Written Answers Nos. 906-928
906. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health whether there is a risk the National Ambulance Service’s operations could be disrupted by staffing issues as a result of the service’s new trainee application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16928/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
907. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health whether it is now National Ambulance Service policy to not automatically transition newly qualified paramedics into permanent contracts upon graduation, as they have historically done so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16929/26]
View answer908. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting for autism assessment/diagnosis in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16930/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
909. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for autism assessment/diagnosis in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16931/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
910. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting for occupational therapy in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16932/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
911. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for occupational therapy in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16933/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
912. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to give the number of adults waiting for speech and language therapy in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16934/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
913. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for speech and language therapy in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16935/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
914. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting for psychology services in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, four years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16936/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
915. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for psychology services in each county; the number waiting three months, six months, 12 months, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years and longer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16937/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
916. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding improvement works at a health centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16942/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
917. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the review of the medicines reimbursement process, as committed to in the Programme for Government, will commence; whether terms of reference has been agreed; whether those terms will explicitly include the assessment and reimbursement framework for orphan medicines; when the review is expected to conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16943/26]
View answer920. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health when she intends to commence a review of the reimbursement process, as committed to in the Programme for Government; whether such a review will specifically include the way in which orphan medicines are assessed and reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16948/26]
View answer934. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her plans to commence a review of the reimbursement process, as committed to in the Programme for Government; whether such a review will specifically include the way in which orphan medicines are assessed and reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16987/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 917, 920 and 934 together.
The Government recognises the importance of access to new and innovative medicines for patients and is committed under the Programme for Government (Securing Ireland's Future) to a suite of measures on medicines which my officials seek to progress over the lifetime of this government.
In line with these commitments, consideration is bing given to various measures to address access to medicines. The Department is reviewing reimbursement systems across the EU to explore options for recommendation to Government and this work is ongoing.
Budgets 2021 to 2025 allocated €158 million towards new drugs. Budget 2026 allocated €30 million in funding for new drugs from a €217 million increase in medicines funding. This has allowed the HSE to approve reimbursement for 250 new medicines of which 101 new medicines were for cancer and 69 new medicines for rare diseases. The OECD reports that Ireland has the third highest rate of state coverage of pharmaceutical expenditure in Europe.In 2024 significant additional funding was allocated by Government for additional staff across the pricing and reimbursement system and the introduction of an application tracker by the HSE to support transparency. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Once a company responsible for the commercialisation of a new medicine receives marketing authorisation, it can apply for reimbursement in the country (or countries) of its choice. The timing of company applications for new medicine reimbursement in different countries can vary for several reasons, not least the available market share in each country. All medicines are considered for pricing and reimbursement in order of application. Ireland, by virtue of its size and market share, may not always be prioritised by a company in the first stages of marketing a new product. Ireland encourages all pharmaceutical companies to apply to the HSE to have their medicines added to the reimbursement list once granted marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency. Reports describing timelines for reimbursement from EMA approval to HSE reimbursement approval do not consider this important factor and misrepresent the process. Access to medicines requires industry and the State to work together, through timely assessment, reasonable pricing and fully prepared health technology assessment dossiers being submitted by a company to the HSE.
918. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health in light of Rare Disease Day taking place on 28 February, if she will commit to introducing an early access scheme in Ireland for people living with rare diseases to access EMA-approved orphan medicines; if such an early access scheme will include orphan medicines products licenced for non-oncology conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16944/26]
View answer921. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health in light of Rare Disease Day taking place on 28 February, if she will commit to introducing an early access scheme in Ireland for people living with rare diseases to access EMA-approved orphan medicines; if such an early access scheme will include orphan medicines products licenced for non-oncology conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16949/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 918 and 921 together.
I recognise the importance of timely access for patients to new medicines and supporting those living with rare diseases in Ireland. The Government is committed to investing in new medicines for patients, which has facilitated the introduction of 250 new medicines including 69 for rare diseases. For 2026, over €200m is available for medicines including €30 million for new medicines.
The State has successfully negotiated new Framework Agreements in principle with Medicines for Ireland (MFI) and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), on the pricing and supply of medicines.
These agreements include commitments to reaching pricing and reimbursement decisions within 180 days, excluding stopclocks.
In addition, suppliers will aim to shorten the timeline to submit medicine reimbursement applications in Ireland to within six months of formal authorisation by the European Commission. Together these measures will enable faster access for patients in Ireland.
The Programme for Government contains a suite of measures on medicines which my officials will seek to progress over the lifetime of this Government. As part of the Agreement talks, the State and the pharmaceutical sector have agreed to establish a strategic partnership on the development of a sandboxed early access programme for rare diseases.
This will be a proof of concept initiative, aligned with the commitments in the Programme for Government. As this work progresses, it will be essential that we take account of the views of patients, of industry, and of clinicians. The mechanisms involved are complex, and the potential impacts must be carefully considered to ensure any future system is fair, effective, and sustainable. In parallel, my officials have commenced work examining reimbursement systems in use across the European Union.
919. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the Oversight Implementation Group for the National Rare Disease Strategy has been established, given that the strategy was published in August 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16945/26]
View answerReply not received from Department.
922. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if the Oversight Implementation Group for the National Rare Disease Strategy has been established, given that the Strategy was published in August 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16950/26]
View answerI thank the Deputy for the question. I remain committed to the implementation of the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 and its 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. Since the launch of the Strategy, progress has been made in a number of areas including:
• The Implementation Oversight Group held its first meeting in February and meetings are expected to be quarterly. Two people with lived experience of rare diseases among its membership and additional patient partners will be invited to support the strategy’s wider implementation.
• An implementation plan is in development and will be published in 2026, regular updates will be shared with the rare diseases community.
• The first in a series of symposia on Rare Diseases will take place in Galway on 21 May and will focus on improving diagnostic, care pathways and supports.
• A Rare Diseases Education Programme has been developed by the Health Service Executive’s National Rare Disease Office (NRDO) and is available to all healthcare professionals. This is helping improve awareness and knowledge of rare disease among healthcare professionals.
• Work on the expansion of the national newborn bloodspot screening programme continues, with screening for both Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) expected to commence in April this year.
Additional resources have been provided to support greater care coordination for patients improving the patient experience by supporting them in navigating the health service.
923. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if she will expedite an urgent surgical appointment at Galway University Hospital for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16951/26]
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.
924. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health to reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16959/26]
View answerThe proposed Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will introduce restrictions on the flavours and descriptors for nicotine inhaling products, by regulating the flavour names which can be used.The proposals take into consideration the population-level impact of vaping and the need for a high level of health protection for young people. The proposals include provisions to monitor the impact of any restrictions on vaping and smoking among both young people and adults. It also includes provisions to amend the list of allowed flavours as new evidence presents.These changes are also taking place in the context of significantly increased access to free, safe and effective State stop smoking support. This includes the rollout of free stop smoking medicines, more than doubling the number of clinics across the country, and expanding the peer-led "We Can Quit" group programme.
925. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the decision of the National Ambulance Service to offer 12-week temporary contacts to new graduates; the reason permanent positions have not been offered as has been the case for previous graduates; if permanent positions will be offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16960/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
926. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16968/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
927. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently address a matter (details supplied) and ensure a day centre at Caherciveen Community Hospital remains fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16973/26]
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 Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if consideration for funding was given to a health centre (details supplied) and the wider North-West Kildare area; the rationale for not providing funding for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16974/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
