Written Answers Nos. 873-898
873. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals currently living with migraine; if she is aware of the WIFOR European study on the socioeconomic burden of migraine, which shows a socioeconomic impact of migraine of up to 2% of GDP; her Department’s plans to recognise migraine as a neurological disorder and ensure appropriate support to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37774/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
874. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the patient survey report launched by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland in June 20255, which shows significant regional differences in access to neurological care services across the country, lengthy waiting times for services, with significant variation across the country, and high percentages of respondents reporting they had never had access to specific services (neurorehabilitation and specialist neurology nurses); if neurology resources will be increased in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37775/25]
View answerIn Europe, neurological disorders are the third leading cause of death and disability, and absolute numbers are expected to rise in line with our ageing population. In Ireland, around one in six people has a neurological condition. This Government is committed to working with relevant stakeholders, including the HSE, advocacy organisations and patient representatives, to strengthen key services and supports for people with neurological conditions. In March, I met with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), and a patient representative from their member organisations, to understand their priorities. Department of Health officials maintain regular engagement with the NAI and HSE National Clinical Programme for Neurology, working collaboratively to address priority areas.
The Government made significant investments for neurology services in Budget 2025. This contributed to realisation of the commitments in in the new Programme for Government specifically to complete the national rollout of HSE Community Neuro-rehabilitation Teams; to develop more regional inpatient rehabilitation beds; to implement community-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in every Region; to increase the number of neurology nurse specialists and to Increase the number of consultant neurologists. The Neurology Model of Care works towards increasing local and integrated neurology services and funding. Budget 2025 supported the expansion of services to parts of the country where patients currently face travelling long distances for neurology appointments.
Specifically, Budget 2025 provided €4 million for the recruitment of 5 consultant neurologists and an additional 25 whole-time positions to support the implementation of the Neurology Model of Care and the Hub and Spoke Model for neurology services. It is expected that this proposed Hub and Spoke model will enable a reduction in waiting lists, timely access to diagnosis and treatment and thus, improve quality of life and prognosis for people with neurological symptoms. The 25 whole-time equivalents, to support teams of nurses, and Health and Social Care professionals, are tasked with providing more care in an integrated way closer to people's homes. These posts will support the development of the Hub and Spoke model for Neurology services as well as disease specific pathways such as the first national Functional Neurological Disorder service at St. James Hospital in Dublin.
More broadly, the National Clinical Programme for Neurology is actively working on a Hub and Spoke model to guide equitable neurology services around the country to align with the new health regions and to tackle the gaps in neurology services nationally. and will deliver on the Sláintecare principle of delivering care closer to the patient's home. This model will include one model 4 hospital ‘Hub’ per Health Region, catering for the most complex neurological care. These sites will support model 3 hospital ‘Spoke’ sites who will provide services for people with less complex needs where efficient access to Hubs as required.
Many hospitals already have well developed neurology services, but funding received in Budget 2025 is an enabler towards delivery of Phase 1 of the Hub and Spoke model with new services to be developed at: Letterkenny University Hospital, Wexford General Hospital, Mayo University Hospital, Midlands Hospital, Portlaoise, and Kerry General Hospital.
I would like to acknowledge the role of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland for the work they do in representing patients across the country. The Alliance also works closely with the HSE in the development of services.
875. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the specific measures in place to reduce waiting times for dermatology out-patients; the steps being taken to achieve the KPIs of the national waiting list action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37776/25]
View answerIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
A multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans has been adopted to address this issue. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
I published the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 on February 12th, representing the Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times for patients and improving access to hospital care.
In keeping with this commitment, significant funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025, €190m for the HSE and €230m for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
With the 2025 plan, we will continue to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, progressing towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
This year’s WLAP focuses on reducing waiting times for scheduled care and sets out four key targets aimed at achieving this objective, namely:
• Having 50% of patients waiting less than the Sláintecare wait time targets (i.e. 10 weeks for outpatients (OPD) and 12 weeks for inpatient and day case (IPDC)) by the end of 2025.
• Reducing the weighted average wait time for scheduled care to 5.5 months.
• Increasing the proportion of OPD patients waiting less than 12 months to 90% by the end of 2025.
• Reducing the proportion of patients waiting over 24 months, or at risk of waiting over 24 months by the end of 2025, by 90% this year.
