David Cullinane
Question:863. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 25 May 2025, the number of deadlines set and missed. [32417/25]
View answerHealth Services Staff
Questions (863)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals. It includes the Health and Social Care Professionals Council and the Registration Boards established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).
CORU has established registers for designated professions incrementally, as registration Boards are established, with several being regulated before psychologists, primarily due to their earlier professional readiness.
Psychology has been a uniquely challenging profession to regulate due to the diversity of its specialisms and the fact that there is no common education pathway or standards for entry to the profession.
In 2017 the then Minister for Health established, and appointed members to the Psychologists Registration Board, under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (amended) to regulate the profession of psychologist.
There were no deadlines relating to the opening of this Board or the regulation of the profession set in the legislation.
A significant body of work has been undertaken by CORU to progress the opening of the Psychologists Registration Board in the last number of years including
• extensive research
• public consultation
• detailed risk analysis
• the establishment of an expert advisory group to make recommendations.
It had been intended that the clinical, counselling and educational divisions of the register would be open by CORU in October 2025 and CORU had indicated this on their website. My Department is currently prioritising a Regulated Professions Bill, which will ensure legislative provisions are in place to expedite the opening of the psychologist register. It is now anticipated that the registers will open in early 2026.
Departmental Data
Questions (864)
David Cullinane
Question:864. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims which were made to the CervicalCheck Tribunal, by year; the number of claims resolved positively by the tribunal; the number of claims rejected by the tribunal; the timeframe of the tribunal's work; the cost of the tribunal to date, by cost type, including awards made, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32424/25]
View answerWritten answers
The CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020 under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019.
|
No. of claims received by the CervicalCheck Tribunal |
No. of claims processed |
|
26 |
25 (two claims were combined) |
Due to the possible identification of individual claims, a yearly breakdown of claim numbers is unavailable.
The number of claims made to the CervicalCheck Tribunal.
Twenty-six [26] claims (of which two were combined) were lodged with the Tribunal.
Twenty [20] claims were lodged by women and six [6] claims were lodged by or on behalf of the statutory dependants of women.
The number of claims resolved by the Tribunal.
All twenty-six [26] claims made to the Tribunal were processed.
Eighteen [18] claims were resolved on the basis of a settlement reached between the parties.
Seven [7] cases were resolved on the basis of a Notification issued pursuant to s.12 of the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act, 2019. This means that the claimants were notified by the Tribunal that it was not in a position to hear and determine the claim for want of either respondent or third-party consent in circumstances where such consent was either not forthcoming or had been withdrawn.
One [1] case was struck out when an ‘Unless Order’ came into effect.
Timeframe of the Tribunal’s work.
The CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020. Establishment of the Tribunal was finalised with the appointment of the nominated members to the Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020, implementing in full the recommendations of Mr Justice Charles Meenan on an alternative to the Court process for eligible CervicalCheck Claims.
In a letter dated 31 July 2023, the Tribunal Chairperson informed the Minister for Health that all claims had been processed, and that as such the Tribunal’s core statutory functions had been completed.
Having completed its required administrative work and discharging any remaining obligations conferred upon the Chairperson, Judge Power submitted her resignation as Chairperson of the Tribunal on 18 April 2024.
Cost of the Tribunal.
|
Office fit-out |
€1,627,645.00 |
|
Lease of premises |
€999,534.58 |
|
Service charges |
€340,916.10 |
|
Operating Costs |
€477,354.28 |
The Tribunal was based in the Infinity Building in Smithfield in office space that was fitted out to meet the Tribunal’s requirements. The fit-out costs were €1,627,645.
Lease costs associated with the Tribunal’s occupation of the premises from 2021 to 17 April 2024 were €999,534.58 (excl. VAT). Service charges for this same period of occupancy was €340,916.10 (excl. VAT).
Operating costs for the Tribunal, including set-up costs, were €477,354.28 (incl. VAT) up to October 2024, when all final invoices had been received.
