Thursday, 20 Nov 2025

Written Answers Nos. 81-105

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Vaccination Programme

Questions (90)

Colm Burke

Question:

90. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether, in response to HIQA and NIAC advice supporting the roll-out of enhanced influenza vaccines for the over-65 population, HSE officials have been given direction to negotiate with companies, if necessary, to ensure a cost effective price can be secured and enhanced influenza vaccines will for the first time be provided for older people who are more at risk each winter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64241/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Influenza Vaccination Programme provides a free flu vaccine to those most vulnerable to the effects of the flu.

In 2024, HIQA carried out a Health Technology Assessment, or HTA, on enhanced flu vaccines.

The HTA noted that studies on the effectiveness of enhanced flu vaccines are limited. Based on the limited data available, the HTA found that switching from a standard to an enhanced flu vaccine for those aged 65 and older would likely reduce the burden of flu. Whether such a switch would represent a good use of public monies would depend on the price of these enhanced vaccines compared with the standard flu vaccine.

On that basis, my department asked the HSE to commence a tender process to see if enhanced flu vaccines could be purchased at a price that was cost effective. The HSE advised that the prices quoted for the enhanced vaccines for older people did not meet the criteria set out in the HTA for net monetary benefit compared to standard flu vaccine.

The healthcare budget is finite. Decisions regarding increased spending in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system. Therefore, cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.

The introduction of an enhanced vaccine can be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness is more favourable.

Health Services

Questions (91)

John Lahart

Question:

91. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she will address the recent reduction in funding for an organisation (details supplied); if she is aware that discontinuing the twelve-week introductory programme for new members has significantly reduced accessibility; if she will consider restoring funding to ensure affordability for older participants, given that current costs are prohibitive for many; if private health insurance typically covers the organisations programmes, given many members report they are not reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64353/25]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The services referred to by the Deputy are provided by the HSE through its Community-Based Physical Activity Programmes for Chronic Disease, Tier 2. I have been advised by the HSE that funding to access this programme in the Dublin and Midlands Health Region has not been reduced in 2025.

The HSE operates a ranked drawdown mechanism for each physical activity programme following a tendering process. The provision of exercise programmes is delivered by the top-ranked service provider, based on service requirements, from this tendering process. Accordingly, these services may be delivered by the organisation referred to by the Deputy, or by other service providers, depending on the specific service to be provided.

The HSE works in partnership with a range of organisations to promote and provide a tailored suite of opportunities for physical activity for different population cohorts. In line with the key goals of Healthy Ireland, the promotion of physical activity supports our efforts to increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life and to reduce health inequalities.

These programmes are informed by Every Move Counts, our national physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines, which were published in 2024 and provide specific recommendations for each population cohort.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (92)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

92. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the action being taken with regard to the recruitment of GPs in areas of urban disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63969/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As private practitioners, GPs establish practices at a place of their choosing. However, it is acknowledged that GP access in some areas is not where it needs to be. Accordingly, measures have been taken to increase the number of GPs practising across the country, thereby increasing access to GP services, with specific supports provided for the provision of services in rural areas and areas of urban disadvantage.

The 2019 and 2023 GMS GP Agreements have provided over €340 million in additional annual investment into general practice. They provide for, amongst other things, significant increases in capitation fees for participating GPs, new and increased supports for practices, and new services for patients.

The 2019 Agreement increased the practice support package for rural GP practices by 10%. Furthermore, it introduced since 2020 a specific fund of €2 million per annum to support GP practices in urban areas of social deprivation, which the HSE has since expanded to €3 million per annum. The funding may be used for additional health personnel costs or for the provision of additional services.

Annual intake into the GP training scheme has been increased by 80% from 2019 to 2024, with new entrant training places to increase further by 50 places next year to 400; this will continue to grow our number of GP graduates. In addition, GPs from abroad are still being recruited under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 115 doctors are currently in practice under the IMG programme, with 39 more having completed the 2-year programme. Placement of these GPs is targeted to rural, urban deprived and underserved areas.

Looking forward, as part of the Strategic Review of General Practice which is currently underway, potential further mechanisms to attract more GPs to rural and urban deprived areas are specifically being examined.

Medicinal Products

Questions (93)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

93. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the decision not to reimburse for belimumab will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64337/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to thank the Deputy for her question.

