Written Answers Nos. 1059-1080
1059. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to increasing the number of breast screening locations nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63239/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1060. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive a date for an operation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63242/25]
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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1061. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to delayed implementation of spinal muscular atrophy in the heelprick test for babies; the timeline for the implementation of spinal muscular atrophy in the heelprick test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63246/25]
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’ test), 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.
Incremental progress continues to be made on the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP). In 2023, two recommendations from the National Screening Advisory Committee (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 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.
In relation to concerns raised around the length of the implementation process, it should be emphasised that Ireland is not taking longer than other comparable countries to assess and implement additions to the NNBSP.
The Health Council of the Netherlands first recommended screening for SMA in 2019 and implementation was completed three years later in October 2022. In the United States of America, it took six years to fully implement SMA screening after it was added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in 2018. In the United Kingdom, screening for SCID and SMA have been under consideration by the UK National Screening Committee since 2017 and 2018 respectively.
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.
1062. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical nutritionists employed by the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63247/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
1063. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the number of new clinical nutritionists that will be employed in 2026, 2027 and 2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63248/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
1064. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to address the chronic situation that exists at University Hospital Kerry accident and emergency department by providing a new 96-bed block in addition to the 39 beds already in train there and take into consideration the fact that the hospital has seen an 18% increase in emergency department presentations during 2024 on 2023 numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63250/25]
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.
1065. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a permanent oncology and haematology building will be expedited at University Hospital Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63251/25]
View answerThe interim Oncology unit was completed in University Hospital Kerry in 2024 at a cost of €2.44m. This project included for 14 No day treatment cubicles plus 2 No day treatment isolation rooms, 7 No outpatient consultation rooms and an Aseptic compound unit.
The drafting of a new capital submission and business case for the permanent proposal has been prioritised since January 2025. University Hospital Kerry and HSE capital and estates are prioritising the preparation of the capital submission for the proposed oncology day treatment ward and outpatients unit at University Hospital Kerry. The prioritisation of the capital list will be a matter for the HSE Regional Executive Office and the Regional Director for Planning.
1066. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a new maternity unit will be expedited at University Hospital Kerry given the clinical risks to both mother and baby due to the location of the existing unit due to the distance from the theatre; the progress that has been made in respect of this matter in 2025; if a sixth operation theatre will be provided to facilitate obstetrics and gynaecology demands there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63252/25]
View answerAs the question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1067. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if an ambulatory care block (details supplied) will be provided at University Hospital Kerry as a matter of priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63253/25]
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.
1068. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm if consideration will be given to providing an urgent appointment to a person (details supplied) who urgently requires hip surgery, has received a referral and an updated urgent status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63261/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1069. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the grant allowance for a person with non-cancer related hair loss, who is in possession of a valid medical card and GP referral; and the level of support available, by county, in tabular form. [63276/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1070. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the specific types of hair loss which are covered by HSE grants, by county, in tabular form; if the grant amount varies by region, and if so, the reason; if this will be standardised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63277/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
1071. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the standard operating procedure and timeframe for the issuance of a purchase order for a wig from receipt of a quotation for an appliance from a provider; the standard operating procedure and timeframe to vendor reimbursement from when a person submits an invoice for a wig grant; the options available to a supplier where a supplier has not received payment from the HSE in a reasonable timeframe and is not receiving a response from an address (details supplied). [63278/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1072. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health the amount raised through parking charges at car parks in hospitals across the State from 2023 to date in 2025, by year, in tabular form. [63279/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
1073. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists based at each primary care centre in County Galway; if they are permanent or temporary positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63326/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1074. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the reason for the significant delay in securing an appointment at Beaumont Hospital for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63343/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1075. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have been seen by the multi-disciplinary team established following the audit of surgeries on children with developmental dysplasia of the hip at CHI Crumlin, CHI Temple Street and the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh; the number eligible for these multi-disciplinary meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63344/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1076. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 26 June 2025, if she has received the clarification she sought as to whether there are issues relevant for the Medical Council following publication of the audit of surgeries on children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (details supplied); if so, the actions taken since that clarification was received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63345/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1077. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 26 June 2025, if she has clarified whether her position as Minister precludes her from making a complaint to the Medical Council of Ireland (details supplied); if so, to identify the relevant legislative provisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63346/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Medical Council is an independent statutory body which operates under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007.
Section 57(1) of the 2007 Act provides that a person, (including the Council) may make a complaint to the Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Council concerning a registered medical practitioner on one or more grounds set out in that section.
Further to my response to the Deputy of 26 June 2025, I can confirm that the legislative base for this understanding is Section 2(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924. The1924 Act provides that each Minister is a corporation sole under their official title. This means that all actions taken by me as Minister are performed in my capacity as a corporation sole, acting as a legal entity, rather than as a natural person. This includes making a complaint to the Medical Council about any registered medical practitioner.
In addition, Section 9(1) of the 2007 Act, which enables me, as Minister, to give general policy directions in writing to the Council, prohibits me from issuing such directions regarding functions relating to the professional conduct and ethics of registered medical practitioners, or under any of Parts 7, 8 and 9 of the Act. These Parts relate to the Council’s fitness to practise functions and include section 57 under which complaints are made.
Therefore, as Minister for Health, I am not in a position to make a complaint to the Medical Council in respect of a registered medical practitioner.
1078. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide a copy of the job description for the strategic programme director role in Children’s Health Ireland; the recruitment process undertaken for appointing the current holder of the position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63347/25]
View answer1079. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her Department drew up the business case for the role of strategic programme director in Children’s Health Ireland; if so, to provide a copy of that business case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63348/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1078 and 1079 together.
The CHI Board determined that a dedicated senior executive resource was necessary to pursue and assure delivery on core projects under the direction and oversight of the CHI CEO. This position was deemed critical in establishing the National Children's Hospital Ireland as a place of excellence in clinical healthcare, research, education and innovation.
To ensure continuity and knowledge transfer particularly in the context of preparation to transition to the new hospital, the CHI Board reassigned the former CEO to pursue and assure delivery on core policy and strategic provisions.
My Department was part of the process to ensure alignment with relevant guidelines and to enable necessary approvals where appropriate.
1080. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details in relation to an issue with the location of the proposed elective hospital for Cork, identified by an official at a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee (details supplied); the steps she is taking to resolve this matter; if the issue identified with the site cannot be resolved, to detail her contingency plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63349/25]
View answerI have asked the HSE as sponsoring agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the new elective treatment centres to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.