The Department of Health worked closely with the HSE and the NTPF to develop the specific actions in this year’s WLAP which are the means through which the targets will be achieved. WLAP 2025 sets out 25 actions under the themes of “Delivering Capacity”, “Enabling Scheduled Care Reform” and “Reforming Scheduled Care”.
Delivering Capacity sets out a number of initiatives to maximise scheduled care capacity.
Reforming Scheduled Care includes initiatives to support the reform of waiting lists to drive the most efficient use of available resources in a patient-centred way, and includes continuing to progress the work of the High Volume Specialty Working Groups for Dermatology, Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. Another key aspect of reform within the WLAP is to further progress the rollout of Modernised Care Pathways (MCPs), including in respect of Dermatology.
Enabling Scheduled Care Reform encompasses a number of digital and enabling technologies and tools that will support and facilitate the longer-term reform of waiting lists and includes the implementation of specialised referral forms for the high volume specialties, one of which is Dermatology.
876. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the efforts currently being made to improve the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for those affected by advanced ovarian cancer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37777/25]
View answerI believe the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) would be best placed to answer this query, so I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
877. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason there are currently no seizure detection devices (details supplied) eligible for funding under the local community healthcare organisation's community funded schemes; the processes which suppliers/manufacturers of these devices must follow in order to have these devices considered for funding; if the expansion of the scheme to include these devices can be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37789/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
878. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the total number of agency staff employed by the HSE for each of the past three years, by CHO area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37794/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have referred your question to the HSE to respond directly to the deputy directly.
879. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department is undertaking to offer timely appointments to the 10,542 children awaiting dental screenings in CHO9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37799/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
880. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if the Dexcom One continuous glucose monitor is available on the drugs payment card scheme for individuals who do not qualify to access the continuous glucose monitor under any other HSE scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37813/25]
View answerUnder 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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
881. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the lessons that have been learned to date from the Laura Brennan HPV vaccination catch-up programme to inform its future development; whether there are any specific areas of improvement that have been identified to increase uptake rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37822/25]
View answerThe ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is a preventative measure, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school.
The World Health Organisation has set a target for all countries to ensure that 90% of girls are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years. In relation to uptake for the routine HPV vaccination programme, an uptake rate of 78.4% was recorded for the HPV vaccine in first year for 2022/2023).
In 2025, the HSE will run a pilot programme which will focus on improving the HPV vaccination rates among underserved communities, including Traveller, Roma and migrant groups living in Ireland. The pilot will provide access to targeted information and support that facilitates these groups to make an informed choice in relation to vaccination.
The Laura Brennan Catch-up programme ran from December 2022 to December 2023 and offered free HPV vaccines to:
• females who are 24 years of age or younger
• males who are 21 years of age or younger
Approximately 11,000 people received HPV vaccination through this programme.
The HSE has advised that the implementation of the catch-up programme faced challenges due to multiple competing vaccination programme priorities and simultaneous demands on the same resources.
Increasing vaccination uptake rates in the routine HPV vaccination programme is vital in order for Ireland to achieve elimination of cervical cancer by its target date of 2040. The HSE will continue to encourage all eligible people to get their vaccines on time and will continue to share facts about the importance of HPV vaccine for both males and females on www.hpv.ie.
882. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if, given that the HPV vaccine is currently available, free of charge, to gbMSM and people living with HIV attending public STI clinics, PrEP and HIV services, there is an intention under the new National Sexual Health Strategy 2025-2035 to make the HPV vaccine available to gbMSM through primary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37823/25]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are selected, where possible, in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. The HPV vaccine is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. The HPV vaccine is currently offered, free of charge, to boys and girls in first year of secondary school and is administered through the School Immunisation Programme. It is critical that the HPV vaccine is administered early and before any likely exposure to HPV. My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence in this area.
The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035, and the National Sexual Health Action Plan, 2025-2028 commit to:
• Promoting the uptake of the HPV vaccine for young men and boys, as per the Programme for Government commitment;
• Prioritising increased free access to current and future vaccines protecting sexual health, through expanding existing programmes, increasing STI clinic capacity and through expanding free access in primary care, student health and private settings;
• Prioritising work to progress the development of the National Immunisation Information System (NIIS) that will enable uptake of mpox, HBV, HPV and other vaccinations to be measured systematically in key groups;
• Planning for similar equitable access and uptake monitoring for new vaccines, aligning with individual need and not the type of service attended;
• Considering the optimum strategic approach to emergency vaccination needs in the setting of new and emerging STIs, improving emergency response preparedness for vaccines;
• Supporting expanded vaccine uptake with targeted information campaigns.
