Written Answers Nos. 1024-1041
1024. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to improve coordination between hospital consultants, community health teams, and families to ensure elderly patients receive appropriate, consistent, and compassionate care planning. [63099/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
1025. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the average wait times for routine scans in each public hospital in the Dublin and midlands health region in each of the past three years and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63101/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1026. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department is taking to expand access to IVF for individuals with a condition (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63104/25]
View answerThe Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme to ensure that fertility-related issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
Referrals for publicly-funded, privately-provided assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment commenced in September 2023, subject to patients meeting the criteria agreed by the Department and the HSE. The access criteria were developed by a multi-disciplinary group, with reproductive medicine expertise and followed consultation with experts in the field along with a review of the international evidence. These criteria are in keeping with those applied in other jurisdictions.
The clinical parameters of the access criteria include an assessment of as age, body mass index (BMI) and other health and well-being elements.
The clinical parameters of BMI were reviewed and determined in the context of both the potential success of the advanced fertility treatment but also the health and well-being of the intending birth mother and any resultant pregnancy, inclusive of the management of maternity care, delivery and health of a child. While it is recognised that there may be medical conditions which contribute to a high BMI, the access criteria do not offer exemptions for AHR referrals.
Up to 10 November 2025, over 3,300 couples have been referred by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant for AHR treatment, following extensive investigations and/or secondary level treatment within the Regional Fertility Hubs. Furthermore, the Hubs have successfully and directly managed thousands more patients presenting with fertility-related issues who have been referred by their GP. Not all couples experiencing fertility challenges actually require such advanced and invasive interventions as IVF.
In this regard, it is important to note that the access criteria for public patients to avail of services provided at a Regional Fertility Hub are less stringent than those required to be met in order to avail of free AHR treatment. For example, the maximum BMI for a woman to access services at a Hub is 35.0 kg/m2, instead of 30.0 kg/m2.
Therefore, it is advised that if a couple is experiencing fertility challenges, and they meet the access criteria for care and management at Regional Fertility Hub level, then they should seek a referral from their GP. Each Regional Fertility Hub is positioned to provide a suite of investigations and tests free of charge and can commence working with the couple to identify next appropriate clinical steps, many of which may be available within the Hub itself or by means of a referral to another public service.
The access criteria and the terms of the AHR treatment initiative are being kept under ongoing review. Further potential changes to the access criteria or expansion of the initiative requires continued extensive consultation between Department officials, colleagues in the HSE, and also with relevant specialists in the field of reproductive medicine. This will include consideration of additional funding requirements which may ensue from any proposed expansion of the initiative.
I want to reassure you that my Department and the Government are focused, through the full implementation of the Model of Care for Fertility, on ensuring that patients receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced AHR treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the most effective deployment of finite public resources.
1027. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if a group (details supplied) holds any official authorised role to collect, process, or manage patient data on behalf of the Women’s Health Framework, the Department of Health, or the HSE; and if so, to outline the legal and administrative basis for such an arrangement. [63105/25]
View answer1028. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will publish the governance structure, data protection impact assessment and data protection processes associated with any collection or storage of patient information under a project (details supplied) or any related element of the Women’s Health Framework. [63106/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1027 and 1028 together.
The group referred to by the Deputy does not operate under the remit of my Department and as such I have no role in its operation, activities or governance.
The Endometriosis Priority Actions Advisory Group was established in September 2025 to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of women with endometriosis. The advisory group has been established under the umbrella of the Women’s Health Taskforce. The establishment of this group arose from priorities identified following the Endometriosis Patient Forum held on the 1st September 2025.
The advisory group consists of existing members of the Women’s Health Taskforce, officials from relevant policy areas in my Department, representation of the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme, the National Women’s Council and endometriosis advocates. I am aware that a representative of the group referred by the Deputy is one of five endometriosis advocates on the advisory group. The voice of women is tantamount to the work of the Women’s Health taskforce and the inclusion of these advocates on the advisory group is fundamental to its remit.