Belimumab (Benlysta ®) is a monoclonal antibody used to treat certain forms of lupus.

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines.

The HSE has received applications from GSK, the marketing authorisation holder, for pricing and reimbursement of belimumab (Benlysta®) for two indications: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (a kidney complication of lupus).

In line with the process set out in the 2013 Act the HSE’s Senior Leadership Team decided against reimbursement under High Tech arrangements for both indications in January 2024. This followed a robust Pharmacoeconomic assessment by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, commercial negotiations and reviews of the clinical evidence.

The HSE Senior Leadership Team cited resource constraints and prioritisation across services as reasons for not reimbursing this medicines. In accordance with the 2013 Act, the HSE must robustly assess applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to patients in Ireland.

Formal notice of the proposed decisions not to reimburse belimumab were issued to the applicant, who had the opportunity to make further representations.

As part of their representations, the applicant, GSK, have now submitted a revised commercial proposal in relation to the two separate pricing and reimbursement applications for belimumab (Benlysta®) for Lupus nephritis (LN) and Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for further consideration by the HSE.

This new proposal is currently under consideration with the HSE.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (94)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

94. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of ‘Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63883/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Digital for Care sets out a very clear strategy for the digitisation of health services between now and 2030. Published in May 2024, we are already seeing evidence of real progress, and our investment in Digital for Care translate into tangible benefits for patients and staff.

Digital for Care supports the Programme for Government, which makes a commitment to ‘Continue to work towards the full digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems’. To deliver on this objective we are making specific allocations of funding for digital health within the €9.25 billion provided for health infrastructure and digitalisation under the National Development Plan for 2026–2030.

Digital for Care also supports other Programme for Government commitments such as the establishment of a National Electronic Prescribing Service, which has now gone to tender and will be procured in 2026.

Reflecting the pace at which AI is moving and the potential this holds for health, the Programme for Government promised the development of an AI strategy specifically for health. Under ‘Digital for Care’ my department and the HSE worked closely this year to develop this strategy which is based on the safe and responsible use of AI, broad stakeholder engagement, industry insights and international developments. This work is now complete, and I will be launching the resulting ‘AI for Care’ strategy very shortly.

Finally, Digital for Care proposes a three-step approach for the delivery of digital health records for all, and for the empowerment of patients through greater access to their own health data, digital health services and trusted sources of health information.

Step One is the delivery of the HSE Patient App. The App went live in February and will constantly will rapidly evolve and improve through successive releases on the App store, with a new release approximately once per quarter.

Step Two is the delivery of the National Shared Care Record as a means of pulling together patient data from existing systems and making it available to clinicians at the point of care. The technology that underpins the Shared Care Record was procured at the end of 2024, is currently being configured and will be piloted in the south-east region by the end of this year.

Step Three is the delivery of an enterprise level Electronic Health Record system across all six health regions. Whilst this is a very significant undertaking, Northern Ireland has proven it can be done, having just completed a very similar programme for a population of 1.8 million people. The preliminary business case for the enterprise EHR has now been developed, has been assessed as fully compliant with Infrastructure Guidelines and will progress to pre-tender stage, subject to consent by Government.

Health Services

Questions (95)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

95. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason clinics in Romania and Greece that currently provide the majority of treatment abroad services to women travelling from Ireland were excluded from the list of clinics under the new ESAIS [64374/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

On 18 October I launched the National Framework for the management of Endometriosis. I am fully committed to building capacity and expanding endometriosis services in Ireland. Funding of over €5 million has been invested in endometriosis services since 2021. The HSE’s budget for 2026 will be €27.4 billion, an increase of 6.2% on 2025. This investment will enable expansion and improvement in our health services, including endometriosis.

In the interim, the HSE is providing additional support for women with access to treatment abroad. The HSE Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme was opened on 18 October. This demand led scheme is available to women who are waiting on an Irish waiting list for endometriosis surgery.

The scheme will cover the cost of approved appointments, surgery and some travel costs. A HSE list of approved healthcare centres has been made available on the HSE website.

The primary concern for the selection of endometriosis centres abroad is patient safety and clinical efficacy. The HSE list of approved healthcare centres abroad have been selected based on recognised accreditation. All centres on the list have been accredited by either the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy or the European Endometriosis League.

