Written Answers Nos. 2048-2068
2053. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to confirm whether there was a cut to a service (details supplied) in 2025; to confirm the funding for 2026; the governance arrangements expected for this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73888/25]
View answerThe HSE has advised the Department that all funding agreed in the Grant Aid Agreement for 2025 signed by both Meals on Wheels Gorey and the HSE was paid accordingly to Meals on Wheels Gorey.
The Funding arrangements for 2026 are currently underway and a new Grant Aid Agreement is expected to be issued within the next two weeks.
Regarding the governance of this site, the HSE has confirmed that this service currently operates as a registered charity. The senior management positions of CEO/Director, Chairperson and Treasurer make up the management team in this organisation responsible for the governance of this service. Additionally in order to received HSE funding this organisation must comply with the requirements outlined under their service level agreement (SLA) with the HSE.
2054. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to removing the need for a prescription for ostomy products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73899/25]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE have advised that for eligible persons to obtain products under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme or the other Community Drug Schemes and arrangements, a supporting prescription and invoice is required to substantiate any reimbursement claims.
Whilst the formal HSE Reimbursement List mainly consists of drugs/medicines which are subject to prescription controls, there are also a small number of non-drug ancillaries which are subject to the same administrative arrangements by the HSE. Therefore, a prescription from an authorised prescriber is required for the HSE to process the reimbursable claim.
The state currently provides reimbursement for several ostomy appliances. The full list can be found here: [www.sspcrs.ie/druglist/search/category/6].
2055. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 165 and 166 of 3 July 2025, the status of her considerations on policy since; if she will conduct a retrospective audit to discern the level of harm which has occurred due to vaginal mesh implants before considering the lifting of any pause on the use of such products; and if she will follow up with individuals who have previously received mesh implants to check on their clinical wellness as part of such an audit, to inform any decision on the future use of such implants. [73905/25]
View answerIn July 2018, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) asked the HSE to pause all mesh procedures where clinically safe to do so, pending implementation of specific recommendations as set out in his report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures.
The CMO’s report includes a recommendation on identifying the number of women requiring, and likely to require, specialist multidisciplinary services. The report was informed by the available national and international evidence and the personal experiences of women who have suffered complications following mesh surgery.
The HSE has created a dedicated webpage about vaginal mesh implants, including contact information regarding the pathways for women suffering complications. In addition, multidisciplinary specialist services are now available for women suffering from mesh complications across two sites at Cork University Hospital (CUMH) and National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Dublin. Women who experience any symptoms of complications following surgery can contact their GP, the consultant who performed the surgery, or the Mesh Complication Services for advice on referrals.
From 2018 to August 2025, the Mesh Complication Services at CUMH and NMH received 409 referrals for services.
In terms of any future decision to lift the pause on mesh surgical procedures, my Department received an updated report from the HSE’s National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group in February 2025 detailing progress made on implementation of the CMO’s recommendations.
Officials in my Department are currently liaising with the HSE and other stakeholders as part of an evidence-based process to determine whether to re-introduce the procedure.
Women’s health is a key priority for me and my Department will take a safety-first approach to this issue.
2056. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the procedure for closing a waiting list for an outpatient service at a hospital, including what approvals are required. [73911/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
2057. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if management within St Columcille's Hospital, Ireland East Hospital Group, and the HSE were aware of the National Gender Service's decision to close the waiting list before the letter to him; and who among those had approved the closure before sending the letter. [73912/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
2058. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide any additional staff, a new location, or other resources to the National Gender Service. [73913/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2059. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the total number of drug detox beds within the State public health system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73920/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
2060. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of public detox beds there are within the midlands integrated health area of Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73921/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
2061. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of SMA newborn screening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73923/25]
View answer2070. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason the Spinal Muscular Atrophy test has still not been added to the national heelprick test two years after the announcement that it was to be included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73942/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2061 and 2070 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 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.
2062. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health her views on a matter (detail supplied) regarding prescription charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73925/25]
View answerMonitored Dosage Systems (MDS), known as “blister packs” or compliance aids, are systems that enable the individual medicine doses for any medication to be organised according to the prescribed dose schedule. These are ordinarily provided once a month and packaged to indicate when medication should be taken.