Under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019 the Minister for Health was required to determine the remuneration of Tribunal Members other than those who were serving judges of the Superior Courts. The Tribunal was chaired by Ms. Justice Ann Power, a serving judge of the Court of Appeal, from 27 October 2020 to 18 April 2024. Mr. Justice Tony O’Connor, a serving judge of the High Court and Mr. Justice Brian McGovern, a retired judge of the Court of Appeal were the Ordinary members of the Tribunal. Mr. Justice Brian McGovern was paid at the rate of remuneration applicable to a Judge of that Court.
The Annual Reports for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are published on the Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/c5125-minister-donnelly-publishes-2020-annual-report-of-the-cervicalcheck-tribunal/) and include particulars of its accounts.
Awards.
The Tribunal did not make any awards. Some of the 25 cases were settled between the parties, some were withdrawn and went to the High Court, and some were abandoned completely. None went to a full hearing and, therefore, no awards were made by the Tribunal.
Cancer Services
Questions (865)
David Cullinane
Question:865. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the operational status of the National Cervical Screening Laboratory; the timeframe from commencement to completion and opening; the cost of the development to date; the cost of operations to date; the full capacity staffing requirements for the laboratory and the unmet staffing need; the level of activity through the laboratory, by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32425/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Cancer Services
Questions (866)
David Cullinane
Question:866. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer screening samples, by type, which have been processed domestically by public health services, domestically by private services, and which have been outsourced internationally, by location or service, in tabular form. [32426/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (867)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:867. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the occupational therapy first-time assessment waiting list, and within that, the numbers waiting less than 4 months; the number waiting 4-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and for each category, the numbers waiting aged 0-4 years, 5-17 years, 18-64 years and aged 65 plus, for each local health area, as of 1 June 2025 or latest date available, in tabular form [32431/25]
View answerWritten answers
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 (868)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:868. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list, and within that, the numbers waiting less than 4 months; the number waiting 4-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and for each category, the numbers waiting aged 0-17 years and those aged 18 and above, for each local health area, as of 1 June 2025 or latest date available, in tabular form. [32432/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Questions (869)
David Cullinane
Question:869. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms by which the National Treatment Purchase Fund are accountable to the Minister and to the Oireachtas; if she intends to ensure that the National Treatment Purchase Fund is directly accountable to the Oireachtas and Oireachtas Committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32437/25]
View answerWritten answers
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is an independent body established under Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 179 - National Treatment Purchase Fund (Establishment) Order, 2004 as amended by S.I. No. 125 of 2007, the Health (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2007 and the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act (2009).
The NTPF Board is responsible for ensuring good governance and compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and that it meets its strategic objectives. There is regular correspondence and contact between officials in my Department and the Senior Management Team of the NTPF to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice and to monitor the overall performance of the organisation. This is done through formal quarterly Governance Meetings as well as through ongoing regular engagement, including in respect of the implementation of Best Practice Reporting, the National Waiting List Forum, the development of the National Waiting List Protocols, performance under the Waiting List Action Plan, and more generally in respect of waiting list reporting.
The NTPF Chief Executive Officer, is required to appear before the Public Accounts Committee as specified in the establishing legislation, and potentially other Dáil committees should a formal invitation be made for the body to be considered at such forums.
Question No. 870 answered with Question No. 827.
Health Services
Questions (871)
Cormac Devlin
Question:871. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the case of a family (details supplied); if she and the relevant officials from the HSE will engage with this family as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32462/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (872, 919, 920, 921)
Cormac Devlin
Question:872. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the steps and engagement that is being taken to support and assist people mainly women impacted by the mesh implant scandal; stage her Department and the HSE is at with rectifying these serious flaws in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32463/25]
View answer
Paul Murphy
Question:919. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health her views on whether women who have suffered from mesh injuries should be automatically entitled to a medical card. [32727/25]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:920. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health her views on whether women who have suffered from mesh injuries should be entitled to compensation for necessary travel to mesh centres established under the mesh pathways. [32728/25]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:921. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she agrees that there should be a redress scheme for women who have suffered from mesh injuries. [32729/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 872, 919, 920 and 921 together.
