Cathal Crowe
Question:750. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when an overall strategy for the treatment of end-stage kidney disease will be published. [73731/25]
View answerHealth Services
Questions (750)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (751)
Cathal Crowe
Question:751. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health her position on campaigns being adopted in other countries to reduce the need for dialysis; whether a similar campaign is being planned for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73732/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (752)
Cathal Crowe
Question:752. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health her position on the provision of medical cards for patients in end-stage kidney disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73733/25]
View answerWritten answers
Medical card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn per week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
People under 70 are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after deduction of tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/
People aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. However, those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs. Details are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/over-70s/
The issue of granting medical cards on the basis of illness or a disability was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card or GP visit card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card. Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.To ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (753)
Sean Fleming
Question:753. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73779/25]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The Minister for Health is prohibited from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (754)
Pa Daly
Question:754. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the north Kerry lookback review; if this review will be published before the end of the year; the reasons for the ongoing delay; the engagements she has had with children and impacted families, and the dates on which these engagements took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73787/25]
View answerWritten answers
Both I, and the Department of Health, await submission by the HSE of the Final Report by Dr. Halpin in relation to the North Kerry Lookback Review.I am closely monitoring developments on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in North Kerry, including the timeline for the completion of the Lookback Review. The HSE has indicated that the Review will be made available as soon as possible, acknowledging that necessary due diligence and related processes must be adhered to in the finalisation of the Review. The HSE has confirmed that it will expedite this as much as possible.
I understand that all file reviews have now been completed, and all children, young people and their families have been communicated with directly in relation to the outcome of their file review. My main concern throughout this process has been to ensure that children, young people and their families are communicated with directly in advance of the publication of the Lookback Review. I will continue to work closely with the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health National Office to drive reform of CAMHS nationally, to ensure that this key specialist service which benefits so many young people and their families each year is safe, accessible, child-centered, and delivered to the highest of standards.
Health Services
Questions (755)
Pa Daly
Question:755. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health regarding the north Kerry lookback review, the engagements she has had in relation to this since taking office; the dates on which those engagements took place; the content of those engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73788/25]
View answerWritten answers
Both I, and the Department of Health, await submission by the HSE of the Final Report by Dr. Halpin in relation to the North Kerry Lookback Review.I am closely monitoring developments on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in North Kerry, including the timeline for the completion of the Lookback Review. The HSE has indicated that the Review will be made available as soon as possible, acknowledging that necessary due diligence and related processes must be adhered to in the finalisation of the Review. The HSE has confirmed that it will expedite this as much as possible.
I understand that all file reviews have now been completed, and all children, young people and their families have been communicated with directly in relation to the outcome of their file review. My main concern throughout this process has been to ensure that children, young people and their families are communicated with directly in advance of the publication of the Lookback Review. I will continue to work closely with the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health National Office to drive reform of CAMHS nationally, to ensure that this key specialist service which benefits so many young people and their families each year is safe, accessible, child-centered, and delivered to the highest of standards.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (756)
Pa Daly
Question:756. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting to access CT scans, broken down by county and by period of time waiting, in tabular form, in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73789/25]
View answerWritten answers
Waiting times for radiology and diagnostic services have been recognised as an issue for some time. This Government is committed to the implementation of the 2017 Sláintecare Report, which includes a maximum waiting time target of 10 days for a diagnostic test.
This year the Productivity and Savings Taskforce published an action plan for 2025 which commits to a range of services being available 7 days a week, including diagnostics activity. It will also ensure that all publicly funded diagnostics are captured in the National Integrated Medical Imaging System (NIMIS) by the end of 2025, thereby improving care coordination and reducing duplication of tests and procedures.
The NTPF is working to support access to radiology and in October 2024 it published a National Radiology Diagnostic Waiting List Management Protocol. As well as ensuring that patients seeking access to Radiology Diagnostic services are administratively managed in a safe, timely, fair, and equitable manner whilst waiting, the protocol will facilitate improved data collection and reporting about patients on Radiology Diagnostic waiting lists.
In the interim, the information that is currently being collected as part of a pilot project is being tested and validated at hospital, hospital region and national level and as such should not be used/reported without the context of the caveats set out below:
• Data is subject to inclusions and exclusions which are documented in the Data Profile Document. This document is available from Acute Operations and has been circulated to all Hospital Regions.
• Data contains urgent, routine and surveillance/planned activity which is currently not broken down in detail, as such this includes surveillance/planned activity which may not be exceeding planned date.
• Data is still undergoing validation at Hospital and Hospital Region level. Data does not take into account local nuances at site level (Site profile developed to support understanding of same).
• The purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MRI and Ultrasound.
• This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting list, local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level.
The NTPF provides my Department with quarterly reports which set out waiting list data for CT, MRI and Ultrasound by hospital and time band.
The most recent report available for the end of Quarter 3 2025, which is set out at the link below, indicates there was a total of 80,000 patients reported on the CT Scan waiting list, this represents all outpatients waiting, urgent, semi urgent, routine and planned/surveillance (where diagnostic access is planned at particular time intervals). The NTPF has advised my Department, that for Quarter 3 2025 they did not receive data from St Vincent’s Hospital or St Michael's Hospital as both hospitals were in the process of migrating their records to the NIMIS system.
The corresponding report for Quarter 2 2025, also linked below, indicates there was a total of 92,633 patients reported on the CT Scan waiting list from all sites at the end of that period. Diagnostic reports for Q4 in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 are have also been provided.