The State has never agreed to fund this and there has never been a fee associated with monitored dosage systems under the Pharmacy contract. This has always been the case and has been repeated in several HSE circulars to pharmacists.
I recognise that for certain patients, or their carers, the use of blister packs to simplify adherence with their dosage schedule can be helpful and they rely heavily on the provision of these products.
However, it is important to recognise that phased dispensing and blister packing are not the same thing. The State funds phased dispensing for medical card holders. It does not, however, fund MDS (blister packs).
The community pharmacy contract has supported phased dispensing since 1996 for patient safety reasons and will continue to do so. Phased dispensing requires the patient to present to the pharmacy on multiple occasions in the month (e.g., each week) when it would be unsafe for the patient to receive the totality of their medication in one supply occasion, or if the shelf life of the medicine requires it. Community pharmacies receive additional fees for this service – which has only ever been in place for medical card holders.
The changes agreed under the Community Pharmacy Agreement – now paused until later in quarter 1 2026 – will introduce improved controls to align phased dispensing to specified high risk drugs, where a patient safety concern may exist. This will ensure that patients on high-risk medicines, such as anti-psychotics or opioids, are appropriately targeted with support.
Psychotropic medications represent a class of medication that are high risk, have a high dependency potential, and carry a significant risk of misuse. They are often prescribed in the management of conditions where cognitive or functional impairments justify closer monitoring through phased supply.
The State has not imposed a new charge on MDS, also known as “blister packs”. This remains a private service provided by pharmacies. It is also understood that different approaches are taken by community pharmacies in respect of funding the use of MDS for medical card holders:
• Some have been blister packing their patient’s medicines for free,
• Some have been charging the patient privately for providing that service, and,
• Some have submitted claims for phased dispensing to the HSE when in reality they were using MDS. The State has never agreed to this last practice, and it is inappropriate claiming to do so.
It remains open to pharmacies to charge patients or not for the use of MDS as a private service, as many currently do. It is important where a pharmacy charges a fee for any professional service, that they provide updated information to patients in line with the new Pricing Transparency Guidelines, which came into effect on 1 December 2025.
In addition, community pharmacies can, and do, use a variety of means to assist their patients including:
• counselling,
• reminder charts,
• the “Know Check Ask system” with the HSE, and,
• tools like picture or large-print labels and alarms.
All of these are aimed at improving understanding and adherence to medication. This remains a key part of the service and support that pharmacies provide to patients. There is no change in that regard.
The HSE Health App ‘My medicines list’ provides a secure place for patients to record a list of their medicines, which can be useful for pharmacy or hospital visits. It also allows people to see a list of their medicines received through the Drugs Payment Scheme or Medical Card Scheme. Keeping a list can help patients know their medicines. It can also help when patients are discussing their medicines with a healthcare professional.
These measures can assist older people, people with disabilities, and people with multiple conditions, to ensure that they manage their medicines safely. Patients should talk to their pharmacist directly about the best way to manage their medicines.
2063. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the actions being undertaken by the HSE to ensure that all individuals who are diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, including those diagnosed as adults, have access to CGM technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73926/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
2064. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason approximately 500 to 700 people who received a late/delayed clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes are currently being denied CGM reimbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73927/25]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2065. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to a review of the single reimbursement application system for people with type 1 diabetes to access CGM technology to ensure that all individuals with type 1 diabetes, including those with adult-onset diabetes or delayed diagnosis, have access to this technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73928/25]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2066. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of official Food Safety Authority control or targeted audits FSAI has programmed from the years 2018 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73930/25]
View answer2067. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health in relation to FSAI control and targeted audits, if reports on all audits have been drafted and agreed with the auditees involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73931/25]
View answer2068. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if reports on all audits conducted since 1 January 2018 by FSAI have been published on the FSAI website in line with agreed procedures and protocols to ensure a high level of transparency regarding the outcomes of such audits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73932/25]
View answer2069. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if all audits programmed and or commenced by FSAI have progressed to report or publication stage, and if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73933/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2066, 2067, 2068 and 2069 together.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food law in Ireland; therefore, as these are operational matters, I have asked the FSAI to reply directly to the Deputy.