I understand that complications from a mesh implant are very distressing and painful for those women involved and since the emergence of this matter, the ongoing priority focus for the Department of Health has been to ensure that all women experiencing mesh related complications receive high quality, multidisciplinary and patient-centred care.
Multidisciplinary specialist services for women suffering from mesh complications are available via the HSE National Mesh Complications Service, based at Cork University Hospital (CUMH) and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Dublin. Both services offer full mesh removal.
The HSE have advised me that women with certain defined clinical complexities can apply to the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS). The TAS is a consultant-led scheme that allows an Irish-based public consultant to refer a public patient normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. The scheme provides for the cost of approved public treatment.
Officials in my Department have regularly engaged with two stakeholder groups, Mesh Ireland and Mesh Survivors Ireland, to understand the experiences and challenges some women have in accessing supports and services for mesh complications.
Officials are in the process of exploring further options for additional aftercare supports for women who have suffered complications related to mesh surgery.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (873)
Cormac Devlin
Question:873. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of women identified under the Chief Medical Officers Report November 2018 on the Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures; the total number of women impacted by same; the number that were selected for recall; the number for assessment; the number of women that received subsequent surgery; the number that needed to avail of the treatment abroad scheme; the number still outstanding for surgery and those that still have not had any assessment undertaken, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32464/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (874)
Cormac Devlin
Question:874. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the cost currently reimbursed to a GP for providing a patient with a full schedule of visits under the maternity and infant care scheme; when this cost was last changed or reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32465/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme (MICS) provides an agreed programme of care to all expectant mothers who are ordinarily resident in Ireland. This service is provided by a family doctor (GP) of the woman’s choice and a maternity unit or hospital. Women are entitled to this service even if they do not have a medical card or GP visit card.
The GP provides an initial examination, if possible before 12 weeks, and a further 5 examinations during the pregnancy, which are alternated with visits to the maternity unit or hospital. In the case of a significant illness, e.g. diabetes or hypertension, women may have up to 5 additional visits to the GP. After the birth, the GP will examine the baby at 2 weeks and both mother and baby at 6 weeks.
The fees payable to GPs under the scheme are set out in the Health Professionals (Variations of Payments to General Practitioners) Regulations 2016, as shown below; these fee rates were last changed in 2013.
|
GP Fees for services rendered under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme |
- |
|
Description |
Amount |
|
Patient’s first visit |
€38.42 |
|
Visits 2-8 (per visit) |
€27.67 |
|
Visit 9 |
€38.42 |
|
Where complete services are provided — patient’s first pregnancy |
€242.85 |
|
Where complete services are provided — pregnancies other than the patient’s first pregnancy |
€270.52 |
|
Additional visits by patients with major conditions, e.g. diabetes, hypertension — fee per visit subject to maximum of 5 visits |
€27.67 |
|
Emergency delivery |
€230.53 |
The Scheme, including the schedule of visits, and reimbursement arrangements for GPs is currently under review by the HSE as an action of the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026.
Assisted Human Reproduction
Questions (875)
Thomas Gould
Question:875. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when publicly funded IVF for persons experiencing secondary infertility will become available. [32488/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) 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 elements, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e., six Regional Fertility Hubs located across the country) and, 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 involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of six Regional Fertility Hubs within maternity networks covering the entire country. This means that a significant proportion of individuals presenting with fertility-related issues are managed 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. These Hubs have been fully operational for a number of years now.
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 has been made 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 people, 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.
More information is available on the HSE website in respect of the publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative at: www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/trying-for-a-baby/your-fertility/getting-ivf-icsi-iui-hse/.
or on public fertility services more generally at: www2.hse.ie/conditions/fertility-problems-treatments/fertility-treatment/.
Over 2,400 couples have been referred to date by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant for AHR treatment following extensive investigations and/or secondary level treatment within the HSE-run Regional Fertility Hubs. Furthermore, the Hubs have successfully and directly managed thousands more 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.
Therefore, it is advised that if a couple is experiencing fertility challenges, and they meet the access criteria for care and management at Regional Fertility Hub level, then they should seek a referral from their GP. Each Regional Fertility Hub is positioned to provide a suite of investigations and tests free of charge and can commence working with the couple to identify next appropriate clinical steps, many of which may be available within the Hub itself or by means of a referral to another public service, for example, endocrinology or urology.
