Written Answers Nos. 234-256
234. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people on waiting lists for Jigsaw by CHO and length of wait at the end of quarter 1 of each year 2019, 2024, and 2025, in a direct comparison, in tabular form. [21564/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
235. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on diagnostic waiting lists at the end of quarter 1 for each year 2022-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21562/25]
View answerIn 2022, in line with actions in the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP), the Department of Health issued formal approval to the NTPF to commence work on the development and delivery of a National Radiology Diagnostic Protocol. In October 2024, the NTPF formally launched the first National Radiology Diagnostic Waiting List Management Protocol for the administrative management of patients on radiology diagnostic waiting lists in Irish public hospitals.
As well as ensuring that patients seeking access to Radiology Diagnostic services are administratively managed in a safe, timely, fair, and equitable manner whilst waiting, by standardising the management of patients, the protocol will facilitate improved data collection and reporting about patients on Radiology Diagnostic waiting lists.
In the interim, the information that is currently being collected as part of a pilot project is being tested and validated at hospital, hospital region and national level and as such should not be used/reported without the context of the caveats set out below:
• Data is subject to inclusions and exclusions which are documented in the Data Profile Document. This document is available from Acute Operations and has been circulated to all Hospital Regions.
• Data contains urgent, routine and surveillance/planned activity which is currently not broken down in detail, as such this includes surveillance/planned activity which may not be exceeding planned date.
• Data is still undergoing validation at Hospital and Hospital Region level. Data does not take into account local nuances at site level (Site profile developed to support understanding of same).
• The purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MRI and Ultrasound.
• This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting list, local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level.
The NTPF provides my Department with quarterly reports which set out waiting list data for CT, MRI and Ultrasound. The HSE advises that, at present, further diagnostic scans (including cholangiopancreatography, electroencephalogram, angiogram, electrocardiogram and bone scan), are not yet captured as part of this project.
The Deputy has been provided with reports for each quarter in 2022, 2023 and 2024 in response to previous Parliamentary Questions. The report for Quarter 1 2025 is attached.
At the end of Quarter 1 2025, there was a total of 306,356 patients reported on the waiting list from all sites, this represents all outpatients waiting, urgent, semi urgent, routine and planned/surveillance (where diagnostic access is planned at particular time intervals).
236. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists on the dental treatment services scheme at the end of quarter 1 for each year 2019-2024, by LHO, in tabular form; the number of dentists who submitted claims and the total number of claims in quarter 1 of each year and each full year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21572/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
237. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children on HSE dental and orthodontic waiting lists at the end of quarter 1 for each year 2019-2024, broken down by standard waiting times, by area, in tabular form. [21573/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
238. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children, and separately the number of special care patients, adult and children, who are on dental surgery waiting lists at the end of March 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025, in tabular form; the breakdown by waiting timeband and by county; the number on waiting lists for dental surgery under general anaesthesia; and the median waiting time for each. [21577/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
239. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend by the HSE on agency staffing and on private recruitment firms for quarter 1 of each year, 2019-2025, both nationally/statewide and broken down for each HSE location, by direct comparison, in tabular form. [21578/25]
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 David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend by the HSE, both nationally/statewide and broken down for each HSE location, on agency staffing and on private recruitment firms paid to each individual firm and the time period for payments to each firm, for quarter 1 of each year, 2019-2025, by direct comparison, in tabular form. [21579/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
241. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend by the HSE on management consultants and external professional services, by type, for quarter 1 of each year, 2019-2025, in direct comparison, in tabular form; the amount paid to each individual firm; and the time period for payments to each firm. [21580/25]
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 David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend by the each of the section 38 voluntary hospitals on agency staffing and on private recruitment firms for quarter 1 of each year, 2019-2025, by direct comparison, in tabular form (details supplied). [21581/25]
View answer243. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend by the each of the section 38 voluntary hospitals on agency staffing and on private recruitment firms paid to each individual firm and the time period for payments to each firm, for quarter 1 of each year, 2019-2025, by direct comparison, in tabular form (details supplied). [21582/25]
View answer244. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the spend by each of the section 38 voluntary hospitals on management consultants and external professional services, by type, for quarter 1 of each year, 2019-2025, by direct comparison in tabular form; the amount paid to each individual firm and the time period for payments to each firm (details supplied). [21583/25]
View answer245. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the number of beds and occupancy rate in Monaghan hospital, by category and by month, in each of the years 2023 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21591/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
246. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the basis upon which the free contraception scheme excludes those aged over 35; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21598/25]
View answerThe free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. The Minister is committed to extend access to the free contraception scheme.