The advisory group has a key role to play in advising on and the oversight of specific actions set out in the group’s terms of reference.
The views of all women and girls affected by endometriosis are important to me and the Women’s Health Taskforce. I will continue to listen to women to hear about their experiences with a view to continuing the work we to improve health outcomes for women and girls.
1029. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting to see a psychologist through primary care services, by CHO and by wait times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63108/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1030. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the estimated expenditure required over a two-year period to provide liaison psychiatry staffing within the emergency department at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise in County Laois, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63116/25]
View answerThe national Model of Care for Consultation Liaison Psychiatry was launched by myself as Minister in May 2025, as a comprehensive framework to guide the development of Liaison Psychiatry services in our hospitals. Liaison psychiatry, also known as consultation liaison psychiatry, provides specialist mental health input in emergency departments and general hospital wards. Liaison Psychiatry plays a critical role in supporting people who present with both physical and mental health needs, particularly people who may present with eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal ideation.
With reference to the information requested as this is an operational issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
1031. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve mental health services for young people in County Laois; the details of additional resources to be made available for mental health service delivery in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63117/25]
View answerThe total allocation for mental health services in 2026 is over €1.5 billion, which is the sixth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased.
This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and our national suicide and self-harm reduction strategy Connecting for Life, across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, through to specialist mental health services. This year’s budget provided the opportunity to focus on investing in crisis support and suicide prevention; youth mental health and CAMHS, and expanding the National Clinical Programmes.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions will now take place with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2025, including that for Mental Health.
With reference to specific service provision for mental health services in County Laois, as this is an operational issue , it has been forwarded to the HSE for direct reply to you.
1032. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service paramedics per 100,000 nationally, by health region; the number of critical care ambulances and rapid response vehicles, per health region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63118/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1033. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of WTEs in the National Ambulance Service (NAS), per grade codes, in the CH08 region, from 2020 to 2025; the annual level of activity delivered by the NAS for the same period, by HSE region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63119/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1034. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to address the shortage of dentists that will accept medical card holders in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63120/25]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides oral healthcare, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, additional fillings and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients, are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon.
A package of measures was introduced in 2022 to expand the care available under the Scheme and significantly increase the fees paid to contractors . These measures are having an impact, with access to care continuing to increase each year since they were introduced. In 2024, over 227,000 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, supporting over 44,000 extra patients compared with 2022. Access to care has continued to improve this year, an additional 5,802 patients have been treated, and a further 14,640 treatments provided in the January-October 2025 period compared to the same period in 2024
In the longer term, the Government is committed to reforming oral healthcare services, including the DTSS, through the implementation of the service reforms set out in the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP), Smile Agus Sláinte. The Policy also contains a range of strategic workforce planning actions to increase national workforce capacity, in support of improving patient access to care. The Programme for Government contains commitments to implement the National Oral Health Policy, reform oral healthcare services for medical card holders and address workforce capacity.
The implementation plan for the first phase of the Policy is currently being finalised by my Department and the HSE. The plan includes reform of services for adult medical card holders among the initial priorities
1035. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health her plans to develop a national pathway and specialist multidisciplinary functional neurological disorder clinic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63121/25]
View answerThe Department is committed to working with relevant stakeholders including the HSE and patient representatives to strengthen key services and supports for people with neurological conditions including Functional Neurological Disorders and made significant investments in Budget 2025.
Budget 2025 provided €4m for the recruitment of 5 consultant neurologists and an additional 25 WTEs to support the implementation of the Neurology Model of Care and the Hub and Spoke Model for neurology services.
Of the 30 WTEs announced for neurology services 3 of these will be dedicated to FND services at St. James Hospital. These posts will include a senior physiotherapist, senior occupational therapists and a neuro-psychologist.