Proposed changes to the access criteria and the publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative more broadly are being considered. At the moment, couples with no existing children in their current relationship are ineligible to avail of AHR treatment. I hope to be in a position in the coming weeks to make an announcement in respect of this specific criterion in order to allow for those with one child already but who are having difficulties in having a second child – what is known informally as “secondary infertility” – to access publicly-funded AHR treatment, as long as, of course, they meet all the other existing criteria.
It should be noted that supports previously available to patients who access IVF, or other AHR treatment, privately, whereby tax relief on the costs involved can be claimed under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme, continue to be provided.
In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
I want to reassure the Deputy 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.
Departmental Websites
Questions (876)
Albert Dolan
Question:876. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if her Department’s website employs analytics tools (details supplied) that track website traffic using UTM parameters (for example, utm_source); if so, whether any visits have been recorded with a specific parameter or similar identifiers indicating traffic from ChatGPT; and to provide the monthly number of such visits, if recorded, for each of the past 12 months, in tabular form. [32502/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's website is hosted by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, who employ analytic tools.
The table attached outlines the requested information for the period in question.
Departmental Meetings
Questions (877)
Barry Ward
Question:877. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health regarding any engagement she has had with an organisation (details supplied); if she plans to meet with this group in advance of the summer Dáil recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32510/25]
View answerWritten answers
I have recently met with a number of LGBTI+ advocacy groups, including the named group, to discuss a range of issues. The meeting was constructive and fostered positive engagement.
Health Services
Questions (878)
Barry Ward
Question:878. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the level of care and service provided by the National Gender Service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32511/25]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware of the concerns related to the level of care and service provided by the National Gender Service, but as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (879)
Barry Ward
Question:879. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the adoption of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines for healthcare professionals working with transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in an Irish context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32512/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 880 answered with Question No. 777.
Health Services
Questions (881)
Marie Sherlock
Question:881. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to end the differential in the age of which a person ages out of paediatric mental health services and paediatric physical health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32514/25]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Mental Health Act 2001, a child is regarded as anyone under the age of 18 years. Because of this, the parents or guardian of any child, including children aged 16 and 17 years, must consent to the admission and treatment of that child in acute mental health settings (known as 'approved centres' under the Act.)
A key provision of the Mental Health Bill 2024 is to provide for young people aged 16 and 17 years to consent to or refuse their admission and treatment to acute mental health settings. Where a 16 or 17 year old lacks the capacity to do so, consent to admission and treatment can be granted by their parent or guardian. Involuntary admission will continue to be available for the small number of cases where a child, or as the case may be, a parent or guardian, refuses to consent to admission and the child meets the criteria for involuntary admission.
Furthermore, the Bill amends Section 23 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to include a reference to 'mental health'. This amendment will ensure there is clarity for services and for young people accessing services that a 16 or 17 year old can consent to mental health treatment on the same basis as physical health treatment in all contexts.
The Bill is currently progressing through Committee Stage in the Dáil.
In relation to services provided by the HSE, the HSE's National Consent Policy sets out the requirements to consent to treatment across the health service. It can be found here: https://assets.hse.ie/media/documents/ncr/HSE_Consent_Policy_2022_v1.2_-_Jan_2024.pdf
Where services are being accessed privately, each service provider should have its own consent policy which children accessing services and their parents should consult.
At present, there are no plans to end the differential in age between child and adolescent mental health services and physical health services. At present, mental health services are set up to provide for mental health care and treatment to people under 18 years of age, through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and over 18 years of age, through Adult Mental Health Services.
Psychiatry is broken down into a number of specialty areas related to both age and diagnosis. One of these specialty areas is general adult psychiatry and another is child and adolescent psychiatry. A complete overhaul of not only how mental health services are delivered, but how mental health professionals train, would be required to provide adult services to young people aged 16 years and older.
However, there are a number of initiatives ongoing to address issues with the difference in age of transition to adult services between mental health and physical health.
