Written Answers Nos. 842-857
842. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the steps taken by Drogheda Department of Psychiatry to address the areas of non-compliance regarding the use of seclusion codes of practice as identified within the MHC inspection report published on 16 June 2025. [37521/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
843. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to confirm that she has received a copy of the HSE's nationwide review of insourcing and outsourcing arrangements; if she has considered its contents; if she will publish the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37540/25]
View answer886. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will accept the HSE's recommendation to end insourcing arrangements in the health service by 30 June 2026; if she will commit to this deadline based on the steps to phase out insourcing provided for in the HSE's review of insourcing and outsourcing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37838/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 843 and 886 together.
The Government remains committed to increasing capacity in the public system and until that capacity is in place to meet the increased levels of demand, it’s appropriate that we make use of all available additional capacity in the public and private systems to ensure that patients have access to the care they need.
In April this year, I requested the HSE CEO to undertake a detailed survey of all insourcing activity within the HSE. The report has been received and was published by me on 1 July.
My Department is working with the HSE to consider the report in the context of moving away from our dependency on the current model and maximising the internal capacity we have within the core health system, while ensuring that patients have timely access to the treatment they need.
844. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE cardiology registrars based at Saint James's Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37542/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
845. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the following details with respect to the HSE and four planning appeals submitted to An Bord Pleanála (details supplied) if the HSE received a notification of the planning appeal; if so, the date of notification and the body that issued the notification; whether the HSE made a submission to the appeal; and; if so, the date of any such submission; in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37574/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
846. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will instruct their Department to make oral immunotherapy as well as medicines such as omalizumab more widely available, to ensure situations like this do not happen again.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37593/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter and under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices these matters have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
847. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health for an update on the medical evacuation programme from Gaza; how she envisions the programme continuing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37594/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his query in relation to the medical evacuation to Ireland of paediatric patients from Gaza.
I can advise the Deputy that on 18 September 2024, the Minister for Health announced that Ireland would receive up to 30 paediatric patients through Egypt, in response to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) request to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The paediatric patients are selected by the HSE and CHI from the WHO medevac approved list, and Ireland opts into this response on a case-by-case basis, subject to the treatment capacity in the HSE and CHI.
Ireland has a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance, including through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid humanitarian and development assistance programme, and the HSE Global Health Programme
12 WHO paediatric patients have been medical evacuated to Ireland so far, along with 12 mother/carers and 21 accompanying family members. All 45 family group members are receiving treatment for illnesses incurred as a result of living conditions in Gaza.
Planning is ongoing with the Health Service Executive (HSE) for the next medical evacuation operation, aiming to reach the 30 WHO patients as per Ireland’s commitment, taking into account lessons learned from the first two evacuation operations.
848. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); if the Government plans to expand access to medicinal cannabis for a larger scope of illnesses beyond what is currently offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37665/25]
View answerThe clinical review of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) has not yet commenced. Department of Health officials are currently working on membership of the review group, including a Chair. This is expected take several weeks following which the review can then commence.
The clinical review group will examine the findings of the Health Research Board’s (HRB) evidence synthesis publication to determine if there is sufficient evidence to expand the range of conditions covered by the MCAP. Recommendations will then be made to me as the Minister for Health as to whether sufficient evidence exists to include other conditions within the scope of the programme. It is too early at this stage to pre-empt what conditions the outcome of the review may recommend.
849. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the €93 million being spent annually on outsourcing mental health care, including the types of services and providers involved. [37666/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
850. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health has the €93 million spent on outsourcing mental health care led to any measurable reductions in waiting times for CAMHS, primary care psychology, AONs and so on- and can you provide that data. [37667/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
851. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the cost per patient for outsourced mental health care compared to the same service delivered by the HSE. [37668/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
852. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health given the annual €93 million outsourcing spend, if the HSE has considered that this money could be reallocated to expand internal staffing, training and retention, particularly for CAMHS, primary care psychology and multidisciplinary teams. [37669/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
853. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if the linear accelerator and CT scanner in CUH which had been closed in recent times, remain closed as of 2 July 2025; when it is anticipated it will be in use; and the staff that are required to achieve this. [37670/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
854. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the arrangements that exist to ensure that healthcare professionals who do not wish to participate in abortions can exercise freedom of conscience in this regard during their training as doctors, nurses and midwives and or pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37675/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, section 22 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 deals with conscientious objection by medical staff in relation to the provision of termination of pregnancy services.
This section states that where he/she has a conscientious objection, a medical practitioner, nurse or midwife shall not be obliged to carry out, or participate in the carrying out, a termination of pregnancy.
In the event of a doctor, nurse or midwife having a difficulty in undertaking a required medical procedure, he or she will have a duty to make arrangements for the transfer of the woman’s care to a colleague.
The Act makes it clear that conscientious objection cannot be invoked in an emergency situation, when the risk to a pregnant woman’s life or health is immediate.
Conscientious objection is limited to persons involved in the delivery of the treatment only and does not extend to any other persons, or to institutions.
855. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if her Department will undertake further independent research into abortion provision through remote consultations, in light of a report in a newspaper (details supplied) on 1 July 2025 on the lack of regulation of telemedicine, and the HSE's more recent position since the 2021 review that telemedicine abortion can make it more difficult to identify coercion or abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37676/25]
View answerThe Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy Services was introduced in response to the Covid 19 pandemic.
In light of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in 2021, my Department requested the HSE to review whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post public health emergency, in community care settings.
The review supported the retention of remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care. While the revised blended Model of Care provides for remote consultation, in general, early medical termination of pregnancy will be provided by in-person or a blend of in-person and remote consultation. Full remote provision of early medical termination of pregnancy will not be routine and will only be provided in extenuating circumstances, using clinical judgement and putting appropriate safeguards in place.
The safety of termination of pregnancy by telemedicine is endorsed by organisations with significant experience in providing termination of pregnancy care including, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The revised model of care has now been approved as the enduring model of care.
856. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the opening hours at the medical assessment unit in Ennis Hospital are to be revised (details supplied); if so, the rational for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37714/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
857. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will address the lack of access to manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) therapy for lymphedema patients across County Roscommon, where no physiotherapists within the HSE service are currently trained to provide this essential treatment; if funding constraints are the cause of this service gap; and if she will ensure that cancer patients in Roscommon have equitable access to MLD, including the possibility of accessing services in nearby centres such as Athlone, regardless of county boundaries. [37719/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
