Written Answers Nos. 589-613
589. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the expected number of jobs, and timeframe expected, on the HSE recruitment panel for chiropodist (podiatrist) staff grade, established following interviews held in July 2025. [53075/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
590. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of current vacancies for chiropodist (podiatrist) positions within the HSE, by region, in tabular form. [53076/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
591. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid by HSE-run hospitals to debt collection agencies in each of the past five years, by hospital group; and to explain the Department's oversight role in approving or monitoring such expenditure. [53094/25]
View answerThe Department has an oversight role in monitoring and reporting on HSE expenditure, including monitoring compliance with budget and ensuring that funding is used to deliver the services intended. The Department has no role in sanctioning individual expenditure items of this nature. As the amounts paid for the use of debt collection agencies is an operational matter, this PQ has been referred to the Health Services Executive for direct response to the deputy.
592. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total amount of patient debt referred to debt collection agencies in the same period; the proportion of this debt that was successfully recovered; and whether her Department has conducted a cost-benefit analysis of this practice. [53095/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
593. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her Department's current policy on the use of private debt collection firms by public hospitals, including whether such arrangements require Departmental approval or follow centrally issued guidance. [53096/25]
View answerPatient charges are an element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system. Some charges have been abolished in recent years, for example:
• Public hospital inpatient charges.
• Emergency Department charges.
Other charges remain in place; these include:
• Out-patient charges.
• In-patient charges.
• Long-term stay charges.
Certain cohorts of people may be exempt from some or all of these charges.
In addition, patients who opt for private in-patient services in public hospitals are liable for a range of private in-patient charges. There are no exemptions from these charges.
Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the HSE in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful.
The operational detail of this question is a matter for the HSE and I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to that detail.
594. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the safeguards in place to ensure that vulnerable patients, such as those on low incomes or with long-term illnesses, are not subject to aggressive debt-collection practices by HSE hospitals. [53097/25]
View answer595. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has examined the approach in other EU countries with universal health systems in relation to pursuing unpaid hospital charges; and to indicate whether reforms are under consideration to reduce reliance on private debt collectors. [53098/25]
View answer596. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department intends to publish an annual report detailing hospital debts, recovery rates and payments made to collection firms, in the interests of transparency and public accountability. [53099/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 594 to 596, inclusive, together.
Patient charges are an element of the funding for the Irish health system. Charges have not been increased in recent years despite inflation. Furthermore, hospital Inpatient charges were abolished in 2023.
Remaining charges include those for Emergency Department, Outpatient and Injury Units. Exemptions do apply for Medical Card holders and patients eligible under various criteria.
The operation of hospital charges and collection of same is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Non collection of charges directly impacts affordability of services provided by the HSE. Therefore, it is incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to look for amounts owed.
In case of difficulty paying a hospital bill, the regulations allow an instalment arrangement to be agreed.
Debt collection agencies are only engaged when normal billing arrangements have not been successful.
597. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the implications for public health of requiring people to work into their late sixties, in particular regarding occupational health and chronic illness and if she will publish those assessments. [53106/25]
View answerRegarding people who may choose to work into their late sixties, my Department has not been asked to assess the implications for public health.
An ESRI Report from 2019 - The Ageing Workforce in Ireland: Working Conditions, Health and Extending Working Lives (ESRI, 2019) was published as part of the ESRI and the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA) research programme, Health, Safety and Well-being at Work. This report can be found here: www.esri.ie/publications/the-ageing-workforce-in-ireland-working-conditions-health-and-extending-working-lives
598. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if she will support the national roll-out of Age Action’s care and repair scheme, as committed to in the programme for Government, if she will outline a timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53130/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to rolling out the Care and Repair scheme nationally. A number of local schemes are in operation across the country with Age Action being the largest provider of this service. The Care and Repair scheme aims to support older people to remain living independently in their own homes through the improvement of their housing conditions. The Care and Repair model typically offers both a volunteer-led ‘DIY Service’ to complete minor odd jobs that do not require a tradesperson and a ‘Trades Referral Service’ for major improvement works by providing older people with a list of local tradespeople who have agreed to uphold a code of conduct.
My officials are currently examining options for the phased and targeted expansion of this service and the delivery of this commitment.
599. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health to clarify if three children (details supplied) will be included in the next planned Gaza Medevac Initiative evacuation; when this evacuation will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53131/25]
View answer600. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health to clarify when, and the process by which, family members of evacuees under the Gaza Medevac Initiative, with specific reference to minor or adult children dependents, will arrive in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53132/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.
I thank the Deputy for his questions in relation to medical evacuations from Gaza to Ireland.
I can advise the Deputy that Ireland continues a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance including through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Irish Aid humanitarian and development assistance programme, and the HSE Global Health Programme.
In September 2024, a Government decision was made that Ireland would evacuate up to 30 paediatric patients from Gaza (under 17 years of age) and their carers out of Egypt, in response to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) request to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to assist in addressing the Gaza healthcare needs through medical evacuation. To date, 12 paediatric patients, their carers and a further 21 family members have been medically evacuated out of Egypt to Ireland in two medevac operations in December 2024 and May 2025.