The National Clinical Programme for Neurology (NCPN) recognises the need to develop a pathway for people with FND in all six Health Regions and established a working group to consider this proposed initiative in September 2025.
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. This will cater for people with all neurological conditions including FND and will deliver on the Sláintecare principle of delivering care closer to the patients 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 will enable delivery of Phase 1 of the Hub and Spoke model.
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, including FND.
I am committed to making further progress developing services for those with Functional Neurological Disorders and I will continue to work with the HSE to ensure improvements in Neurology services as a whole.
1036. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders currently waiting for dental appointments in County Laois, by age and waiting time, for end of October 2024 and end of October 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63122/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1037. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE community orthoptist posts filled within CHO8, in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63123/25]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
1038. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to report on the changes to the organ donation framework; the number of those opting out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63124/25]
View answerPart 2 of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 commenced on 17 June 2025. It provides, for the first time, a national legislative framework for organ donation and transplant services in Ireland.
Under the legislation, all adults in Ireland are considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate on the Relevant Organ Donation Opt-Out Register or are in one of the excluded groups. It is important to reassure people that family members will always be consulted before any action is taken. This is commonly referred to as a soft opt-out organ donation system.
Families will continue to be consulted as part of a safe and respectful organ donation process, while the wishes of the deceased should be central to any decision.
Most people in Ireland are in favour of organ donation, and the new system changes the default assumption to one that matches the prevailing public attitude regarding organ donation. Meanwhile, the Register is intended to ensure that a person’s right to autonomy, self-determination and bodily integrity is respected.
The wishes of those on the Register will be respected in full, and their family will not be approached on the issue of organ donation. This objection applies to the relevant organs under the Act, namely, the liver, lung, pancreas, heart or kidney.
I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that as of Friday 14 November 2025, 57,749 persons are on the Relevant Organ Donation Opt-Out Register. The current figure represents a small proportion of the eligible population.
The Act introduces the concept of the designated family member i.e. the person who will be consulted regarding consent or confirmation of no objection to donation. The Designated Family Member Guidelines have been published which outline the role of the designated family member in the context of consent under Part 2 of the Act and the conditions which must be met.
Part 2 also expands pathways for living organ donations to include non-directed altruistic donation allowing living donors to donate to the transplantation system rather than to a specific person.
Finally, the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) (Living Donor Reimbursement Scheme) Regulations 2025 have been introduced to place the Living Donor Reimbursement Scheme on a statutory footing. To date, the policy has been operated on a non-statutory basis. The intention is to minimise financial disincentives for potential living organ donors, with a view to ensuring the pool of living donors continues to expand. The policy is based on the premise that although reimbursement may be granted, such reimbursement cannot confer any financial reward on a potential donor.
1039. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will run an international recruitment campaign to recruit suitably qualified senior dental surgeons, with an interest in special needs, for the CHO8 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63125/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1040. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently reconsider the decision to cease the phased dispensing reimbursement service for certain medications in community pharmacies (details supplied); if she is aware that this decision has caused huge concern in community pharmacies, and among the families of vulnerable customers who have previously been availing of this scheme. [63147/25]
View answerThe Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 does not remove phased dispensing.
Phased dispensing was introduced in 1996 for patient safety reasons. The supply of medication in instalments can support patients prescribed certain high-risk medications who are at risk of medication misadventure if these medications were to be supplied on a monthly basis, as is the norm under the community drug schemes. Where a phased dispensing claim is submitted, the current requirement is that an item must be dispensed across multiple supply occasions. Community pharmacies receive additional payments in respect of phased dispensing.
Monitored Dosing Systems are systems that enable the individual medicine doses to be organised according to the prescribed dose schedule. These are sometimes referred to as blister packs. The State has never agreed to fund Monitored Dosing Systems.
However, a practice has built up whereby the use of Monitored Dosing Systems are charged as if for phased dispensing. The State has never agreed to this. Phased claiming was never intended to be used to submit claims in lieu of the provision of Monitored Dosing Systems.
