Written Answers Nos. 1166-1187
1166. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people resident in County Meath waiting for a first outpatient appointment at Our lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda in each of the past three years 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date, broken down by speciality; and the median and longest waiting times. [10260/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1167. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting ENT (ear, nose and throat) outpatient appointments via Navan Hospital for each of the last three years, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; and to provide waiting times, by urgency category where available. [10261/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1168. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting cardiology outpatient appointments and diagnostics in Navan Hospital catchment area for 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; and the waiting times involved. [10262/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting cardiology outpatient appointments and diagnostics in Our lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, catchment area for 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; and the waiting times involved. [10263/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1170. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of applications from County Meath awaiting decision/placement under the nursing homes support scheme for each of the last three years 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; and the average time from application to funding decision. [10264/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1171. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Meath awaiting HSE public dental services, including special needs dentistry, for each of the past three years 2023, 2024 and 2025 to date; and to provide waiting times and staffing levels. [10265/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1172. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the date when the Government will issue its response to the Citizen’s Assembly on Drug Use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10267/26]
View answerOn 5th February, I published the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026-2029 An integrated, equitable and evidence-based response to drug and harmful alcohol use. The draft strategy is informed by the 36 recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use and other reports.
A public consultation was launched on 26th February 2026 and remains open until 10th April 2026. Following this, an engagement process will be initiated to review the regional governance structures for the strategy and to ensure their alignment with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Health Regions. This process will involve all relevant stakeholders, including the HSE and the drug task forces, and is scheduled to be completed by June 2026.
As you are aware, the Joint Committee on Drug Use was established to consider the recommendations of the Citizen's Assembly report. I have shared the draft national drugs strategy 2026-2029 with members of the JCDU for their consideration and have committed to taking the recommendations in their final report into consideration in finalising the strategy.
I aim to bring the finalised strategy to Government in July 2026. This will set out the Government's response to the 36 recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use.
1173. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2415 of 13 January 2026, if she accepts road traffic deaths and serious injuries as a public health harm requiring surveillance; if her Department will collect, analyse and use road-traffic collision and fatality statistics for population health improvement; if she and her Department will engage with the Minister for Transport to support and expedite the routine use and publication of this data as a public health concern for preventing injuries and deaths; and outline any meetings held or planned, actions taken and a timeline for the same. [10268/26]
View answerPublic health data involves collecting, analysing, and using health-related statistics for population health improvement. This data helps towards understanding health trends, monitoring disease effectively, evaluating services, informing policy, and improving public health outcomes.
Matters relating to road safety and specifically road-traffic collision and fatality data, are the responsibility of the Minister for Transport.
1174. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if free cancer screening procedures for women could include those aged 70 years or over (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10274/26]
View answerAs Minister for Health, I am committed to supporting our population 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.
The Programme for Government commits to extending the ages for the BreastCheck Programme, in line with updated standards from HIQA.
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, currently invites women aged 50 to 69 years at regular intervals to have a screening mammogram. In Budget 2025, an additional €2.9 million was allocated to the BreastCheck programme to support the recruitment of 22 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) posts, with an additional 15 WTE posts approved. This will assist in expanding and future-proofing the programme to meet increased demand.
I would note that any proposed changes to Ireland’s cancer screening programmes, will be facilitated through established evidence-driven protocols.
The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes. NSAC assesses the evidence in a robust and transparent manner and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to myself as Minister.
NSAC continues to progress work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has submitted several requests to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
HIQA has commenced a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to consider proposals for the expansion of the BreastCheck programme. This review will comprise two elements; the proposed extension of the age range eligibility to those aged 45-49 and 70-74, and also the potential introduction of a standardised breast density notification.
HTAs facilitate the assessment of relevant evidence and knowledge on the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies to guide decisions regarding the appropriate use of technology and efficient allocation of resources. They involve a multi-disciplinary assessment of the clinical, economic, ethical, legal and societal perspectives that may be impacted by the introduction of a new technology.
HTAs are time intensive and rigorous processes that must be afforded the necessary amount of time to complete. This is particularly relevant in the context of the BreastCheck HTA, which is considering three distinct areas, the potential to increase the age eligibility, to decrease the age eligibility and potential reporting of breast density.
Finally, I would emphasise that screening programmes are for people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact a medical professional immediately.
1175. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a serious matter in relation to a ten-year-old boy (details supplied) will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10276/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1176. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed in a location by the HSE (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10280/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1177. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health for a list of all adult community mental health teams per IHA; the funded WTE posts; the vacant WTE posts; the numbers waiting to access each adult community mental health team; the average wait time to access each adult community mental health team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10286/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1178. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding how cases of illness are monitored in relation to a recall of infant formula (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10291/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1179. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with maternity hospitals and other related services in relation to the latest recall of infant formula (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10292/26]
View answer1180. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the way in which confirmation can be provided that there were no cases of illness reported in relation to a recall of infant formula (details supplied); the way in which a family could report such a case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10293/26]
View answer1182. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the coordination that took place between the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, maternity services, public health bodies and any other related agencies to proactively identify any potential health impacts related to the recall of infant formula (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10295/26]
View answer1183. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the formal process that exists in terms to report an infant formula recall to maternity hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10296/26]
View answer1184. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the formal process that exists to report an infant formula recall to neonatal units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10297/26]
View answer1185. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the formal process that exists to report an infant formula recall to GPs and other local doctor services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10298/26]
View answer1186. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the formal process that exists to report an infant formula recall to public health nursing units and other local doctor services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10299/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1179, 1180, 1182, 1183, 1184, 1185 and 1186 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.
1181. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the role the Health Protection Surveillance Centre played in monitoring possible illness linked to a recall of infant formula (details supplied); if any enhanced or retrospective surveillance undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10294/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1187. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of births that occurred in each month of 2025 at Coombe Maternity Hospital, Rotunda Hospital and Holles Street, in tabular form. [10307/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