Recommendation 36 of our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, indicates that appropriate supports should be provided for on an interim basis to service users transitioning from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). The age of transition should be moved from 18 to 25, and future supports should reflect this. This is being progressed under implementation of Sharing the Vision.
The enhanced transition between CAMHS and AMHS is also a key theme of the new Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan. This short-term action will be achieved by:
• Implementing the ‘Enhanced Transition Plan’ developed by the Sharing the Vision Youth Mental Health Transitions Specialist Group for children moving from CAMHS to AMHS. The Enhanced Transition Plan recommends moving from CAMHS to AMHS be treated as a continuation of care, rather than as a new referral.
• Revising the CAMHS Operational Guidelines (COG) to ensure the recommendations from the ‘Enhanced Transition Plan’ are considered.
• Ensuring any operational guidance for AMHS aligns with the recommendations of the ‘Enhanced Transition Plan’.
• Establishing robust governance structures that enable national oversight of the implementation of the ‘Enhanced Transition Plan’.
• Continuing to survey young people to seek their views and experience of transitioning from CAMHS to AMHS.
This will ensure that when young people move from child to youth to adult mental health services it will be a seamless transition of care.
The Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan, which was launched on 17 February 2025, also commits to the longer-term development of an Integrated Crisis Response Pathway for children and young people experiencing a Mental Health crisis across the 24/7 continuum of Care, including an improved child and youth liaison service with Emergency Departments.
The Action Plan works towards redesigning and delivering services which are safer, easy to access and appropriate. The central tenet of the plan is that all children and families have equitable and timely access to quality mental health services.
More specifically the Action Plan identifies 16 priority improvement themes. Among the main aims are to improve consistency and safety in how we deliver care, improve accessibility and integration, and to ensure involvement of children, young people and their families in the design, delivery and evaluation of mental health services. The national Office is working to further strengthen and enhance clinical governance. A shared clinical governance delivery group forms one of the workstreams outlined in their new plan.
Furthermore, the new national Model of Care for Consultation Liaison Psychiatry was also launched earlier this month, is a comprehensive framework to guide the development of Liaison Psychiatry services in our hospitals and will ensure that people who need mental health support while in hospital are treated with the same urgency, dignity and clinical excellence as those presenting with physical illness. It is a practical and meaningful expression of the health service’s commitment to integrated person-centred care in line with the goals of our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision.
Medicinal Products
Questions (882)
Paul Donnelly
Question:882. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to further roll out the free HRT scheme to men and others who use HRT for medical reasons. [32518/25]
View answerWritten answers
At present, the current provision under this measure is for free HRT products for the treatment of menopause symptoms, given that HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing menopause symptoms and has been shown to be the most effective intervention.
The new Free HRT Arrangement supports the Programme for Government commitment in “transforming women’s health” and supports our Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 which spotlights health outcomes of women at midlife and older “living well and living longer”.
Through the Women’s Health Action Plans implemented over recent years, a range of significant developments are taking place in the area of menopause. These developments are focused on building capability and improving services at community level as well as developing the necessary specialist clinics. The actions include:
The appointment of a GP Clinical Lead for Women’s Health.
The development of training courses in Menopause for GPs and GP trainees via the Irish College of General Practitioners, to improve knowledge and understanding of menopause in the community care setting.
Evidence-based guidance support for GPs through the development of a Quick Reference Guide on Menopause.
A very successful National Menopause Awareness campaign which was accompanied by the launch of a dedicated webpage to provide trusted information for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland.
6 specialist menopause clinics are now open for women who have complex experiences of menopause.
The removal of VAT from non-oral forms of HRT since 1 January 2023 has improved access for those who need it.
The development of the Civil Service Menopause in the Workplace Policy Framework.
The new Free HRT Arrangement is the next step in this regard. All these measures are a direct response to the demand from Irish women for greater knowledge, understanding and support for menopause as well as better access to accurate information and supports so that they can proactively manage their experience.
There are no plans to expand the eligibility of this measure at this point.
Health Services
Questions (883)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:883. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to give urgent attention to a service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32546/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.