The Strategy has just been launched; the first meeting of the Implementation Group was held on the 24th June. It is intended, as stated in the Strategy, to prioritise setting up the governance structures in the first instance, including topic specific sub-groups. Once this is completed, planning for individual actions, including those concerning delivery models for vaccination, will commence.
883. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether she will recognise obsessive compulsive disorder as a disability rather than a mental health condition. [37830/25]
View answerThis question is better directed to the Minister of Children, Disability and Equality as matters related to classification of specific conditions as Disabilities is under their remit.
884. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a healthcare professional (details supplied) could be trained in a hospital for breast cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37832/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
885. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Health the expected waiting time for a hip replacement and for further information to be supplied to a patient (details supplied) and this Deputy. [37836/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
887. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the reason some GP surgeries are implementing charges on medical card holders for various tests such as blood tests, urine sample testing and changing of dressings as an example; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37876/25]
View answerGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
Section 11 of the GMS contract sets out that GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for eligible patients to be charged for clinically necessary treatment.
In relation to blood tests, the issue of GPs charging GMS patients for this service is complex, given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should be taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the contract for persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card to be charged for clinically necessary blood tests.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for a service provided to assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of a GMS patient, shall contact the GP concerned and carry out an investigation into the complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by that GP.
Fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contracts are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients. Neither I nor the HSE have any role in relation to such fees.
888. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health in which month the new 96-bed block in UHL will be open to patients. [37878/25]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to improving services in the Mid West region including at UHL.
In April 2024, the Government announced a package of measures to increase capacity, address overcrowding and de-escalate the pressure experienced in the UHL Emergency Department.
Through Government investment 140 new beds opened in UHL since January 2020 including two new fast tracked 16-bed inpatient blocks which opened in December 2024 and June 2025.
96 additional new beds will be operational in September this year and enabling works are also underway for a second 96 bed block.
An additional 84 inpatient beds are planned at UHL through the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan. These projects, including the 32 beds delivered in December 2024 and June 2025, will increase bed capacity at the UHL site by up to 308 beds by 2028. Overall, 572 new inpatient beds will be delivered in the region from 2020-2031.
889. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if Veoza, aimed at women who are not suitable for HRT, will be covered under the free HRT scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37881/25]
View answerIn Budget 2025, a €20 million allocation was secured for the introduction of a state-funded Hormone Replacement Therapy measure for women experiencing symptoms of menopause.
Under this new measure, which came into effect on 1st June 20205, where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the dispensing fees will be met by the State.
At present, the current provision is for free HRT products for the treatment of menopause symptoms as this is the most commonly used treatment for managing menopausal symptoms and has shown to be the most effective intervention.
It is important to acknowledge that there are women who are contraindicated for the use of HRT in treating their menopause symptoms, and there are women who choose not to take HRT in some instances. In these cases, it is important to discuss options with a GP, or in some cases an oncologist, to decide the best course of action for the treatment of these symptoms.
Some women experiencing more complex symptoms, including those who are contraindicated for the use of HRT, may be referred to one of our Specialist Menopause Clinics for continued care free of charge.
890. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) will be funded by the HSE to eliminate the cost barrier of exercise for older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37882/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
891. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she will meet a group representing parents (details supplied) affected by the hip dysplasia scandal at Children’s Health Ireland; if she will issue a detailed response to their correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37902/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this question. I have received correspondence from the Hip Dysplasia Advocacy Group requesting a meeting. I and my officials are actively engaging with the group on the matters raised and are arranging a meeting.
892. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people covered by medical cards in each year 2011 to 2025, in tabular form. [37931/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
893. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people covered by GP visit cards in each year 2011 to 2025, in tabular form. [37932/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
894. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure the use of the Crumlin Hospital site for key worker housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37934/25]
View answerThe Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society, including key workers. Housing policy is a priority matter for Government, led by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes.
The critical importance of both housing and health care is clearly recognised in the recent Government approved revised National Planning Framework (NPF) (April 2025). The framework promotes the integration of health services with other community services, such as housing, education, and transportation. Given the cross-cutting nature of policy areas such as housing and healthcare, my Department and the HSE have active and continuous engagement with stakeholders across a variety of fora. This includes ongoing work with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in areas such as the Health Housing Planning Model and the Housing for All plan.
