Written Answers Nos. 447-467
447. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the plans regarding special leave with pay for Covid-19; and the number of people who will lose this payment at the end of the year and transition to the public sector sick leave scheme. [62413/25]
View answerAfter a hearing in the Labor Court in June, it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support. Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme. The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted. There are currently 159 Health Care workers availing of the scheme of Special Leave with pay.
448. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation plan for the 2019 National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte; if this implementation plan will be published before the end of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62423/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to reforming oral healthcare services through the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte
The implementation plan for the first phase of Policy implementation is being finalised. The implementation plan is currently being reviewed by the HSE SLT (Senior Leadership Team) in advance of being sent to the Minister for consideration.
449. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the plans her Department has to roll out primary care services in Clare to assess children for autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62434/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
450. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the status of orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); if she will ensure that the person secures orthodontic treatment as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62435/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
451. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the specific training in the area of dementia and Alzheimer's that is provided to primary care staff in the healthcare system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62445/25]
View answerAs this is a service related matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
452. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting for BreastCheck screening in counties Wicklow and Wexford; the length of time they have been waiting; the number of patients carried over on the waiting list from 2024 who were not seen on time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62450/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
453. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the provisions which have been made to ensure that agencies, organisations and charities funded by her Department will meet their obligations under the new AE scheme. [62477/25]
View answerAgencies, organisations and charities that will be covered by the new auto-enrolment scheme are generally funded under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004. These organisations receive a portion of their funding from the HSE to deliver agreed services. Funding is provided to organisations by the HSE through the grant process. Additional funding provided for 2026 is intended to address overall cost pressures for HSE funded services within these organisations.
These organisations are independent entities, and as such employment contracts and obligations (e.g. auto-enrolment, pay, pensions) are matters between the employer and their employees. As these staff are not public sector employees, responsibility for meeting obligations under the new auto-enrolment scheme rests with their respective employers.
454. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of every agency, not-for-profit organisation, charity or service provider directly funded by her Department; and the details of each specific directly funded post in each body. [62480/25]
View answer455. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to recognising Covid-19 as an occupational illness for social workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62483/25]
View answerWhile the EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety recommended the recognition of COVID-19 (not long-COVID) as an occupational illness in health and social care settings, recognition of COVID-19 nationally as an occupational illness falls under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection. After reviewing the EU recommendation, the Minister for Social Protection found that COVID-19 did not meet the requirements to be recognised as an occupational illness in the context of the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
456. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if she will reconsider the ending of the long Covid scheme in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62484/25]
View answerAfter a hearing in the Labor Court in June this year it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support. Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme.
The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted.
457. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1632 and 1633 of 4 November 2025, whether healthcare providers must indicate eligibility/ineligibility for the free HRT scheme on the prescriptions transmitted to pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62489/25]
View answerUnder the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) measure, which came into effect on 1 June 2025, where a woman has been prescribed HRT by her healthcare provider for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the pharmacy dispensing fees will be met by the State.
This measure is intended to support the management of the symptoms of menopause and, therefore, relates to the provision of treatment for the symptoms a specific medical condition/life stage i.e. menopause. HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing symptoms of menopause and has shown to be the most effective intervention.
Menopause has been highlighted as a key priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce. It is a key action in the Women’s Health Action Plans. Several measures have been implemented in recent years to improve the experience of menopause for women in Ireland, including this HRT arrangement.
I am aware that HRT is used in the treatment of other medical conditions/circumstances, including gender-affirming healthcare, hypogonadism, IVF, and some cancer treatments. However, the current provision of the Free HRT Arrangement, legislated for under the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024, limits eligibility to those whose healthcare provider has prescribed HRT to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. The legislation does not make amendments to what must be included in a prescription for it to be considered valid.
Currently, prescriptions written by Irish registered prescribers practicing in Ireland are valid whether presented in paper format or received through Healthmail. Healthmail is a secure clinical email service that allows health care providers to send and receive clinical patient information in a secure manner. The service is provided by the Primary Care Directorate of the HSE and is managed by eHealth Ireland and supported by the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Irish Pharmacy Union.
458. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the additional staff, in particular nursing staff, will be provided to allow for the overdue opening of beds in West Kerry Community Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62491/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
459. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the additional staff, in particular nursing staff, will be provided to allow for the overdue opening of beds in Kenmare Community Hospital, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62492/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
460. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the additional staff, in particular nursing staff, will be provided to allow for the overdue opening of the new Killarney Community Hospital and the closed beds in West Kerry Community Hospital and Kenmare Community Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62493/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
461. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason Kerry patients continue to be transferred to community hospitals and nursing homes in Cork and Limerick and as far away as County Offaly while the brand-new Killarney Community Hospital remains closed and beds remain closed in West Kerry Community Hospital and Kenmare Community Hospital; her views on whether this is acceptable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62494/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
462. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed progress report in regard to the overdue primary care centre in Cahersiveen, County Kerry; when the residents of Iveragh and south Kerry will have this important health facility in place to serve the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62495/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
463. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health her plans for the old St. Finian's Hospital and lands, a prime property in Killarney, County Kerry, that has been idle since 2012; the reason no decision has been made to date regarding this valuable asset; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62501/25]
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.
464. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will reconsider the decision not to renew the temporary financial support scheme for healthcare and social care workers suffering from long Covid, given the significant occupational risk faced by front-line staff during the height of the pandemic. [62513/25]
View answerAfter a hearing in the Labor Court in June, it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support. Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme. The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted.
465. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will recognise long Covid as an occupational illness, noting that several other EU countries have already set this precedent. [62514/25]
View answerWhile the EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety recommended the recognition of COVID-19 (not long-COVID) as an occupational illness in health and social care settings, recognition of COVID-19 nationally as an occupational illness falls under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection. After reviewing the EU recommendation, the Minister for Social Protection found that COVID-19 did not meet the requirements to be recognised as an occupational illness in the context of the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
466. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the supports that will be made available to healthcare and social care workers affected by long Covid once the current temporary financial support scheme ends in December. [62515/25]
View answerAfter a hearing in the Labor Court in June, it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support. Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme. The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted.
467. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the appointment of the design teams for the development of the new bed blocks at Galway University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62523/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
