Written Answers Nos. 736-755
736. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will engage directly with the parents of a child (details supplied) on the significant waiting time for an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27978/26]
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.
737. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 575 of 5 March 2026, the status of the new community nursing unit at Saint Finbarr’s, Cork; if it has been handed over to the HSE; the date at which this new facility is expected to open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27990/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
738. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of endoscopy suites currently available and in use at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. [28003/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
739. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE infection prevention and control clinical nurse specialist posts that was filled for the Meath area as of 10 April 2026, in tabular form. [28004/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
740. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to improve trauma services currently available at Beaumont Hospital. [28005/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
741. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant vascular surgeons based at UHW that are currently only treating and dealing with only public patients. [28017/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
742. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of children that travelled to the US for paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplant surgery in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [28018/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
743. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason persons eligible for the free travel scheme are required to pay a €4 daily charge when using HSE transport services; the policy reasons for excluding HSE transport from the free travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28028/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
744. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she has examined increasing mileage rates for healthcare staff, like nurses, who use their own cars in the community for work purposes; to provide the estimated annual cost for the banding system for travel be set aside and that the highest rates be applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28030/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
745. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the factors underlying the increase in expenditure by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service on salbutamol nebules dispensed under the general medical services scheme between 2024 and 2025; and if she will provide a breakdown of the extent to which this increase is attributable to volume of items dispensed, reimbursement price per item, and any changes to dispensing fees or mark-ups. [28049/26]
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.
746. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of salbutamol nebule items dispensed under the general medical services scheme in each month from January 2024 to date in 2026; and if she will provide the corresponding average reimbursement cost per item for each month. [28033/26]
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.
747. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reimbursement price per unit applicable to salbutamol nebules under the Primary Care Reimbursement Service in each month from January 2024 to date in 2026; whether any changes to pricing arrangements, reference pricing, or reimbursement rules occurred during this period; and if she will detail same. [28034/26]
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.
748. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical guidelines, prescribing controls, and audit mechanisms in place governing the prescribing of salbutamol nebules under the general medical services scheme; and whether any review has been conducted in light of increased expenditure in 2025. [28035/26]
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.
749. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason the Primary Care Reimbursement Service does not capture or retain data on the clinical indication associated with medicines reimbursed under the general medical services scheme, including salbutamol nebules; and whether there are plans to introduce such data capture to support expenditure oversight and value-for-money assessment. [28036/26]
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.
750. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether analysis has been undertaken by her Department or the Health Service Executive into the change in seasonal expenditure patterns for salbutamol nebules between 2024 and 2025; and if she will provide the findings of any such analysis. [28037/26]
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.
751. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, external audit, or value-for-money review has been conducted in respect of expenditure by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service on salbutamol nebules under the general medical services scheme since January 2024; if so, to provide the dates and findings of such reviews; and if not, the reason none has been undertaken. [28038/26]
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.
752. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any expenditure thresholds, alerts, or variance triggers exist within the Primary Care Reimbursement Service to identify significant increases in spend on specific medicines, including salbutamol nebules; and if she will outline the governance arrangements in place when such increases occur. [28039/26]
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.
753. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service on respiratory medicines under the general medical services scheme in each month from January 2024 to date in 2026; and the proportion of this expenditure attributable to salbutamol nebules. [28040/26]
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.
754. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether benchmarking has been carried out comparing expenditure and utilisation of salbutamol nebules in Ireland with other EU member states; and if so, to provide the findings of such benchmarking. [28041/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
755. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Primary Care Reimbursement Service or the Health Service Executive has identified any risks relating to over-prescribing, inappropriate prescribing, or dependency in respect of salbutamol nebules; and if she will outline any mitigation measures in place. [28042/26]
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.
