Tuesday, 1 Apr 2025

Departmental Programmes

Questions (691)

Liam Quaide

Question:

691. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the clinical review of the medical cannabis access programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15652/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The clinical review of the MCAP not yet commenced. Departmental officials are currently working on membership of the review group, including a Chair. This is expected take several weeks following which the review can commence.

Departmental Funding

Questions (692)

Paul Murphy

Question:

692. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health to outline whether there are plans to provide additional financial assistance to drugs and alcohol task forces to assist with the extra costs associated with the commencement of pension auto-enrolment from September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14981/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (693)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

693. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health since the introduction of the national access policy in 2022, the number of children placed on the waiting list for autism assessment by a primary care team in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14986/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Departmental Data

Questions (694)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

694. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the number of children assessed for autism by the primary care team in County Clare since the introduction of the national access policy in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14987/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Departmental Funding

Questions (695)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

695. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health to confirm the funding provided by her Department to CareGivers Ireland in 2022, 2023 and 2024; to confirm which section of the relevant legislation this funding comes from; and to provide an explanation as to why employees of this not for profit organisation were not covered in the recent WRC agreement related to workers employed through section 39 funding. [14997/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.

Health Service Executive

Questions (696)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

696. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the reason for delay in the HSE providing a reply to a representation submitted by my office in April 2024 (details supplied); and when a reply will be forthcoming. [15000/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (697)

James O'Connor

Question:

697. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15010/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (698)

Liam Quaide

Question:

698. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists at Cork University Hospital for CT, MRI and ultrasound scans, in each quarter from 2022, to date in 2025; and the average time each patient spends on the waiting list in respect of the same. [15015/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Questions (699)

Paul Murphy

Question:

699. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists employed by the HSE in each CDNT nationwide; and the number of vacancies for psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists in each CDNT nationwide. [15026/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Charges

Questions (700)

John Lahart

Question:

700. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to review hospital car-parking charges for certain cohorts of patient (details supplied) [15036/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Hospitals that charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses.

Consequently, many hospitals have some form of exemptions or allowances in place such as the option of flexible day passes or multi-trip entry passes for regular hospital attenders, and various concessions based on the type of inpatient. Furthermore, all hospitals that charge for parking have a fixed maximum daily rate.

The National Cancer Control Programme also funds the Travel2Care Scheme, which is administered by the Irish Cancer Society and offers financial supports towards travelling for cancer treatment. The Travel2Care Scheme is a limited transportation assistance fund. It is available to patients travelling long distances to designated cancer centres, approved centres, or an approved children’s hospital and covers part of the associated costs, including parking charges, for said travel.

The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future, makes a commitment to explore ways to further reduce hospital car parking charges. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue.

Hospital Admissions

Questions (701)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

701. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who currently remain in hospital but are clinically discharged and for each of the past five years. [15037/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Admissions

Questions (702)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

702. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of people who remain in hospital but are clinically discharged for more than two months, five months, nine months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 21 months and 24 months. [15038/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter, I am referring this question to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures

Questions (703)

John Lahart

Question:

703. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health is she aware that once cancer treatment is completed, some patients are prescribed high tech medication for which the HSE can only allow a three-month script, meaning patients have to go into the hospital every three months just to get a prescription; and if she sees any practical way of overcoming this costly and time-consuming inconvenience. [15039/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

High Tech medicines are high-cost hospital prescribed medicines which are paid for by the HSE and dispensed in the community pharmacy and are managed under the High-Tech Arrangements. However, clinical oversight is provided under the leadership of medical consultants.

As per S.I No. 73/2024 which came into operation on 1 March 2024, and as per PCRS circular 008/24, if the hospital clinician wishes to prescribe up to 12 months of a High Tech medicine, this is acceptable under High Tech Arrangements. The High Tech Hub has been updated to facilitate prescribers to issue High Tech prescription forms up to 12 months in duration. HSE has confirmed that there have been no changes to the arrangements outlined in circular 008/24. However, prescribers are under no obligation to prescribe high-tech medications for longer than they deem clinically appropriate.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (704)

Brian Stanley

Question:

704. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on extending the age group that can get access to bowel screening (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15043/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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. The current Programme for Government also commits to further extend the BowelScreen programme.

BowelScreen, the national bowel cancer screening programme was established in 2012. Since October 2023, the programme has invited men and women aged between 59-69 to take the free at-home screening test. Funding of €1.9m has been allocated to enable a further expansion of BowelScreen to include people aged 58 and 70 years. This will start in 2025, will be completed in 2026 and 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 am intent on advancing cancer screening commitments outlined in the Programme for Government, which will be facilitated through established protocols. The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes. NSAC assesses the evidence in a robust and transparent manner and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to myself as Minister for Health. The rigorous processes utilised by NSAC are critical to ensure that 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 continues to progress work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes. In 2024 and at the request of NSAC, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which has a section dedicated to undertaking evidence synthesises on behalf of the Committee, began consideration of the evidence for a further expansion of the age range eligibility for the BowelScreen programme to those aged 50-54.

A report on the findings of HIQA’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process is expected to be submitted to NSAC for consideration later this year and I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee shortly afterwards.

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.

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 a medical professional.

Care Services

Questions (705)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

705. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if she intends introducing registration for care workers and home carers, much like registration of social care workers through CORU following qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15052/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Questions (706)

Cathy Bennett

Question:

706. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the provision of MRI scans in Cavan and Monaghan hospitals; the number and location of all scanners; current waiting lists to access such; the days which scans are currently taking place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15057/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (707)

Michael Cahill

Question:

707. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant positions that have been advertised and have not been filled to date in all our hospitals during the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15058/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (708)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

708. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the capital budget or total capital spend at Beaumont Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15060/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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 Budgets

Questions (709)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

709. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the capital budget or total capital spend at the Mater Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15061/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (710)

Peter 'Chap' Cleere

Question:

710. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if there are plans in place to reduce the current waiting list (details supplied) to attend the ophthalmology outpatient's department of University Hospital Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15063/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.