The current list of approved clinics is being kept under continual review. The HSE is establishing an endometriosis clinical advisory group. This group will include international expertise and will assess other possible clinics for inclusion. This assessment and review process will also cover clinics in Romania and Greece.

Health Services

Questions (96)

David Cullinane

Question:

96. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps she will take to improve access to community psychology services. [64616/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Primary Care Psychology provides a broad range of supports, including early intervention, psychological assessment, and treatment for mild to moderate mental health conditions and, where required, appropriate escalation to secondary or specialist services.However, I fully acknowledge that the waiting lists and waiting times for access to Primary Care Psychology are far too long.

Increases in waiting lists are related to several factors including an increase in referrals and greater complexity of presentations. While staffing levels have increased in recent years, demand for services has also risen year on year, representing a 62% increase between 2017 and 2025.

Since 2021, Primary Care Psychology waiting list initiatives have focused on removing individuals under the age of 18 who have been waiting longer than 52 weeks. Between 2021 and 2025, a total of €24.75 million has been allocated, with 15,000 approx. additional children and young people removed from the waiting list as of the end of September 2025. In Budget 2026, the Government continues its investment in the ‘Primary Care Child Psychology Waiting List Initiative’.

We have also expanded our training capacity over the past three years with the HSE providing funding and support for trainee psychologists.

An additional 45 places were introduced in 2023, a further 45 in 2024, and an additional 45 in 2025—135 training places in total.

However, I fully acknowledge we need to do more. That is why the Programme for Government commits “to develop a new care model for HSE Primary Care Psychology”. We need to look at how services are organised and find more effective ways of working to ensure more timely access to support. An important part of this will be psychology workforce reform, maximising capacity and different ways of working to meet the range of need in primary care settings. There are effective workforce models that use mechanisms such as clinical supervision and competency assurance approaches safely and effectively.

This commitment is part of larger efforts to promote good mental health and ensure access to appropriate supports when and where people need them.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (97)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

97. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if she intends to expand eligibility for funding for diabetes glucose monitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64219/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to thank the Deputy for her question on this matter.

Making healthcare more accessible and affordable to patients, including those with diabetes, is a core priority for the Government and for me as Minister.

Budget 2026 allocated €217 million in funding for medicines, including €30m allocated to new medicines. This builds on the €158 million available for new drugs between 2021 and 2025.

In 2023, HSE expenditure on glucose monitoring was approximately €81 million, mainly under the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme, which spent €288.82 million on diabetes care.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) using test strips and meters is reimbursed under the HSE, with quantities based on treatment type and testing frequency.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, comprising sensors and transmitters, are an alternative to SMBG.

CGM use and costs have risen sharply from 6,000 monthly recipients in 2021 to 16,900 in 2023, with annual CGM sensor costs reaching €55.7 million.

Following a HIQA Health Technology Assessment (HTA) published in September 2023, the HSE introduced an online reimbursement system for CGM sensors for all patients with type 1 diabetes from December 2023. By December 2024, 19,861 patients were receiving CGM, adding €9.7 million in costs. Applications for reimbursement can be submitted for patients and are assessed individually by the HSE.

The HSE-Medicines Management Programme and the National Clinical Programme for Diabetes, with the support of the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer, has submitted a joint proposal requesting HIQA to consider a HTA of CGM for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes in their 2026 workplan. The outcome of a HTA could support a decision by the HSE under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act, 2013 regarding long-term funding and the availability of this technology for patients.

Hospital Staff

Questions (98)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

98. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the progress being made to fill the vacancy of clinical specialist sonographer in ultrasound at the Louth County Hospital; if the position will remain based at the Louth County Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63422/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I am advised by the HSE that a Clinical Specialist Radiographer vacancy has arisen in Louth County Hospital. A recruitment process to fill this vacancy is underway. The closing date for receiving applications is 30 November 2025.

The HSE has assured me that while recruitment is ongoing there will be no disruption to patient care or service delivery. All clinical services continue to operate as normal, ensuring that patients and service users experience no change in access, quality, or continuity of care.

The HSE confirms that this post will be primarily based in Louth County Hospital with integrated managerial and clinical governance through Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda.

I understand that enhanced governance arrangements are being implemented for this position. These are designed to strengthen oversight, improve coordination, and ensure clearer lines of accountability across both hospitals.

There has been extensive investment in both hospitals in recent years with a general uplift in resources, staffing and funding at both hospitals.

