Written Answers Nos. 999-1018
999. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical nurse specialists in cognitive behavioural therapy and advanced nurse practitioner in psychotherapy posts that were filled at Swords adult mental health teams in the years of 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [4173/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1000. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE specialist mental health teams that are in place within the accident and emergency department of Beaumont Hospital between the hours of 6pm and 8am during the week and for the whole of the weekends. [4174/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1001. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of ambulance crews available to respond within 20 minutes of emergency department handover at Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2025, in tabular form. [4175/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1002. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to see a consultant ophthalmologist at the Mater Hospital for the first time. [4176/26]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
1003. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a review will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4186/26]
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 to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1004. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a place in a nursing home for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4205/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1005. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the length of time children in Kerry wait for orthodontic treatment, the number which are waiting six months, 12 months, 18 months, two years and so on; the measures being taken to address these waiting lists, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4208/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1006. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the length of time the most urgent cases of children in Kerry wait for orthodontic treatment; the number waiting one month, two months, three months, four months and so on; the measures being taken to address these waiting lists, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4209/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1007. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the length of time the most urgent cases of adults in Kerry wait for orthodontic treatment; the number waiting one month, two months, three months, four months and so on; the measures being taken to address these waiting lists, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4210/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1008. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the length of time the most urgent cases of adults in Kerry wait for orthodontic treatment; the number waiting six months, 12 months, 18 months, two years and so on; the measures being taken to address these waiting lists, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4211/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1009. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the dental supports available for persons recovering from addiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4217/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1010. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which a person’s next-of-kin would need to be consulted in relation to palliative sedation/midazolam in cases in which the person is at the hospital, clinic or nursing home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4228/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1011. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the legislation and regulations that apply in relation to the dispensing of palliative sedation/midazolam; who should be consulted and in what circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4229/26]
View answerIn the Irish Misuse of Drugs legislative framework Midazolam, a benzodiazepine, is classified as a Schedule 4 Part 1 controlled drug.
A “repeat prescription”, as defined in the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended, means a prescription which may be dispensed more than once.
Schedule 4 (part 1) controlled drugs may be repeated in line with the directions of the prescriber up to a maximum of six months.
Pharmacists are required to use their professional judgement and decision making regarding every occasion on which a prescription is repeated, and must ensure the therapeutic appropriateness of the supply, taking account of the specific patient needs.
“Instalments” allow the total quantity of the medicine prescribed to be dispensed in smaller, specified amounts, at specified intervals.
All controlled drugs can be legally dispensed in this manner. However, in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (as amended), ‘the number of instalments and the intervals at which the instalments may be dispensed’ must be specified on prescriptions for schedule 4 part 1 controlled drugs.
1012. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the funding available to patients with severe spinal canal stenosis to facilitate treatment in Northern Ireland or another EU state; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4230/26]
View answerI understand the Deputy may be referring to the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) and the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS). As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1013. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals to CAMHS in Counties Cavan and Monaghan in the years 2019 to date; the number of which were rejected, by year and by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4231/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1014. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current WTE allocated to CAMHS in Counties Cavan and Monaghan; those positions which are vacant; the length of duration of any such vacancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4232/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1015. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of pharmacists in relation to the eligibility for the free HRT scheme; the actions she will take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4235/26]
View answerThe Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024 states that where a woman has been prescribed a HRT product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products will be met by the State.
This is reflected in Pharmacy Circular 008/25 whereby the arrangement applies to women at the various stages related to menopause and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause and medically induced menopause. This circular is available at the following link: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/circulars/pharmacy/pharmacy-circular-08-25-hrt-arrangements.pdf.
It is in the circumstances outlined in the legislation that HRT medications are reimbursed under HRT Arrangements. The HSE must operate the arrangement in line with the legislation.
In addition, it is the it is the professional responsibility of community pharmacists to clinically assess prescriptions.
1016. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will review the long-term illness scheme in light of the State’s commitments under the National Rare Disease Plan (details supplied); if the inclusion of many rare, genetic, and metabolic disorders which require lifelong and medically essential treatment is being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4259/26]
View answerThe Minister for Health launched the new National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 which has a vision to ensure that all people living with a rare disease have access to equitable, inclusive, safe and cross-sectoral care throughout their life journey that will enable them to reach their full potential and to live their best lives.
As part of the implementation phase of the Strategy, an Implementation Oversight Group (IOG) is being established to provide strategic guidance and monitor progress at a national level. The IOG will be co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Health and a representative from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions to be covered by the Scheme.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependents may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
The issue of granting medical card eligibility based on having a particular disability or illness 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 eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the DPS threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1017. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the Strategic Review of the Eligibility Framework which was due to be completed in 2025 (details supplied); the expected timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4260/26]
View answerExpanding Primary Care is at the heart of the Sláintecare vision. Notwithstanding the substantial progress made towards ‘Universal Health Coverage’ (UHC), the eligibility framework has not been subject to a holistic review since the publication of the Sláintecare report in 2017.
