Written Answers Nos. 790-811
790. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health the number of people in Ireland that access the Omnipod tubeless insulin pump and consumables through the HSE's exceptional hardship scheme or have done so since 2018. [15622/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
791. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health to provide data for the Model 4 hospitals (Beaumont, St. James's, St. Vincent's, University Hospital Galway, Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick) for the 2024 calendar year, in tabular form; the number of patients presenting at the emergency department (ED); the number of those patients presenting at EDs that were admitted for the year; the number of those leaving before treatment complete (LBTC) for 2024; the number of LBTCs that returned within 30 days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15623/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
792. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health for a list of the transgender representative groups that were consulted before making the decision to spend €1.4 million on a national clinical programme for gender healthcare. [15624/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
793. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be allocated for transgender services before the national clinical programme for gender healthcare is complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15625/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
794. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of staff hours the National Gender Service has spent assisting the UK prison service, and the estimated cost of this to date. [15626/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
795. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 348 of 20 February 2025, the number of nurses and doctors that have availed of the policy outlined in the HR circular 001/23, in tabular form; the average time it has taken between an application being received and the payment of the money; the average amount of money that is approved in each case; and the total amount of money paid out under the Circular, in each of the past three years. [15638/25]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
796. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if she will review a case concerning two Palestinian people (details provided) who have been evacuated from Gaza and are in receipt of a family reunification visa as their daughter is an Irish citizen; if she will acknowledge the trauma and terror these elderly people with medical conditions have faced and the fact that they had to leave with no possessions and who now face the prospect of arriving here with no accommodation or access to healthcare; if she will act swiftly and compassionately to provide what they need given the extraordinary circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15644/25]
View answerThis is not a matter for Department of Health and is more appropriate to Department of Disabilities, Children, Equality, Integration and Youth who are providing a response.
797. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 19 February 2025, to provide details of the retail impact assessment and SME test carried out as part of her Department’s consideration of the measures being introduced via the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023; to provide the research undertaken showing how a reduction in the number of retail outlets selling tobacco products will eliminate the illicit trade in tobacco products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15635/25]
View answerThe provisions in the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 were first proposed and consulted on in 2014 and 2015. The General Scheme of the Bill and accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis were published in 2019. The General Scheme of the Bill was subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee in 2021 and 2022, and as a result several additional provisions relating to nicotine inhaling products were included in the final Bill. The Bill passed all stages in the Oireachtas and was enacted in December 2023.
Further to my response in Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 19 February 2025, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products is an international treaty with the objective of eliminating all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products through a package of measures to be taken by countries acting in cooperation with each other. This includes adequate control measures for the entire supply chain, including retailer licensing systems. Ireland signed the Protocol in 2013, and it is now anticipated that Ireland will be in a position to ratify the Protocol. Efforts to combat illicit trade of tobacco are primarily a matter for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
798. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health her plans to action the recommendations of the citizens’ assembly on drug use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15650/25]
View answerThe Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use published its report in January 2024. It recommended a comprehensive health-led response to drugs, with 36 specific recommendations on prevention, harms reduction, treatment and recovery. The Joint Committee on Drugs Use supported the recommendations in its interim report last October, as well as making additional recommendations of its own.
As Minister of State with responsibility for the national drug strategy, it is my responsibility to prepare the government response to the Citizens Assembly recommendations, in conjunction with the Taoiseach. The government response will be a key building block for the new national drugs strategy.
It is my ambition that the new national drugs strategy will create a society where the demand for drugs is minimised, the harms associated with drugs are reduced, and recovery from drug addiction is supported.
799. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if her Department is providing any assistance to cancer patients from Laois who must travel to Dublin hospitals for treatment around parking charges, and her plan to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to explore further ways to reduce hospital car parking charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15657/25]
View answerHospitals 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.
800. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will continue its safer nightlife programme ahead of summer 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15678/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
801. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand access to naloxone for frontline health workers in order to help reduce drug deaths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15684/25]
View answerNaloxone is an opioid antagonist and can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The programme for government commits to ‘Increase the availability of naloxone and train relevant individuals on its use’.
Naloxone services including Naloxone training is part of an integrated approach to reducing drug harm under the National Drugs Strategy.