This Government is committed to building on these significant investments and improvements made at both sites. This is demonstrated by the 39% increase in the budget for Louth County Hospital since 2020. In 2025, the budget was over €31 million, an increase from €23 million in 2020.

National Children's Hospital

Questions (99)

Joe Neville

Question:

99. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health the status of the National Children's Hospital; the current timelines for when the project will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64553/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Opening the National Children’s Hospital Ireland (NCHI) is a top priority for Government. Everything possible is being done to achieve this. Construction completion of the building is near, but a realistic date of substantial completion is within the gift of BAM to both commit to and deliver on.

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB), BAM and the Employer’s Representative are engaging on ensuring a compliant final programme is in place. This will detail how and when BAM will complete the building to the expected standards and hand it over in totality to the NPHDB.

I remain clear on what needs to happen here; BAM needs to provide the resources necessary to complete all rooms to the contractual standard. Completed rooms must be handed over to NPHDB in a logical, methodical, and timely manner.

Our immediate priority is to get additional early access for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) as soon as possible. This will enable CHI to minimise potential challenges during the post substantial completion phase by easing operational commissioning pressure.

I welcome the fact that BAM has now committed to enabling the first phase of additional early access for CHI within a matter of weeks. I expect them to live up to this commitment and drive on to substantially complete the hospital as soon as possible thereafter.

I look forward to visiting the site again when CHI are provided with this additional early access.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (100)

Tom Brabazon

Question:

100. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the current status of the new critical care unit at Beaumont Hospital [64414/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I am pleased to update you on the progress of key capital developments at Beaumont Hospital including the new critical care unit.

There are several significant proposals for capital investment in Beaumont. All are progressing through the requisite design and planning stages. The HSE is managing the capital development process in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines.

As a live hospital campus there is an added complexity in terms of planning, sequencing and enabling each of these projects. Our Model 4 acute hospitals require a significant amount of enabling works to prepare for larger projects.

Proposals for the 64-bed Critical Care Unit (CCU) are at a preliminary design stage. The CCU is dependent on the relocation of the existing Endoscopy Department. In March 2025, a final grant of planning was received for the new Endoscopy unit and the proposal is now progressing through to detailed design stage.

Other priority proposals are progressing at Beaumont which may proceed in advance of the CCU. These include a 95-bed ward block and the proposed new Emergency Department, both of which have planning permission and are at detailed design stage. A Pre-tender Business Case for the expansion of the Radiation Oncology Unit has also recently been submitted to the HSE’s Capital Planning Steering Group (CPSG) for review and enabling works to support that important investment are well advanced.

Health Services Staff

Questions (101)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

101. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will reconsider her decision not to extend the special scheme of paid leave for healthcare workers with long-Covid past 31 December 2025; if she will bring forward a permanent scheme for this small group of frontline workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64322/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I want to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter.

We should once again acknowledge the extraordinary role our healthcare workers played during the pandemic. They went far beyond the call of duty — working on the frontline, treating COVID-positive patients, and doing so in those early days when the protections we now take for granted were not yet in place. Their courage and commitment can never be forgotten.

In recognition of this, a temporary special scheme was introduced in July 2022 to support eligible staff affected by long-COVID in the public health sector, a scheme that no other sector had. This scheme was designed to support those who had worked in high-risk environments before PPE and vaccinations were widely available, and before community transmission became more prevalent.

At present, around 159 employees remain on the scheme. The majority of whom have been supported with full pay for almost five years now. My Department has consistently worked to ensure these staff were looked after, and at our request, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has agreed to extend the scheme several times since its introduction.

Following a Labour Court hearing in June of this year, a final extension was recommended. The scheme will now run until 31 December 2025, when it will formally conclude. Importantly, this does not mean that supports will end. Staff who remain unfit to return to work will move seamlessly into the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, ensuring continuity of care and financial protection.

Under that scheme, staff receive full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and then have the option to apply for Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration, which can provide up to a further 547 days of paid leave. In addition, the Critical Illness Protocol may provide supports for up to three years.

Finally, I am aware that the Minister for Social Protection has reviewed the EU recommendation on recognising COVID-19 as an occupational illness. It has been determined that COVID-19 does not meet the criteria required for recognition under the Social Welfare Acts.