Diagnostics Summary Reports Q4 2020
Diagnostics Summary Reports Q4 2021
Diagnostics Summary Reports Q4 2022
Diagnostics Summary Reports Q4 2023
Diagnostics Summary Reports Q4 2024
Health Services
Questions (757)
Pa Daly
Question:757. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the current and known upcoming vacancies at University Hospital Kerry; the dates on which the vacancies arose or will arise; the dates when vacancies are expected to be filled, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73790/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (758)
Pa Daly
Question:758. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the minor injuries clinic in Killarney; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73791/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Health Services
Questions (759)
Pa Daly
Question:759. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on beds in Dingle Community Hospital; when all beds will be open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73792/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (760)
Pa Daly
Question:760. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on beds in Dingle Community Hospital; when all beds will be open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73793/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (761)
Pa Daly
Question:761. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health to outline the measures she is taking to address hospital overcrowding at the accident and emergency department in University Hospital Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73794/25]
View answerWritten answers
As our health system faces into what is traditionally the most challenging periods of the year, I would like to assure the deputy that every measure is being taken to ensure that overcrowding is kept to a minimum in Kerry University Hospital and all our hospitals. The third iteration of the UEC Operational Plan is currently in operation and one of the 4 pillars of the plan is hospital avoidance. This focuses on supporting patients in settings other than the Emergency Department and avoiding the need for inpatient care. Amongst the initiatives involved in the plan are:
• Vaccine Preventable Illness, promote uptake of Influenza, Measles and COVID-19 vaccinations to improve compliance for all target groups including Healthcare Workers Specialist Care in the Community
• Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) for Chronic Disease Management.
• GP Out of Hours Work with GP Out of Hours Services to maintain/increase GP OOH contacts and reduce the level of GP OOH referrals to EDs
• NAS Care Pathways Maximise usage of existing NAS alternative care pathways
• Injury Units to provide a 7-day service, 8am to 8pm including Bank Holidays.
In addition to these measures the HSE has made provisions to bolster GP services with the addition of 20,000 hours available through the GP Surgery Enhanced Service to target respiratory issues which will run from December 8th to February 15th inclusive.
Mask wearing is just one of the measures we can all take to protect ourselves from infection this winter and lessen the pressures on our EDs. Individuals who wish to wear a mask should not be discouraged from doing so, in particular when disease incidence is high. Measures such as vaccinations, good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette are also important in preventing the spread of infections.
This winter COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines are available to eligible individuals by GPs and pharmacists.Expansion of community care and other measures to provide people the care they need outside of the ED can improve patient flow in acute hospitals by reducing unnecessary attendances and improving discharge supports such as home support and residential care. This will allow our ED resources to be better utilised, delivering care to those most urgently in need.
Health Services
Questions (762)
Pa Daly
Question:762. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will increase the number of beds at the accident and emergency department in University Hospital Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73795/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (763, 764, 765, 766)
David Cullinane
Question:763. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people resident in County Waterford waiting for a first outpatient appointment at University Hospital Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, broken down by specialty; and to provide the median and longest waiting times. [73818/25]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:764. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting orthopaedic outpatient appointments and orthopaedic procedures via University Hospital Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and to provide waiting times by urgency category where available. [73819/25]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:765. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting ear, nose and throat outpatient appointments via University Hospital Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, including median and longest waits. [73820/25]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:766. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting cardiology outpatient appointments and diagnostics in the University Hospital Waterford catchment in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and the waiting times involved. [73821/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 763 to 766, inclusive, together.
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.I published the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 in February, representing this Government’s continued commitment to reducing waiting times for patients and improving access to hospital care.
This year's plan sets out four overarching targets focused on reducing waiting times.With the multi annual action plan approach, we are progressing towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it. My Department is engaging with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to develop the action plan for 2026, building on the progress delivered to date, renewing the focus on improving waiting times for patients, and considering the learnings from the challenges that arose in 2025.
National waiting list information by hospital, specialty, and time band is published monthly by the NTPF on its website: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
The information is now being made available through an interactive visual tool which provides users with a much-improved way of accessing and analysing waiting list information.
The specific information requested by the Deputy which is not readily available on the NTPF website is set out at the link below. It should be noted that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate the average time to treatment of patients who have already received their care. The mean & median average waiting times provided to my Department by the NTPF and set out at the link, are in respect of how long patients on lists have been waiting.
With regard to the waiting times for radiology and diagnostic services, the Deputy has been provided with diagnostic reports in response to previous PQs, for the time frames requested.
Question No. 764 answered with Question No. 763.
Question No. 765 answered with Question No. 763.
Question No. 766 answered with Question No. 763.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (767, 768, 770, 773, 774)
Paul Lawless
Question:767. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will consider extending the long-Covid payment scheme beyond December 2025 in light of the ongoing impact on healthcare workers and other affected individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73844/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:768. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the future plans for supporting individuals suffering from long-Covid after the cessation of the long-Covid payment scheme on 31 December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73845/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:770. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the supports that will be available to long-Covid sufferers who are unable to return to work and face financial hardship following the end of the current payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73847/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:773. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the guidance that has been issued to Intreo offices and social protection services regarding the transition of long-Covid patients from the current payment scheme to other supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73850/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:774. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an estimate of the number of individuals currently receiving the long-Covid payment and the projected impact of its termination on these households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73851/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 767, 768, 770, 773 and 774 together.
There are currently 159 Health Care workers availing of the scheme of Special Leave with pay. After 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 will be no further extension to the Special Scheme for Long Covid
Question No. 768 answered with Question No. 767.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (769, 772)
Paul Lawless
Question:769. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will provide details on any measures being considered to recognise long-Covid as an occupational illness for healthcare workers who contracted Covid-19 in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73846/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:772. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will detail any engagement with healthcare unions regarding the recognition of long-Covid as a work-related injury and the provision of long-term financial supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73849/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 769 and 772 together.
While 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.
Question No. 770 answered with Question No. 767.