Written Answers Nos. 407-430
407. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the recommendations made to date via the seven completed reviews into care of babies at a hospital (details supplied); the corresponding actions implemented on each recommendation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8953/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
408. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the current vacancies at E-Mental Health Hub, Castlerea, County Roscommon, in tabular form. [8954/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
409. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to advise of any locations in the State where a CAMHS clinic was in place and is no longer. [8955/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
410. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason overtime to fill a shift for the rapid response vehicle in Roscommon was removed by the National Ambulance Service. [8959/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
411. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if the National Ambulance Service intend to restore 24/7 cover of the rapid response vehicle in Roscommon; and the cost of the overtime that was in place to do this. [8960/26]
View answer438. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason an action card was not put in place for Roscommon by the National Ambulance Service; if this will be done to ensure the advanced paramedic roster for the rapid response vehicle (RRV) can be filled, and give the same protection for the RRV, as was given to Nenagh and Ennis; and the reason Roscommon is excluded from such an action card, as an entire county (details supplied). [9108/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 438 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
412. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if she will detail the health capital projects completed in each county during 2025, on a county-by-county basis, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8974/26]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
413. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if she will detail, for each public and voluntary hospital, the total number of staff in each, on a whole time equivalent basis at the end of December 2025; the number of medical/dental staff on a whole time equivalent basis in each public/voluntary hospital at the end of December 2025; the number of nursing & midwifery staff on a whole time equivalent basis in each public/voluntary hospital at the end of December 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8975/26]
View answerAs this is an operational issue I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
414. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of dermatologists working in the HSE; the increase in the numbers hired since 2020; the efforts that are being made to secure more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8976/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
417. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health to what extent flexible, community-based cancer recoverysupports areavailableto help women balance recovery with caring responsibilities, including family counselling and peer-support networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8980/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
418. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health for an update on discussions with the IPU in relation to blister packs. [8981/26]
View answerAs part of the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025, all parties, including the IPU, agreed to introduce improved controls for phased dispensing. This will ensure that patients on high-risk medicines, such as anti-psychotics or opioids, are appropriately targeted with support.
It is important to clarify that phased dispensing and blister packing are not the same thing. The State has supported phased dispensing for medical card holders since 1996 for patient safety reasons and will continue to do so. Community pharmacies receive additional fees for this service.
The State does not, and has never, funded blister packs. There has been no removal of that service by the State.
The evidence and health policy on blister packs, including NICE guidance, and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society 2013 report, and NHS policy, indicates that blister-packing is not always the most appropriate choice for all patients to manage adherence and medication compliance. Internationally the guidance is that blister packs should be a last resort, with patients being supported by many other interventions before prescribing a blister pack.
However, I recognise that for certain patients, using them can be helpful, and they rely heavily on these products. As I previously outlined, there are three groups of patients using blister packs.
The first is those people who know they have always been paying for blister packs as a private service. The second group have been getting blister packs for free from their pharmacy. There should be no change for those two groups of patients.
The third group of patients are those where their pharmacy has been giving them blister packs for free but charging the State under phased dispensing. My Department of Health officials and the HSE are investigating the details of this further.
The current pause on the planned changes to phased dispensing rules will allow community pharmacies to have more time to engage with their patients currently using blister packs, in an individualised way.
The HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) has confirmed that circulars issued in relation to the changes that were due to come into effect on the 1st January 2026 have been removed from the PCRS online pharmacy application suite. Phased dispensing continues to operate as it has heretofore during the pause. PCRS has not implemented any of the developments that were scheduled for 1st January 2026.
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) communicated with its members in mid-December 2025, which contained a Statement from the IPU on Phased Dispensing and MDS. Please see attached file for a copy of this statement. The IPU also communicated information containing key clarifications on this matter, via its Newsletter on 18/12/2025 (copy attached also).
Of course, it remains open to pharmacies to charge patients, or not, for the use of blister packs 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 1st December 2025.
419. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the date when a call to tender for the development of an electronic health record system for Ireland will be issued; and when the tender will be awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8987/26]
View answerThe preliminary business case (PBC) for the National Electronic Health Record system was developed in 2025 and was subjected to the External Assurance Process (EAP) and review by the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG), in accordance with Government Infrastructure Guidelines. Government consent will be sought to proceed to the next stage, which is the pre-tender stage and then, subject to approval by the Minister, the HSE will go to market. Given the scale and complexity of these solutions, the HSE are likely to employ the EU competitive dialogue process, which is lengthy but thorough, and provides the best opportunity for the health service to secure the solution and associated services that best meet the needs of patients and staff across the Irish health service.
420. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to outline the nature of the technological assessment that will be carried out on tenders for the development of an electronic health record system for Ireland; who will be carrying out that assessment; will there be monitoring of the targets agreed with the successful developer of such a system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8988/26]
View answerThe HSE will establish a broad procurement evaluation team that will include representative from the clinical, nursing, allied health professional, operations, health informatics, digital health, ICT infrastructure and other relevant communities to assess the EHR over an extensive period, following the EU competitive dialogue procedure. Reference sites will be evaluated as part of this process, to assess vendor and technology capabilities and track records for success. Scenario based evaluations are likely to be employed by the HSE and benefits realisation will form part of the success criteria for selection of the successful vendor/s.
421. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if it is envisioned that in the development of an electronic healthcare system for Ireland that provision will made that will allow for anonymised data to be used to support clinical and other research.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8989/26]
View answerEstablishing electronic healthcare systems in Ireland provide the opportunity to capture data in digital format, that is more accurate, accessible and comprehensive than what was even remotely possible in the past, using traditional, paper based patient charts. Once data is captured in this format then the opportunity to create anonymised versions of this data for secondary uses such as clinical research, innovation and more effective management of the health service itself, all become possible. Maintaining patient trust in the use of health data is vitally important and the EU European Health Date Space (EHDS) Regulation, GDPR and the Health Information Bill that is now being considered by the Seanad, are all relevant and helpful in this context.
422. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if her Department will consider running a national awareness programme on haemochromatosis. [8990/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
423. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2264 of 13 January 2026, if a decision on the reimbursement of a treatment will be informed by the National Rare Disease Strategy and the funding provided for orphan drugs in Budget 2026 (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9003/26]
View answerThe State is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines to all patients and has made considerable investments in new medicines in recent years.
Supported by €158 million of funding, since 2021, the State has delivered access to 250 new medicines or new uses for existing medicines, including 101 for treating cancer and 69 for treating rare diseases.
Budget 2026 allocated €217 million of investment in medicines, including €30 million for new medicines.
Under 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.
The HSE advise that the application for Omaveloxolone [sold under the brand name Skyclarys] remains under consideration with the HSE.
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed. The criteria the HSE considers in making any decision on pricing and reimbursement is set out in Section 21 of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
424. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in CHO 2 awaiting home help services as of 29 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9021/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
425. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for provision of home help services in CHO 2 as of 29 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9022/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
426. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of persons and the average wait time on the waiting list for CAMHS in CHO2 as of 29 January 2026; to provide a breakdown of this waiting list by age category, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9023/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list, and within that, the numbers waiting less than four months; the number waiting four-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and for each category, the numbers waiting aged 0-17 years and those aged 18 and above, for CHO2, as of 29 January 2026 or latest date available, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9024/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
428. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists and average waiting times for each type of cancer treatment at the University Hospital Galway cancer centre; and the compliance rate with key performance indicators and standards in this area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9025/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
429. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if her department has carried out or received any report or examination of the potential risk that could present from the Nipah virus; if there are any precautionary plans in respect of this virus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9040/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
430. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current dermatology services provided at the Monaghan Hospital campus; if there have been any changes to the services provided within the past two years; the plans to expand upon the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9041/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
