided which will allow the HSE to recruit an additional 6,566 staff in 2025, in addition to replacing staff who may leave.
I accept that there are some areas where additional staff may be required, but there is significant scope within this additional allocation for any such need to be met through local prioritisation.
HSE Management are proactively seeking to deescalate the matter and have already had a number of engagements with Unions in an effort to understand how the matter can be resolved, including a meeting directly with the HSE CEO. The matter has now been referred to the WRC with discussions to commence on Thursday 27th March.
Industrial action is unwarranted, and I would encourage all parties to engage through the appropriate channels to resolve this issue. It is essential that industrial peace is upheld in the interests of our health service.