The Children’s Health Act 2018 provided for the establishment of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI). Under that legislation, the board of Crumlin voluntarily transferred its assets and liabilities to the new entity, CHI. As such, the Crumlin hospital campus has transferred to CHI.
In May 2024, Government noted that Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown and the current site of CHI at Crumlin had been identified to be brought forward into the planning phase for two new elective hospitals in Dublin. These are in addition to those sites already identified in Galway (Merlin Park University Hospital) and Cork (St Stephen's Hospital, Sarsfield Court).
Since then, work has been ongoing to consider how an elective hospital might be incorporated into the Crumlin campus, following the decant of CHI services into NCHI. This has included early engagement with the statutory planning authority.
The new Elective Hospitals will support the separation of scheduled (elective) and emergency care, delivering nearly one million procedures, treatments and diagnostics each year. This will lead to improved care for patients with fewer cancellations and delays. Together with the new Surgical Hubs, this significant expansion in elective facilities is required to drive down waiting lists and address continued demand for elective care services into the future.
895. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of equipment and machinery, such as CT and MRI scanners and linear accelerator machines, which have reached their end of life, across each statutory and section 38 hospital, in tabular form; to be requested from each hospital as required; the date at which they reached end of life; the breakdown rate of these machines; the productive hours lost as a result of breakdowns; the number of days where each machine was non-operational due to breakdown; the cost of maintenance to date per machine as a result of breakdowns and as a result of vendors not covering maintenance due to machinery being no longer under warranty; the number and details of machines which are idle or underutilised due to staffing and the WTE requirement to ensure they are operational at full capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37935/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
896. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the main CT scanner for radiation oncology at St. Luke’s is within or beyond its end of life; if there is a concern whether this machine will not be operational if it is turned off, and as such if it is left turned on 24 hours a day; her plans for replacing all equipment at St. Luke’s which is beyond or nearing end of life; the budgetary requirements for same and the sanctioned budget for replacements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37936/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
897. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the extent and cost of radiation therapy outsourcing to private providers, by hospital, in tabular form; and the details of total payments to private providers per instance of service provided. [37937/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
898. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the measures the Government is taking to address the unacceptable delays in accessing public psychological and speech and language therapy services for children; if a scheme will be introduced to reimburse families who are forced to pay for the provision of assessments and therapies due to the public system’s inability to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37938/25]
View answerImproving timely access to healthcare for all by reducing and reforming waiting lists, including primary care waiting lists, is a key focus of the Path to Universal Healthcare: Slaintecare and Programme for Government 2025+ and I fully acknowledge that there is an urgent need to reduce waiting times and waiting lists for primary care services such as psychology and speech and language therapy and to improve consistency of patient experience regardless of location.
I recognise the central role that primary care therapy services play in offering the opportunity for early and cost-effective interventions for children and young people. In Budget 2025, the Government continued its investment in initiatives aimed at addressing long waiters for children and young people in Orthodontics, Audiology and Child Psychology. The impact of this investment is evident as the Primary Care Psychology Waiting List initiative has successfully removed over 10,000 clients from the waitlist since its commencement in late 2021.
In line with the Programme for Government commitments to build capacity in primary care therapy services, a programmatic approach to address primary care waiting lists has been developed jointly by the Department of Health, and the HSE.
This programmatic approach involves three main workstreams: Workstream 1 aims to deliver improved analysis of primary care therapy activity and productivity to maximise capacity within existing resources.
Acknowledging that there is a need for shorter-term measures to address the current scale of waiting lists, Workstream 2 focuses on the development of measures, at a national level, to address patients waiting more than a year to access primary care therapy services. At present, proposals are being examined to address the national waiting lists for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy.
The focus of Workstream 3 is developing a Primary Care Therapy Waiting List Management Protocol to ensure that a consistent and transparent approach to referral, waiting list management and discharge of patients is applied across the primary care therapies in all Community Healthcare Networks (CHNs) thus improving overall patient experience. Workstream 3 is being supported through the joint Health Research Board/Department of Health ‘Evidence for Policy’ programme.
Taken together, it is expected that the actions under this programmatic approach will, put in place considerable standardised infrastructure to support systematic responses to primary care waiting lists and will, very importantly, lead to reduced waiting lists and more timely access to primary care therapy services.
