Written Answers Nos. 922-941
922. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide the shingles vaccine for free for the over 60s under the national immunisation schedule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14071/26]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice.
The current NIAC guidelines state that the shingles vaccine may be considered for those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.
HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.
While the vaccine is considered safe and effective, its protective effect diminishes over time. HIQA also noted the substantial budget impact associated with vaccination. If made available to everyone aged 65 and older, vaccination would cost €218 million over five years.
Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.
Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.
My Department considered the findings of this HTA in 2024 and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable.
I can confirm that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individuals, in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost effectiveness of market pricing and available funding.
923. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if plans for an offsite neurosurgery rehabilitation facility in the Munster and south Leinster regions will be progressed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14086/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
924. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health to provide an exhaustive list of flood related compensation, paid from her Department's vote allocations over the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14103/26]
View answerThis question should be directed to the Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment, and to the Minister for Social Protection.
925. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the body, organisation, department which is responsible for the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14115/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
926. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) will face no more delays in their cancer treatment, and that such treatment will begin as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14117/26]
View answerThe Minister for Health cannot intervene in individual cases, As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
927. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the circumstances under which an 'ambulance diversion' may be put in place restricting the number of ambulances which can proceed to a specified hospital for a set amount of time; and to detail the number of times this procedure has been used at Bantry General Hospital in the past year, from February 2025 to February 2026, by month, in tabular form. [14118/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
928. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed urgent symptomatic breast disease clinics within the recommended 10 days, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14120/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
929. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the proportion of people who accessed urgent symptomatic breast disease clinics within the recommended 10 days, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14121/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
930. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed urgent symptomatic breast disease clinics regardless of waiting time, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14122/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
931. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed lung rapid access clinics within the recommended 10 days, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14123/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
932. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the proportion of people who accessed lung rapid access clinics within the recommended 10 days, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14124/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
933. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed lung rapid access clinics regardless of waiting time, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14125/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
934. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason HSE chiropody cards are currently only available to individuals living in Dublin and Kildare; if her Department plans to expand the availability of these cards countrywide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14126/26]
View answerChiropodists/podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat conditions and abnormalities of the foot and lower limb. These services can significantly improve a person's quality of life by alleviating painful symptoms and maintaining mobility. The demand for such services is increasing due to our aging demographic.
The availability of chiropody services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) varies across the country. Where chiropody services are provided by the HSE the following groups usually get priority:
• Medical card holders who are aged 65 and over.
• People who have Health Amendment Act Cards.
• People who have illnesses such as diabetes or arthritis.
• People with disabilities.
People can make enquiries with their GP, Public Health Nurse, or Local Health Office for information about which chiropody services are available in their area.
The HSE have advised that in County Dublin and County Wicklow primarily, there has been a long-standing chiropody treatment card scheme, where qualified podiatrists can apply to be on a register as a HSE approved chiropodist/podiatrist. Once approved, patients can request to attend the private podiatrist clinic or request a domiciliary visit from a private podiatrist.
Medical card holders over the age of 65 years or people with diabetes who hold a medical card (or in some cases, a Long Term Illness card), can apply for a chiropody treatment card. Each person under this scheme can avail of 3-6 treatments per year. The HSE pays the private podiatrist €33.41 for a domiciliary visit and €22.88 for a clinical visit. The patients then top up the payment themselves and the fee is determined by the podiatrist.
Consideration of any changes to this scheme will be made in the context of the budget available to progress current healthcare priorities, including commitments in the Programme for Government.
As the Deputy has also raised a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
935. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who accessed prostate rapid access clinics within the recommended ten days, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14127/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
936. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the proportion of persons who accessed prostate rapid access clinics within the recommended ten days, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14128/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
937. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who accessed prostate rapid access clinics regardless of waiting time, nationally and by hospital, in 2025, in tabular form. [14129/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
938. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons who were referred for an urgent colonoscopy, nationally and by hospital, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [14130/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
939. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who accessed an urgent colonoscopy within the recommended 28 days, nationally and by hospital, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [14131/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
940. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the proportion of persons referred for an urgent colonoscopy who accessed an urgent colonoscopy within the recommended 28 days, nationally and by hospital, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [14132/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
941. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the shortest, median and longest waiting time for accessing an urgent colonoscopy following referral, nationally and by hospital, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [14133/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