On 15 July 2025, the Government amended the scope of the Gaza Medevac Initiative to allow for family members of paediatric patients that are parents, minor siblings or adult dependent siblings of the patient, on grant of visas, permission to enter the State. This decision not only applies to future medical evacuation operations but also to the families already here under the Medevac Initiative who have qualifying family members still in Gaza.
My Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration, Irish Red Cross, the HSE, CHI and international organisations are working closely towards two evacuations out of Gaza via Jordan in the near future:
• a medical evacuation for paediatric patients and their accompanying family members (led by DOH); and
• a civilian evacuation to facilitate family reunification for the paediatric patients and their families that are already in Ireland (led by DFAT).
Medical Evacuation out of Gaza
My Department is working with all relevant Government Departments, agencies and international bodies towards a medical evacuation out of Gaza via Jordan in the near future. This is subject to all permissions and logistics being put in place. Such a medical evacuation is highly complex and many determining factors are subject to challenging and shifting external circumstances.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has the primary role of selecting patients for medical evacuation overseas. In consultation with WHO and other partners, the Ministry for Health in Gaza developed a strict set of criteria for selecting patients to be evacuated.
In addition to the process for patient selection for the WHO-approved lists, each country participating in the UCPM with medical evacuation has its own process for patient selection from the WHO-approved lists. Only paediatric patients are considered for the Irish Gaza Medevac Initiative, as is the case with many other European countries carrying out medical evacuations. Paediatric patients are selected by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) from the WHO medevac approved list, strictly subject to treatment capacity in the HSE and CHI.
Once CHI has confirmed that the selection criteria is met, and offers of medical evacuation are accepted by the patients and their parents or carer, relevant authorities work to secure all required documentation to allow the patient and their family members to be evacuated and plans are drawn up to carry out the complex medical evacuation in cooperation with key organisations on the ground and in Ireland.
Civilian Evacuation to support Family Reunification
I appreciate that those who have been evacuated under the Gaza Medevac initiative are eager for their family members to join them in Ireland. My Department is assisting in preparations for a civilian evacuation from Gaza via Jordan to facilitate family reunification of families who arrived in Ireland via the Medevac Initiative. I can confirm that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is leading on the operational and logistical aspects of such evacuations to secure safe passage from Gaza to Jordan and onward to Ireland. My Department, with the assistance of the Irish Red Cross, is leading on the identification of eligible family members, and on engagement with Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to secure visas and will support family members on their arrival in Ireland.
Visa applications of eligible family members meeting the criteria for the civilian evacuation, including the three children referenced in the Deputy’s query, are currently being processed and the patient families in Ireland are being updated regularly. However, while the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration can grant visas for eligible family members to travel to Ireland, the exit of persons from Gaza is dependent on all necessary documentation being in order and on receiving permission from the relevant local authorities, both in Israel and in certain circumstances, neighbouring jurisdictions. Such permissions are outside the control of the Government of Ireland.
601. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if her Department is concerned regarding the rise in tuberculosis cases in the State, particularly drug-resistant strains; if she will commit to public funding of the National TB Centre and Clinical Team at St James’s Hospital and allocating resources to the Irish Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory at St James’s Hospital, given that Ireland is not meeting WHO minimum diagnostic standards; to appoint a public health TB lead who will bring Ireland in line with international best practices and obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53138/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
602. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health for an update on when spinal muscular atrophy screening will be included in the new born heel-prick test; the implementation for roll out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53143/25]
View answerAs Minister for Health, I am determined to support our screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population. Currently, all babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’), which tests for nine rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life.
The Deputy may be aware that a new National Rare Disease Strategy was launched on 27 August. This Strategy aims to ensure that all people living with a rare disease and their families have access to equitable, inclusive and cross-sectoral care throughout their life journey that will enable them to reach their full potential and to live their best lives. Work is ongoing to ensure the full implementation of the Strategy, including the establishment of an Implementation Oversight Group and the development of a detailed implementation plan outlining the actions required to fully achieve the Strategy's 11 recommendations.
Incremental progress continues to be made on the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP). In 2023, two recommendations from NSAC on the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NNBSP were approved. In Budget 2024, an additional €1.4 million of new development funding was provided to support the SMA/SCID implementation process. Once both conditions have been fully implemented, the number of conditions screened for in Ireland will increase to 11.
In terms of the current implementation status, the HSE has advised that the equipment needed to enable the roll-out testing for SMA and SCID has been procured, and that verification testing has commenced and is progressing well. The recruitment process to hire the additional staff required to support the expansion of the NNBSP has almost concluded and work has commenced on developing screening pathways for both conditions.
Officials in my Department are actively engaged with the HSE to ensure that progress continues on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID. Nevertheless, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. This is why I remain committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice.
603. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health for an update on the HIQA review of emergency services in the mid-west region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53163/25]
View answerHIQA published their independent and expert review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the HSE Mid West Region on Tuesday 30th of September.
The HIQA report clearly identifies that the lack of sufficient acute inpatient beds in UHL and the Mid West region is the core issue that needs to be addressed urgently.
The report presents three options for how to best address the capacity gap. These include the expansion of capacity at UHL on the Dooradoyle site (Option A); the extension of the UHL hospital campus to include a second site in close proximity under a shared governance and resourcing model (Option B); and the development of a Model 3 hospital in HSE Mid West, providing a second emergency department (ED) for the region (Option C).
My officials and I are currently considering the extensive findings and advice in full, and I will report back to Government as soon as possible.
604. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health when the Nenagh community nursing home is due to open, especially now that the HSE have vacant possession of the building for the transfer of patients from a nursing home (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53164/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
605. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if the recruitment process of staff for the Nenagh community nursing unit has concluded; if all staffing positions have been filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53165/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
606. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a medication (details supplied) will be approved for the treatment of Von Hippel-Lindau disease in view of the fact that this medication has EU approval. [53172/25]
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.
607. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to ensure an individual seeking medical evacuation from Gaza (details supplied) is given a specific medical offer from CHI Crumlin, as all other prerequisites for medical evacuation have been met. [53179/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question in relation to medical evacuations from Gaza to Ireland.
I can advise the Deputy that Ireland continues a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance including through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Irish Aid humanitarian and development assistance programme, and the HSE Global Health Programme.
In September 2024, a Government decision was made that Ireland would evacuate up to 30 paediatric patients from Gaza (under 17 years of age) and their carers out of Egypt, in response to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) request to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) to assist in addressing the Gaza healthcare needs through medical evacuation. On 15 July 2025, the Government amended the scope of the Gaza Medevac Initiative to allow for family members of paediatric patients that are parents, minor siblings or adult dependent siblings of the patient, on grant of visas, permission to enter the State. This decision not only applies to future medical evacuation operations but also to the families already here under the Medevac Initiative who have qualifying family members still in Gaza.
To date, 12 paediatric patients, their carers and a further 21 family members have been medically evacuated out of Egypt to Ireland in two medevac operations in December 2024 and May 2025.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has the primary role of selecting patients for medical evacuation overseas. In consultation with WHO and other partners, the Ministry for Health in Gaza developed a strict set of criteria for selecting patients to be evacuated. In addition to the process for patient selection for the WHO-approved lists, each country participating in the UCPM with medical evacuation has its own process for patient selection from the WHO-approved lists.
The following process has been put in place for the selection of paediatric patients to be medically evacuated to Ireland:
Paediatric patients are selected by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) from the WHO medevac approved list. CHI monitors the WHO approved list of patients requiring medical evacuation to identify suitable paediatric patients.
Patient selection is strictly subject to treatment capacity in the HSE and CHI.
Once CHI has confirmed that the selection criteria is met, offers of medical evacuation are made, considered and then either accepted or rejected by the patients and their carer. If accepted, relevant authorities work to secure all required documentation to allow the patient and their parent or carer and other family members to be evacuated and plans can be drawn up to carry out the complex medical evacuation in cooperation with key organisations on the ground and in Ireland.
This is the process that was followed for the two medical evacuations out of Egypt in December 2024 and in May 2025 and is being followed for the next medical evacuation which is currently being planned.
While we are fully aware of the increasing numbers of patients from Gaza requiring medical evacuation, it is unfortunately not possible for my Department to consider direct requests or representations for inclusion of particular patients in future medevac operations.
It is important for the integrity of the Gaza Medevac initiative that patient selection be made by the HSE and CHI in line with the agreed process.
608. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the tuberculosis (TB) crisis in Ireland; if she will confirm funding for the National TB Centre and Clinical Team, and for the Irish Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory at St James's Hospital; the timeframe for implementing the Collaborative Tuberculosis Strategy for Ireland 2024-2030, in view of the 30% rise in TB incidence in 2024, the increase in multidrug-resistant cases, the rise in paediatric TB since 2017 (including incidence in children rising from 0.8 in 2023 to 1.3 in 2024), and the fact that TB cases in infants under one year in 2024 equalled the total from the previous ten years combined. [53194/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
609. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will designate a liaison officer within the HSE to support survivors of industrial and reformatory schools in accessing community health and social care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53214/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
610. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an auditory brainstem response hearing test which the person was referred for in June 2023, or a timeframe as to they can expect to receive this appointment for this essential hearing test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53218/25]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The Minister for Health is prohibited from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
611. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if she will investigate the potential cost of extending the availability of glucose monitors to persons with diabetes, other than type 1 diabetes, including type 2 and type 3c diabetes, with a view to extending the availability of monitors to this cohort of patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53248/25]
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.
612. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the dates/occasions upon which each hospital in the country entered surge escalation, over the past twelve months; and the number of patients in surge beds during each of those occasions, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53260/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
613. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for a mammogram in each county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53271/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