Whilst Monitored Dosing Systems may have a role for some patients there is significant uncertainty around the robustness of the evidence supporting its use. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics carried out an evidence assessment which indicated that the evidence was, at best, equivocal to support such a programme.
Significant expenditure is therefore being incurred where it was never intended by the State. It has been agreed to introduce improved controls in this regard and to limit the use of phased dispensing to specified high risk drugs, where a patient safety concern may exist.
Phased dispensing support is currently available under the GMS (medical card) Scheme for the following reasons:
• Reason 1 - at the request of a patient's physician.
• Reason 2 - due to the inherent nature of a medicinal product i.e. product stability and shelf life.
• Reason 3 - where a patient is commencing new drug therapy with a view to establishing patient tolerance and acceptability before continuing on a full treatment regime.
• Reason 4 - in exceptional circumstances where the patient is incapable of safely and effectively managing the medication regimen.
Under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025, from January 2026, phased dispensing under reason 1 and 4 will be limited to a defined set of high-risk medication classes. These are:
• Psychotropics;
• Opioids;
• Codeine; and
• Pregabalin and gabapentin.
The approved list of medications under these classes will be provided by the HSE in due course.
For reasons 1 and 4, by focusing phased dispensing reimbursement on the medication categories on the approved list, phased dispensing payments can be targeted to medications with the highest risk or potential for misuse.
Phased dispensing fees will remain payable as per current arrangements under reasons 2 and 3 and will not be subject to the approved list.
The salient point here is that appropriate phased dispensing is not being removed in this Agreement.
The introduction of improved controls around phased dispensing is being done in a way which puts patient safety first and allows the State to repurpose €20m of funding to be used to implement new patient-centered services.
It remains open to pharmacies to charge patients for the use of Monitored Dosing Systems as a private service.
1041. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of conditions currently screened for in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63150/25]
View answer1042. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand the number of conditions that are currently screened for in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63151/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1041 and 1042 together.
As 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 newborn 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 Programme for Government commits to continually reviewing the number of conditions babies are screened for.
As the Deputy may be aware, a new National Rare Disease Strategy was launched in August 2025. 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 that 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.
I would highlight that any changes to Ireland’s screening programmes will be facilitated through established protocols. The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes. NSAC assesses the evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to myself as Minister for Health.
The rigorous processes utilised by NSAC are critical to ensure that our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
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 NNBS programme were approved. In Budget 2024, an additional €1.4 million of new development funding was provided to support the SCID and SMA implementation process.
In terms of the current status, the HSE has advised that the equipment needed to enable the roll-out testing for SCID and SMA has been purchased, delivered and successfully installed at the newborn screening laboratory and significant progress continues with regards to the laboratory verification process. The recruitment process to hire the additional staff required to support the expansion of the NNBSP has been completed and work continues on developing screening pathways for both conditions.
Once both conditions have been fully implemented, the number of conditions screened for in Ireland will increase to 11.
In terms of calls for the further expansion of the NNBSP, in 2024, NSAC established a Newborn Screening Subgroup to provide additional expertise to support the Committee’s decision-making processes.
In May 2025, the Newborn Screening Subgroup completed work on developing a framework for the prioritisation of proposals related to newborn screening. This framework was subsequently used to identify 10 conditions. These conditions have now been referred by NSAC to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undergo a Health Technology Assessment (HTA), as resources allow.
HTAs facilitate the assessment of relevant evidence and knowledge on the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies in order to guide decisions regarding the appropriate use of technology and efficient allocation of resources. They involve a multi-disciplinary assessment of the clinical, economic, ethical, legal and societal perspectives that may be impacted by the introduction of a new technology. They are time-intensive and rigorous processes.
I am glad to note that the first of the aforementioned HTAs, to consider the addition of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia to the NNBSP, has now commenced and I look forward to receiving a recommendation from NSAC in this regard in 2026.
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.
