Written Answers Nos. 2218-2237
2218. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards awarded in the past three years to applicants whose income exceeded the threshold due to receipt of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74721/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2219. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she will review the current medical card income thresholds for those over 70 years of age, particularly in circumstances where household income includes carer's allowance and where there are high, recurring medical expenses; and the proposals to amend the existing assessment criteria. [74722/25]
View answerEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. The weekly gross medical card income thresholds for people aged 70 and over are currently €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit 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.
2220. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to an equivalent hormone replacement therapy scheme in another jurisdiction (details supplied); if she will conduct an equality impact assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74723/25]
View answerProgressing menopause care is a key action in the Women’s Health Action Plans. A number of measures have been implemented in recent years to improve the experience of menopause for women in Ireland, including the Free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Arrangement, introduced in June 2025.
I am aware of the scheme operating in another jurisdiction, referred to by the Deputy, and under this arrangement I understand that a specified list of HRT products are available for a yearly fee.
It is important to note that under the Irish HRT arrangement, there is no associated cost for the products provided. The HRT arrangement is underpinned legislatively by the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024. The legislation does not seek to exclude any particular cohort rather the legislation relates to the treatment of symptoms of a particular condition/life stage i.e. menopause.
Therefore, where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy product by her healthcare provider for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products and the dispensing fees are met by the State.
2221. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if there are sufficient GP services serving the Thurles area; the number of GP vacancies currently in existence in Thurles and surrounding hinterland; the measures being taken to recruit and retain GPs locally; and if she will improve access to primary care for patients in the Thurles area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74730/25]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients, and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in any area.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,598 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. A further 634 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but hold some other contract(s) with the HSE for the delivery of health services. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. While recruitment is ongoing, the HSE put a locum or other suitable arrangement in place to provide continuity of care for the area concerned. As of November, there are no GMS GP vacancies in Thurles.
Work is ongoing to increase the number of GPs practising across the country and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients.
Over €340 million in additional annual investment in general practice has been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP GMS Agreements. The Agreements provide for increased GP capitation fees, increased and new supports for practices, as well as new fees for additional services. The 2023 Agreement also provided for the expansion of GP visit card eligibility in 2023 to all children under 8 years of age and all those who earn up to the median household income. Specific supports are available for eligible practices in rural areas and in areas of urban social deprivation.
The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available in 2024 and again in 2025. The number of new entrant training places is to increase again this year by 50 places to 400. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years.
In addition, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. As of end of Q3 2025, there are 115 IMG GPs within the programme placed in general practice and a further 39 have completed the 2-year programme. The placement of IMG GPs is targeted to rural and underserved areas.
With regard to access to other primary care services, improving timely access to healthcare for all by reducing waiting lists, including Primary Care waiting lists, is a key focus of the Path to Universal Healthcare: Sláintecare & Programme for Government 2025+.
In Autumn 2025, the Department and the HSE began a targeted programme of work to address Primary Care therapy waiting lists and reduce waiting times for patients, beginning with three therapies in the first instance – Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy. This measure will remove up to 60,000 people from the waiting lists across these three therapies.
2222. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the mental health supports available locally to residents of Thurles, including community counselling and specialist services; waiting times for access; if plans are in place to expand mental health resources in the Thurles area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74731/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2223. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the recruitment and retention initiatives in place for health professionals serving the Thurles area; the number of vacancies which currently exist across all health services in Thurles; her views on workforce planning to ensure stable services locally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74732/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2224. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the progress on securing a new site for the replacement of a facility (details supplied); if the Health Service Executive has identified suitable greenfield land or received expressions of interest for such a site; the current status is of the site identification process; the timeline for site acquisition, planning and construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74737/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
2230. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health if there is a domestic/gender based violence team operating at a hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74750/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2232. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade employed in general medicine at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and the number of staff vacancies currently within the department. [74753/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2233. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade in emergency medicine at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and the number of staff vacancies within the department. [74754/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2234. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade employed in cardiology at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; if there is a waiting list for this unit; and the number of staff vacancies within the department. [74755/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
2235. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade employed in endocrinology at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and the number of staff vacancies within the department. [74756/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2236. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade employed in the early pregnancy unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and the number of staff vacancies within the department. [74757/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2237. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade in oncology at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and the number of staff vacancies within the department. [74758/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
