Willie O'Dea
Question:363. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health her plans to extend the scheme for healthcare workers who contacted long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8797/26]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (363)
Written answers
After a hearing in June, the Labour Court recommended that the Special Scheme would come to an end on the 31st of December 2025, therefore, the scheme has formally concluded. Importantly, this does not mean that supports will end. Employees who remain unfit to return to work will move seamlessly into the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, ensuring continuity of care and financial protection. 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.
Food Safety
Questions (364)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:364. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the compliance and enforcement which is taken by her Department to ensure that the FSAI ensure food businesses in Ireland comply with the origin of beef regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8805/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is a statutory body, independent in the exercise of its functions, which was established under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998. The FSAI has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food law in Ireland; therefore, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the FSAI to reply directly to the Deputy.
Health Service Executive
Questions (365)
Sean Fleming
Question:365. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if breast reduction procedures for medical reasons are no longer available under the HSE; if so. the reason this is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8806/26]
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 (366)
Sean Fleming
Question:366. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8808/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (367)
Sean Fleming
Question:367. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the situation regarding a person (details supplied) who has long Covid as a result of working for funding paid by her Department to a section 39 organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8811/26]
View answerWritten answers
After a hearing in June, the Labour Court recommended that the Special Scheme would come to an end on the 31st of December 2025, therefore, the scheme has formally concluded. The Department and HSE have no oversight of S39 employees as we are not the employer.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (368)
Michael Cahill
Question:368. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a case can be urgently investigated (details supplied) to allow for the earliest possible hospital appointment in the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8819/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (369)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:369. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason she did not approve the rollout of the enhanced influenza vaccine for rollout in 2025 (details supplied). [8821/26]
View answerWritten answers
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
NIAC revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
The Influenza Vaccination Programme provides a free flu vaccine to those most vulnerable to the effects of the flu. Every year the WHO reviews global surveillance data and recommends the specific influenza strains that manufacturers should include in the season's vaccines based on the flu strains that are considered most likely to circulate. Vaccine production takes several months and this allows the manufacturers sufficient time to have vaccine available in time for the start of the flu season. All licensed influenza vaccines included for the 2025/2026 season comply with WHO and NIAC recommendations.
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 due to the small number of studies and a paucity of data over multiple seasons. Due to the variability of seasonal influenza, a single study may misrepresent the 'on average' vaccine effectiveness. 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. Overall, ECDC reported low to moderate relative vaccine effectiveness for the adjuvanted influenza vaccine against laboratory confirmed influenza and against laboratory confirmed influenza related hospitalisation. They concluded that the evidence of the relative vaccine effectiveness of enhanced influenza vaccines compared to standard vaccines is still limited and that further studies are needed to allow more substantial conclusions on the potential benefits of enhanced influenza vaccines.It should be noted that the UK experienced a significant influenza A wave with medium-level impact in terms of hospitalisations. This is in context of a programme using enhanced influenza vaccines. Australia also offered enhanced influenza vaccines and experienced a severe flu season. For those in recommended groups, the influenza vaccine currently offered as part of the Influenza Vaccination Programme reduces the risk of serious illness and death from influenza. Ensuring high vaccine coverage is a priority as it is the key public health intervention that is required to reduce severe illness from influenza, RSV and COVID-19 over the winter period. Strong surveillance, immunisation programmes and healthcare system readiness including Infection Prevention control are key to protecting public health.While Ireland performs well compared to other countries in Europe, achieving high vaccine coverage in older age groups, it is essential that all those in recommended groups avail of the influenza vaccine.The HSE was asked to commence a tender process to determine if the enhanced vaccines could be purchased at a price that was cost effective and from within their existing budget. The HSE carried out an analysis of the tenders received and on 4 February 2025, advised my Department that neither of the enhanced vaccines for older people met the criteria set out in the HTA for net monetary benefit compared to standard flu vaccine.The HIQA HTA estimates increasing costs of procurement of the enhanced influenza vaccines at between approximately €4 million and €19 million per year. Actual costs are commercially confidential and are not known until tenders are evaluated each year.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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (370)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to estimate the cost to the health system of increased influenza cases, and more serious cases, which can be attributed to declining to approve the enhanced influenza vaccine for rollout in 2025 (details supplied). [8822/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (371)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:371. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to estimate the excess deaths attributable to declining to approve the enhanced influenza vaccine in 2025. [8823/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (372)
Ryan O'Meara
Question:372. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if her Department has given consideration to making changes to the treatment abroad scheme to include assistance towards the cost of business-class seating, in instances whereby patients are medically deemed unable to remain upright for the duration of a flight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8845/26]
