Written Answers Nos. 686-709
688. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on any engagements her Department has had at an EU level concerning cancer warning labelling on alcohol products in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35299/25]
View answerMy Department has not had any recent engagements at EU level on cancer warning labelling on alcohol products.
689. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that alcohol is included and made a priority in the new national drugs strategy; if she will arrange to meet a coalition group that made contact with her office (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35307/25]
View answerThe Department of Health is developing a successor national drugs strategy. In line with the existing strategy, the successor strategy will address cross sectoral issues including the provision of treatment services for problematic drug and alcohol use & the development of initiatives to prevent drug and alcohol use.
I met with Alcohol Action Ireland on the 9th April to discuss public health alcohol policy and alcohol treatment services. Alcohol Action Ireland is a lead agency in the coalition group referred to by the deputy. I am happy to continue to engage with advocacy groups on alcohol.
690. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35326/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
691. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health for an update on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35330/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
692. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify the monthly quantity limits for each hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product covered under the free HRT scheme (details supplied); whether there is a cap on the number of packs dispensed per month for products such as oestrogen patches and lenzetto spray; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35343/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
693. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the supports she has put in place for the hundreds of patients who were negatively impacted by the closure of a practice (details supplied); if she has ensured they will receive treatment; if she has ensured that they will receive repayment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35348/25]
View answerAs the case referred to by the Deputy is before the High Court and is subject to in-camera proceedings the Minister for Health is limited in the information that she can provide. The Department has, however, been advised that the process is nearing completion.
In September 2022, following the cessation of practice of a specialist orthodontist in Galway, the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, met patient representatives and local representatives to listen to their specific concerns and consider possible options.
The usual course of events would be that orthodontic practices are wound down in an orderly fashion when necessary and for patients to continue to receive care in other practices as arranged by the dentist providing their care. In the case referred to by the Deputy, due to the circumstances of the cessation of practice of the specialist orthodontist, this was not possible.
The Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulator of the dental profession in Ireland. Officials in the Department of Health have worked with the Dental Council and relevant stakeholders to ensure that everything possible was done to resolve the concerns of patients affected.
To support patients to receive continuity of care, the Dental Council wrote to orthodontists located nearest to the practice to seek their co-operation to provide care to former patients of this practice. The Orthodontic Society of Ireland (OSI) also coordinated with its members to seek ways to resolve this situation to enable ongoing care to be restored as soon as possible.
While the Minister has every sympathy for the patients affected by this situation, consumer law is the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), and so issues relating to the refunding of fees are not within the remit of the Department of Health.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition and consumer protection law in Ireland and are best placed to advise on any concerns regarding refunding of professional fees.
694. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if, in light of the severe struggles outlined (details supplied), she will allow for a hospital bed, as respite is no longer an option due to high support needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35350/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
695. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of 1 million home support hours. [35355/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
696. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the capital and current cost of 10 community nursing unit beds. [35356/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public health infrastructure, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
697. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health is she will review the qualifying income limits for a medical card to ensure that they align with social protection payments (details supplied). [35358/25]
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: https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/.
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. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
It should be noted that where a person's sole income is derived from a social protection payment, he/she will be awarded a medical card.
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 any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.
698. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the framework for the blind welfare allowance means assessment; and the guidelines on how savings affect the assessment. [35361/25]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality and should be directed to that Department.
699. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if all regions have timely, equitable access to sexual assault treatment units; if she will provide a list of these units per County, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35379/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
700. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the way in which follow-up services following treatment in sexual assault treatment units are monitored for consistency and survivor satisfaction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35380/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
701. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the last time trauma informed training for sexual assault treatment unit staff was updated; if survivors were consulted in evaluating and improving the treatment experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35381/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
702. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health with regard to data collected on cases involving multiple perpetrators, the trends that have emerged in relation to age, location, and reporting outcomes in such cases in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35382/25]
View answerThe Department of Health does not collect or hold the data that the Deputy is referring to. This question would be better directed to the Minister for Justice, Migration and Home Affairs.
703. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the services currently provided for adult patients with epilepsy at a hospital (details supplied); the number and grade of staff that are currently attached to this service at this site; the number of current staff vacancies within this service; the number of epilepsy patients currently registered with this service; the number of patients currently awaiting first consultations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35397/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
704. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting and retaining 1,000 additional mental health professionals, by profession, for example, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational, therapists, social workers, and by salary band. [35426/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
705. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address the existing 700+ vacant posts in mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35427/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
706. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing 20 additional eating disorder inpatient beds and community based services. [35428/25]
View answerThe National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed well with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the Model of Care now funded.
The HSE spends over €9 million on eating disorders services annually. As a result, access to eating disorder services is increasing, with 25% more assessments conducted in 2024 compared to 2023 (562 vs 449). Approximately 100 dedicated eating disorder clinicians from the National Clinical Programme are now working on the teams across the country, treating people with eating disorders every day. Enhancement for specialist mental health services including eating disorders is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government as a whole, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Under funding secured for Budget 2025, there will be two new eating disorder teams operational by the end of this year. These comprise of an adult team in the Midlands, and a CAMHS team in the Mid-West.
The review of the Model of Care for Eating Disorders is taking place on a phased basis. As Minister , I expect to receive a plan from the HSE regarding future eating disorder bed provision before the end of June. The second phase of the planned review of the Model of Care for Eating Disorders will focus on the operation of the Eating Disorder Teams. It will be commenced in due course. The outcomes of this review will inform the eating disorder service staffing requirements from 2025.
With reference to the specific information requested on the costs of eating disorder beds as this is an operational issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
707. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully staffed emergency mental health services and regional crisis response teams. [35429/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
708. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current average salary and total annual cost, including PRSI, pension, of a full-time consultant psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, mental health nurse (all grades), occupational therapist, social worker, counsellor and psychotherapist, peer support worker, in tabular form. [35430/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, this PQ has been referred to the HSE.
709. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health vacancies across HSE community and inpatient services, disaggregated by health region and by profession. [35431/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