The Department recognises that, to achieve the goal of universal healthcare in line with the commitments made in Sláintecare, we must first review existing eligibility arrangements and see how they align with current population needs identifying gaps in the eligibility framework.
It is in this context that the Department has commenced a long-term strategic review of the eligibility framework, Phase 1 of which, includes a review of the existing eligibility arrangements for health services to see how they align with current population needs. This phase of the Strategic review is near completion.
The outputs of this review work will feed into the Phase 2 of the broader multi-annual strategic review programme. This phase is extensive in scope and incorporates many other strands, including but not limited to; an international benchmarking exercise, extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation, and a comprehensive analysis of available evidence of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) best practice.
Each of these work streams will contribute to the development of evidence-based policy options for a future eligibility framework to support a progressive move towards universal health coverage in Ireland.
1018. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that the current professional regulatory framework adequately protects the public interest where systemic or organisational ethical breaches arise within health and social care services (details supplied). [4261/26]
View answer1019. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no statutory or regulatory mechanism within CORU that allows ethically bound health and social care professionals to report systemic or organisational breaches of professional ethics, as distinct from individual fitness-to-practise complaints; her views on whether the absence of such a mechanism places the burden of ethical responsibility entirely on individual professionals rather than organisations, thereby making speaking up professionally perilous and potentially self-sacrificing, and undermining the stated public-protection purpose of professional regulation; and the consideration that has been given to introducing a protected, independent reporting pathway for systemic ethical breaches within the professional regulatory framework. [4262/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1018 and 1019 together.
I propose to take PQs 4261 and 4262 together.
Statutory regulation forms part of a system of assurances to mitigate risk posed to the public by the practice of health and social care professions. CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Its role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended). CORU’s mandate is public protection through regulating individuals; it cannot enforce organisational governance standards or compel system-level changes.
However, there are existing processes in place for health and social care professionals to raise concerns in relation to health and social care services.
Regarding child safeguarding the Children First Act 2015 places specific legal duties on organisations providing children's services to protect them from harm.
Regarding adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector, there are currently a range of structures and processes in place to protect against abuse and ensure prompt action when there is a safeguarding concern. The HSE’s National Policy and Procedures for Adult Safeguarding sets out detailed processes and pathways for health and social care staff to raise concerns about abuse or neglect of at-risk adults and Safeguarding and Protection Teams are in place in each Health Region to receive and respond to concerns and to provide advice to services. If it is believed that someone is in immediate danger or that criminal activity has occurred, An Garda Síochána should be contacted.
Safeguarding structures and processes will be significantly expanded and strengthened under the new National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector, which was approved by Government and published in December 2025. The policy framework will extend across all public, private and voluntary health and social care services. A range of both legislative and non-legislative measures are included to significantly expand and strengthen existing supports and protections for adults at risk of harm across the health and social care sector. Implementation structures, as set out in the policy, will now be established and the Chief Social Worker in the HSE will lead the development of an implementation plan within 6 months. The Government has also approved the development of legislation to underpin the commitments within the policy framework. This legislation will provide:
• that HSE adult safeguarding structures will operate independently and with full authority in the performance of their statutory adult safeguarding functions,
• for the introduction of mandatory reporting where specified persons and/or bodies in the health and social care sector will be required to report concerns or allegations of abuse that meet a defined reportable harm threshold to the HSE’s adult safeguarding structures, and
• for the introduction of mandatory adult safeguarding learning reviews for serious safeguarding incidents, strengthening the current process for independent reviews by the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) and placing it on a statutory footing.
In addition, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides certain protections to those who make a complaint of suspected wrongdoing in the workplace. Under the Act, all workers including CORU-regulated health and social care professionals, are legally entitled to report information they reasonably believe shows a relevant wrongdoing that came to their attention in a work-related context. The Act provides a statutory framework for making such disclosures and expressly allows concerns to be raised about not only individual misconduct but also systemic or organisational issues. Workers who make protected disclosures are afforded strong legal safeguards including confidentiality of their identity and protection from penalisation, ensuring they can raise concerns safely, in the public interest, and with confidence that disclosures will be handled in accordance with prescribed legal procedures.
Further details on protected disclosures are available on the Protected Disclosures Commissioner’s website (link below).
www.opdc.ie/en/publication/3a25c-what-a-protected-disclosure-is/#who-i-can-make-a-report-to.