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 (373)
Ryan O'Meara
Question:373. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if her Department has given consideration to making changes to the treatment abroad scheme to include assistance towards the cost of checked luggage, in instances whereby patients must transport medical supplies home following treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8846/26]
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 380)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:374. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the decision was taken that emergency ambulance response times exceeding 60 minutes would not be routinely recorded, collated, or reported as part of the State’s ambulance performance framework; the person that authorised this decision; and whether she is satisfied that the absence of such data is compatible with effective patient safety oversight. [8860/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:375. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that the current National Ambulance Service KPI framework does not measure or report life threatening emergency response delays exceeding 60 minutes; and if so, whether she will direct that this data be formally collected, audited, and published on a routine basis. [8861/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any Department of Health policy, guidance, or risk management framework addresses patient harm arising from prolonged ambulance response times beyond existing KPI thresholds; and if not, whether she intends to commission such a framework. [8862/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:377. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken, commissioned, or received any clinical risk assessment, patient safety review, or adverse incident analysis relating to emergency ambulance response times exceeding 60 minutes during the period 2023 to date; and if not, the reasons for same. [8863/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:378. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that failure to measure extreme emergency response delays limits the State’s ability to identify, assess, and mitigate patient safety risks; and whether she will instruct the Health Service Executive to amend its performance governance arrangements accordingly. [8864/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:380. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the oversight mechanisms which exist within her Department to ensure that National Ambulance Service performance metrics adequately capture risks associated with prolonged emergency response times; and whether those mechanisms have been reviewed in light of rising demand and persistent emergency department congestion. [8876/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 378, inclusive, and 380 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department monitors and assesses HSE performance against the KPIs captured in the annual HSE National Service Plan (NSP), including those focused on performance of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), and emergency response times for purple and red incidents. The current NSP for 2026 is available here: https://about.hse.ie/publications/hse-national-service-plan-2026/
The HSE reports monthly on its performance against the NSP KPIs, and these results form the basis of ongoing engagement between the Department and the HSE. Through the Performance Engagement Model, the Department implements a structured, tiered approach to assessing performance, enabling the timely identification, escalation and resolution of any emerging challenges. This model monitors NSP KPIs across four key domains - Quality, Access, People, and Money.
Internally, the HSE implements the Performance and Accountability Framework which provides for a series of escalation levels, with consequences for underperformance across regions and services, including the NAS. Within the Framework, services performing consistently below their peers are expected to have plans in place to address these issues and to demonstrate consistent improvement. The Framework is available here: [https://about.hse.ie/publications/performance-and-accountability-framework-2026/]
In regard to current NAS performance, despite a further increase in patient demand for emergency ambulance services in 2025 of between 5 and 6% when compared to 2024, NAS national urgent and emergency response performance has remained close to achieving its 2025 HSE NSP KPI targets. In the year to date to November 2025, NAS response time performance for PURPLE (cardiac/respiratory emergencies) calls was 72% against an NSP KPI target of 75%, and 45% for RED (all other emergencies) calls, meeting the 45% KPI target.
On resourcing, the Government remains committed to investing significantly in the NAS. Funding in 2025 provided for 180 additional NAS posts to support emergency front-line services, the expansion of NAS alternative care pathways, and further development of NAS specialist services. Recruitment of these posts is continuing in 2026 with 134 of the 180 now onboarded.
HSE has planned an additional 263 posts for NAS in 2026, to build further front-line emergency response and intermediate care capacity, establish a new Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) serving the West and North-West of the country, and provide for further development of NAS alternative care pathways which are designed to avoid unnecessary Hospital ED conveyance for patients where not clinically required.
Outside of the data published against the HSE NSP KPI's, the HSE also collects data for a broad range of other service performance metrics that inform its own performance oversight and operational planning processes. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with any further pertinent information it may have in response to the specific NAS performance and other service issues raised in his questions.
Question No. 375 answered with Question No. 374.
Question No. 376 answered with Question No. 374.
Question No. 377 answered with Question No. 374.
Question No. 378 answered with Question No. 374.
Home Help Service
Questions (379)
Natasha Newsome Drennan
Question:379. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their home assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8867/26]
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.
Question No. 380 answered with Question No. 374.
Hospital Staff
Questions (381)
Johnny Guirke
Question:381. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, and the grade employed, in general medicine at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan; and the number of staff vacancies currently within the department. [8879/26]
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 Staff
Questions (382)
Johnny Guirke
Question:382. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, and the grade employed, in radiology at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan; and the number of staff vacancies currently within the department. [8880/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.