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Questions (102)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

102. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025. [63788/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government acknowledges that acute hospital waiting lists are too long, and many patients are waiting an unacceptably long time for care.

We are committed to improving access to hospital care, through reforms and by building sustainable internal capacity within the public system and ensuring that this is maximised to the greatest extent through greater productivity and efficiencies.

Until that capacity is in place to meet the increased demand, we need to utilise all available options to ensure that patients have access to the care they need.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is an independent public body funded directly by the Department of Health. One of its main functions is to arrange for the treatment of patients on public hospital waiting lists.

The NTPF uses the hospital waiting list data to identify the longest waiting patients on hospital waiting lists. The suitability of the patients for treatment is determined by the relevant public hospital.

The NTPF commissions treatment through insourcing arrangements with Public Hospitals as governed by a Memo of Understanding and through outsourcing arrangements with Private Hospitals through panel agreements established following competitive tender competitions.

The NTPF has provided the attached table detailing the number of patients accepting offers of NTPF funded treatment from when its commissioning function was re-established in the middle of 2017.

Number of patients accepting offers of NTPF funded treatment

Year	Offers of NTPF funded treatment accepted
* 2014, 2015 and 2016
2017	9,500
2018	26,063
2019	65,353
2020	66,287
2021	100,507
2022	153,379
2023	157,148
2024	183,522
2025 year to date	166,782

* The NTPF did not fund any treatments in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and commissioning was re-established in the middle of 2017

Meals-on-Wheels Services

Questions (103)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

103. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the total amounts paid in 2024 and in 2025 to Gorey/Courtown Meals on Wheels, County Wexford; the number of service users for which meals were claimed; and if her Department has received any business plan for the service for 2026. [64152/25]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE has advised the Department that to date, all agreed funding under the Grant Aid Agreements signed for 2024 and 2025 has been provided to Gorey Meals on Wheels.

Under their signed Grant Aid Agreement for 2024, agreed funding of €25,755 was provided for the provision of an average of 1,000 meals per month from September to December, plus administration costs. All of this funding has been received by Gorey Meals on Wheels.

The agreed funding per the signed Grant Aid Agreement for 2025 is €63,480. This funding is provided for the provision of an average 1,000 meals per month for 2025, plus administration costs. Gorey Meals on Wheels are currently being paid monthly for their service provision and all funding due to date has been received.

In September 2025 Gorey Meals on Wheels were also awarded a once off payment of €25,000 for refurbishment works.

The HSE has also advised that a meeting is being organised with the service manager for Gorey Meals on Wheels for Wednesday 26th of November 2025, to discuss the 2026 Grant Aid Agreement, including any funding requests for the expansion of this service. Any funding requests must be considered by the HSE under its standardised annual processes, taking into account local needs, prioritisation of all relevant requests and the availability of funding.

Qualifications Recognition

Questions (104)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

104. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to expedite the long delays in processing the applications for recognition to practice for psychologists; and if she will consider waiving of the 60-day clinical practice requirement for those coming from the UK and a temporary restriction of their practice, in order to bring more psychologists into practice within the HSE. [64372/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As Minister for Health, I am the competent authority for psychologists. This includes recognition of clinical, counselling and educational psychology qualifications. Recognition is required for employment in the publicly funded sector in Ireland.

Officials in the Validation Unit in my Department administer the process. Qualifications are assessed under the EU Professional Qualifications Directive.

The Department is advised in the process by the Psychological Society of Ireland. An Expert Validation Committee assesses applications and makes recommendations to the Department. On receiving the recommendation, the Validation Unit issues a decision letter to applicants.

Under the Directive, decisions on applications should be made within 4 months. Decisions on applications outside the Directive’s scope are issued within 6 months. The Validation Unit works hard to deliver decisions within the required timelines.

Qualifications are assessed against those required for employment in the HSE. Assessments of professional qualifications and experience are on a case-by-case basis. This process takes time given the expert input required.

Some applicants will have deficits in their qualifications compared to the Irish qualification. They will then have to complete a compensation measure. This is required so that their qualification aligns with the Irish qualification.

Recognition helps ensure all HSE psychologists are trained to the same high standard. The recognition process helps to protect service users.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (105)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

105. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for primary care psychological services at each RHA from 2021 to date; the plans there are to deal with the backlogs, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63423/25]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

• Written Answers Nos. 57-80
• Written Answers Nos. 106-130