The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, primary care, student health and family planning centres and prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the HSE Reimbursement List, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs: injections, intra-uterine devices and systems (coils) and implants) and emergency contraception in addition to the contraceptive Pill, patch and ring. LARC fittings, removals, injections and check-ups are also free of charge under the scheme.
Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted while eligible under the scheme remain eligible for subsequent checks and free removal of any devices inserted prior to reaching the eligibility limit (currently their 36th birthday), to ensure continuity of care. Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date.
The phased introduction was undertaken for a number of reasons, as follows:
• A phased approach permits additional GP training in line with service expansion, allowing time to provide training to additional GPs to fit, check and remove long-acting reversible contraception. The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception noted risks regarding the number of GPs qualified to undertake these procedures in 2019, versus likely demand once cost barriers were removed. A training scheme was funded and is underway, managed by the ICGP, which is increasing the numbers of GPs with the expertise to fit, check and remove coils and implants. It is anticipated that demand for coils and implants will be higher in older age cohorts.
• Budgetary and financial planning guidelines recommend that demand-led schemes, such as the free contraception scheme, should be subject to pilot testing and/or phased implementation, in order to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme and real-world costs.
• As per the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception (published in 2019 and available on the Department’s website), it was decided to commence the scheme with younger age cohorts, as they are most likely to experience unplanned pregnancy and least likely to be financially independent. A significant number of people in the 17-25 age cohort are still in full time education and dependent on parents and guardians for income, some of whom may not be willing (or, indeed, in some cases, able) to fund prescription contraception.
The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, commits to continuing to extend access to free contraception.
247. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the drug rehabilitation services available in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21599/25]
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 Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the CAMHS psychology waiting-list numbers and exact wait-times in months and years for young people in each integrated health area of the South West Regional Health Area, in tabular form; the number of years waiting for young people waiting more than twelve months; and the longest wait-time in years and months, as of 1 April 2025. [21631/25]
View answerAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
249. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the current CAMHS psychology staffing levels by grade of psychologist and per population size served in each integrated health area of the Dublin and Midlands Regional Health Area, as of 1 April 2025. [21633/25]
View answerAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
250. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the CAMHS psychology waiting-list numbers and exact wait-times in months and years for young people in each integrated health area of the West and North West Regional Health Area, in tabular form; the number of years waiting for young people waiting more than twelve months; and the longest wait-time in years and months as of 1 March 2025. [21634/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the CAMHS psychology waiting-list numbers and exact wait-times in months and years for young people in each integrated health area of the West and North West Regional Health Area, in tabular form; the number of years waiting for young people waiting more than twelve months; and the longest wait-time in years and months as of 1 March 2025. [21635/25]
View answerAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
252. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the current CAMHS psychology staffing levels by grade of psychologist and per population size served in each integrated health area of the Dublin and North East Regional Health Area as of 1 March 2025. [21636/25]
View answerAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy
253. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the total cost to the HSE of management consultancy services for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 by CHO regional health area, in tabular form. [21638/25]
View answerAs this relates to an operational matter I have referred your PQ to the HSE for direct response.
254. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available immediately to acquire a second CT scanner for St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21641/25]
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.
255. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1598 of 19 March 2025, if she will provide an update on a timeline for legislation that would add HHC as a Schedule 1 controlled drug to the misuse of drugs legislative framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21642/25]
View answerFurther to the Deputy's previous question, the legislation is being finalised to include other substances in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and while I cannot give a precise timeline I am informed by officials it is expected to go Government in the coming weeks.
256. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the CAMHS psychology waiting list numbers and exact wait times in months and years for young people in each integrated health area of the Mid West Regional Health Area, in tabular form; the number of years waiting for young people waiting more than twelve months; and the longest wait-time in years and months, as of 1 April 2025. [21645/25]
View answerAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
