Written Answers Nos. 403-422
404. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether she is aware of any instances where unvetted IT staff were granted access to sensitive clinical environments, including ICU, operating theatres or other restricted areas; and, if so, the risk assessments or investigations that were carried out. [22826/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
407. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether she is aware of protected disclosures made by staff within CHI in relation to IT systems, governance, or patient safety concerns; if so, the actions that were taken; the investigations that were carried out; and the outcomes or remedial measures that were implemented. [22830/26]
View answer408. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether she has engaged with any whistleblowers or representatives in relation to concerns raised within CHI; and if so, to provide details. [22831/26]
View answer409. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether any communications have taken place between her and senior CHI leadership, including the CEO, in relation to protected disclosures made by staff; and if so, to provide details. [22832/26]
View answer410. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the protections, supports, and remedies that are currently in place for healthcare staff who make protected disclosures within CHI and the HSE, including psychological supports, employment protections, and access to compensation or redress where harm has occurred. [22833/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 407 to 410, inclusive, together.
The deputy will be aware that the handling and processing of protected disclosures is governed by the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended) which places strict statutory obligations on public bodies in relation to confidentiality of such information.
Consistent with established policy and practice, the Department does not comment on individual cases including in circumstances where doing so could potentially prejudice processes or impact on the rights of parties concerned. The Department has a statutory obligation to protect the confidentiality of those making protected disclosures and to safeguard the integrity of any processes arising from such disclosures.
Accordingly, it would be inappropriate for me to provide further detail in relation to the matters raised. However, I can confirm that where a protected disclosure is received by the Department, it is assessed in accordance with our established policies and procedures.
411. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether she is aware of concerns regarding workplace culture, including allegations of bullying or high staff turnover within IT functions in CHI; and whether any review or investigation have been conducted. [22834/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
412. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether any assessment has been carried out into the impact of staffing instability or turnover on system reliability, governance, and patient safety, particularly in relation to critical systems such as NIMIS. [22835/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
413. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to calls to allow for the provision of veoza (fezolinetant) under the drug payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22853/26]
View answerUnder 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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
414. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the research carried out by her Department into the benefits of the use of veoza (fezolinetant) in the treatment of cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22854/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
415. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with the HSE in relation to the proposal to allow for the provision of veoza (fezolinetant) under the drug payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22855/26]
View answerIn accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 the HSE has sole statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes. Under the 2013 Act, reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation either by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The HSE is committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible, in as timely a fashion as possible, from the resources available (provided) to it.
The HSE must robustly assess applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to patients.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds.
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 HSE considers the following criteria prior to making any decision on pricing / reimbursement of medicines including GLP-1 medicines of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
(1) The health needs of the public,
(2) The cost effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services,
(3) The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement,
(4) The proposed costs, benefits, and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks,
(5) The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item,
(6) The clinical need for the item or listed item,
(7) The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety,
(8) The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies) and,
(9) The resources available to the HSE.
Medicines are added to the formal Reimbursement List following detailed assessments which include assessment of the clinical evidence, the economic evidence and the budget impact of a decision to reimburse specific indications of a medicine. The Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) of the HSE is required to reimburse in line with approved decisions of the HSE’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The HSE is required to formally assess each medicine and each specific use of such medicines before reimbursing them.
416. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with an organisation (details supplied) or any other health group in relation to the proposal to allow for the provision of veoza (fezolinetant) under the drug payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22856/26]
View answerMenopause is an important health and wellbeing issue affecting many women in Ireland. Much important work has been done to expand awareness and treatment in this area, driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans.
In accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 the HSE has sole statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes. Under the 2013 Act, reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation either by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The HSE is committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible, in as timely a fashion as possible, from the resources available (provided) to it.
The HSE must robustly assess applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to patients.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds.
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 HSE considers the following criteria prior to making any decision on pricing / reimbursement of medicines including GLP-1 medicines of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
(1) The health needs of the public,
(2) The cost effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services,
(3) The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement,
(4) The proposed costs, benefits, and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks,
(5) The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item,
(6) The clinical need for the item or listed item,
(7) The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety,
(8) The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies) and,
(9) The resources available to the HSE.
Medicines are added to the formal Reimbursement List following detailed assessments which include assessment of the clinical evidence, the economic evidence and the budget impact of a decision to reimburse specific indications of a medicine. The Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) of the HSE is required to reimburse in line with approved decisions of the HSE’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The HSE is required to formally assess each medicine and each specific use of such medicines before reimbursing them.
417. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the number of employees that were employed in her Department at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22876/26]
View answerThe number of people employed to work in this Department as at 31st December 2025, by grade is outlined below.
|
Grade |
|
|
Secretary General |
1 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
8 |
|
Principal Officer |
70 |
|
Assistant Principal |
206 |
|
Administrative Officer |
114 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
130 |
|
Executive Officer |
118 |
|
Clerical Officer |
45 |
|
Services Officer |
6 |
|
Grand Total |
699 |
418. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of employees in each of the agencies under her Department's remit at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22898/26]
View answer419. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health whether the National Dementia Strategy will be updated; the status of the National Dementia Strategy in relation to the Model of Care for Dementia; whether a full-term review is intended to be published following the 2018 Mid-Term Review; whether the National Dementia Strategy Monitoring Group are presently active; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22916/26]
View answerDementia policy in Ireland is guided principally by the 2014 National Dementia Strategy, the 2023 HSE Model of Care for Dementia, and the 2025 Programme for Government commitments on dementia.
The HSE's 2023 Dementia Model of Care builds on several of the Priority Action Areas in the 2014 Strategy and is intended to ensure that people have timely and equitable access to dementia assessment, diagnosis, post-diagnostic support and care regardless of where they live. The Department of Health's Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 commits to implementing the Dementia Model of Care, and National Dementia Services in the HSE plays a leadership role in its implementation.
Since 2021 progress towards implementation of the Dementia Model of Care includes the development of Memory Assessment and Support Services, Regional Specialist Memory Clinics, and a National Intellectual Disability Memory Service to increase dementia diagnostic capacity. The HSE’s 2026 National Service Plan commits to opening seven Memory Assessment and Support Services and to developing a fifth Regional Specialist Memory Clinic in north Dublin.
Since 2021 progress has also been made in the provision of dementia day care, day care at home and activity clubs for young onset dementia, and in expanding the National Dementia Adviser service. These community-based supports have increased the scale and range of post-diagnostic supports available to keep people with dementia living as well as possible in their communities. The 2025 Programme for Government sets out the Government’s priorities for the expansion of dementia services and supports over the lifetime of the Government.
The Department of Health is reviewing national dementia policy. As part of this review, a ‘best practice’ comparative evidence brief on dementia strategies in other countries is being planned. Additionally, the analysis and recommendations of the independent Commission on Care for older people are expected to influence the future direction of dementia policy. The National Dementia Strategy Monitoring Group ceased to meet prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and it is not planned to reinstitute it at this time.
420. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the discrepancies around the cost of a medical report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22937/26]
View answerThe requirements for the submission of a medical report from a registered medical practitioner with driving licence applications for certain categories of persons are governed by the National Driver Licence Service and the Department of Transport.
GPs are private practitioners. Most GPs hold contract(s) with the HSE for the provision of certain health services without charge, such as for the provision of GP care to medical card and GP visit card holders under the GMS contract.
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients, persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card, with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Eligible persons are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. The contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract.
Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patient.
421. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1858 of 18 March 2026, if a cohort of infants can receive a second RSV immunisation in winter 2026-2027 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22952/26]
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.
Following on from the successful Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunisation pathfinder programme in 2024/2025, an expanded RSV Immunisation programme was in place throughout Winter 2025/2026, in line with the Programme for Government commitment. For 2025/2026, in line with NIAC advice, the HSE offered RSV immunisation in maternity settings to all babies born in Ireland from 1st September 2025 to 28th February 2026 as well as extending the programme to all babies in Ireland born in the six month period from 1st March 2025 to 31st August 2025. In addition, a cohort of infants who are under 24 months of age and considered high risk, are also eligible for RSV immunisation.
My Department has agreed the scope of the RSV Infant Immunisation Pathfinder Programme for 2026/2027, in line with NIAC advice, which will be the same eligibility criteria in place for the 2025/2026 season. A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on RSV immunisation for infants and adults is currently being undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). It is expected that the report will be finalised in Spring 2026 before its submission as advice to my Department. The outcome of the HTA will inform the development of any longer-term programme and future decision making specific to RSV immunisation in Ireland.
422. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason for the prolonged delay in commencing section 232 of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024; the timeline for signing the concurrence and the commencement order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22953/26]
View answerSections 232 (b), (c) and (d) of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 will amend section 20 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. This will allow for a declaration of parentage to be obtained in circumstances where a donor assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedure did not take place in a clinical setting and in cases where a known donor was used, providing that the donor consents to the granting of the declaration. This will apply to DAHR procedures which have taken place prior to the commencement of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, i.e. prior to 4th May 2020.
As these amendments concern procedures before the District and Circuit Court, it was necessary that the relevant Rules of Court for both the Circuit and the District Courts were updated to reflect the changes to be introduced, and before commencement of the provisions in Section 232 of the 2024 Act. Officials in my Department worked with colleagues in the Courts Service in the preparation of updated Rules of Court and both sets of Rules were approved by the relevant Court Rules Committees in late 2025.
These changes as approved by both Committees have now been submitted for concurrence by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. My Department has also liaised with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to draft the commencement order for the provisions in Section 232 and this is now finalised. It is the intention that Section 232 and the accompanying Rules of Court will be commenced on April 20th 2026. This date provides the Courts Service with the time required to operationalise the measures as set out in the Rules.