The Department of Health is working closely with the HSE National Naloxone Oversight Quality Assurance Group, to increase awareness and accessibility of naloxone. It’s important that this lifesaving medication is made more accessible to support workers, peers, and family members.
Investment in the naloxone programme is one of several initiatives funded to enhance access to and delivery of drug services all over Ireland, including the first ever funding for a national drug prevention and education programme.
Naloxone is not a controlled drug but is subject to prescription controls. It can be prescribed to an individual by their doctor. It is also included in a schedule of medication that can be supplied and administered in emergency situations by individuals in a wide range of organisations.
These organisations must be registered with the Health Products Regulatory Authority and have appropriately trained and named people in place who can administer the medication to individuals.
The training course must be one that is approved by either the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council or the Health Service Executive. It must cover the use of naloxone, the administration of it, the management of any immediate adverse reaction that may follow from such administration, and the storage and safe keeping of this medication.
Where naloxone is administered, follow up is crucial; while it can stop the most catastrophic effects of an opioid overdose, the person to whom it is administered must receive follow up medical attention.
There are no restrictions on the organisations that may take this activity up, providing they can meet the appropriate conditions.
Pharmacists who have undertaken appropriate training can already administer naloxone for opioid overdoses. The HSE and the PSI (the pharmacy regulator) have recently taken steps to make the training more accessible for pharmacists.
In 2024, 1,758 people participated in this training.
6,944 units of naloxone were supplied by the HSE to services in 2024.
I am committed to supporting practical initiatives that help to save and improve the lives of those affected by drug use.
802. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the total spend by the HSE on independent and privately run mental health services, outside the Irish State, from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [15699/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly with the Deputy as soon as possible.
803. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the financial assistance or grants available for persons with prosthetic eyes. [15707/25]
View answerThe HSE provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, including prosthetics, free of charge to eligible persons under the Community Funded Schemes (CFS). A prosthetic eye can be provided under the CFS to medical card holders.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended) eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
The HSE advise that an individual will usually be ready to have a prosthetic eye fitted 6 weeks post-surgery. In many paediatric cases, the first fit may be provided by Children Health Ireland (CHI). In other cases, the first fit should be provided for by the CFS for eligible persons. The HSE also advise that it is usual practice for individuals to source a Ocularist, who will then invoice the HSE prior to provision of the prosthetic eye.
The HSE further advise that unless there is a change in the socket, such as damage, loss, or excessive wear of the material, prosthetic eyes for adults usually have a functional life of 5 to 8 years. In children, they are generally required to be changed every 18 to 24 months, due to growth resulting in a changing socket.
To ensure good functionality, prevent irritation, and ensure a prolonged prosthetic lifespan, periodic maintenance and polishing of eye prosthetics is also required. The HSE do cover the costs of polishing for medical card holders.
804. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the cost of phase 2 of the HSE’s hospital performance visualisation platform. [15712/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
805. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 19 February 2025, given that the National Gender Service is unable to provide any examples of companies that have operated in contravention of Irish Medical Council Guidelines, if it will commit to no longer indicating that compliance issues exist. [15721/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
806. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 19 February 2025, if the National Gender Service can explain what local reference ranges are, and their relevance. [15722/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
807. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 19 February 2025, given the National Gender Service indicated the 600 pmol/L is arbitrary and lacks evidence, if it plans to remove it from their endocrine guidelines; and if not, the basis on which for doing so. [15723/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
808. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 19 February 2025, given the National Gender Service indicates that it cannot reliably quantify the potential for risk and benefit, to outline the National Gender Service’s best estimate of the false negative and false positive rate of its assessment process. [15724/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
809. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 230 of 19 February 2025, if she will provide a list of all training sessions and other meetings the National Gender Service had with the Northern Irish health services, including the date, and purpose of the meeting, in tabular form. [15725/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
810. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 19 February 2025, if she will provide a list of all radio and TV interviews by staff of the National Gender Service which were given in their National Gender Service-capacity, in tabular form. [15726/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
811. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of complaints made against St. Columcille's Hospital over the past five years, broken down by year and unit, in tabular form. [15727/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
