Wednesday, 22 Apr 2026

Tobacco Control Measures

Questions (218)

Jen Cummins

Question:

218. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to ban vapes from public premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28862/26]

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Written answers

Our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, is currently being reviewed. Existing policy and legislation on all aspects of tobacco and related products will be considered including smokefree and aerosol free areas.

My Department and the HSE continue to support initiatives at local authority level, such as the 'Not Around Us' Campaigns, which seek to increase the number of smoke and vape-free environments, particular in areas frequented by young people.

Health Services Staff

Questions (219)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

219. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that paramedics and emergency medical technicians do not receive the same level of flat-rate expense allowances as other frontline healthcare professionals, such as nurses, despite carrying out comparable clinical duties and being subject to similar uniform requirements; if her Department would consider reviewing this disparity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28866/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the deputy on this matter.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (220)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

220. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for surgery will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [28870/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Medicinal Products

Questions (221)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

221. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if she will provide an update on the HSE's decision regarding the reimbursement of skyclarys for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia; if she will note that 619 days have elapsed since the application for reimbursement was submitted by the pharmaceutical company; the timeline for a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28872/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government is committed to investing in medicines. Budgets 2021-2025 allocated an additional €158 million for new drugs, which has facilitated the introduction of 263 new medicines, to date. The Year 1 cost of a new drug comes from the allocation for new medicines, but it should be noted that once these medicines are approved for reimbursement the full cost of providing them can reach multiples of this initial cost as their uptake increases.

Budget 2026 allocated €217 million in additional funding for drugs, with €30 million of this allocated for new drugs funding.

A central component of pharmaceutical expenditure is the HSE’s pricing and reimbursement process for medicines. Under 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. To commence the pricing and reimbursement process, a pharmaceutical company must submit an application for a new medicine or a new use of an existing medicine to the HSE’s Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit. European Medicines Agency (EMA) or Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) authorisation is required for the medicine prior to submission to the HSE for reimbursement as reimbursement only applies to licensed uses (indications) of the medicine.

Applicants must continue to engage through-out the process to ensure that the necessary evidence is available for the HSE to carry out its statutory role as a decision-maker with respect to the reimbursement of new medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

As the HSE is the statutory decision maker, I have asked them for an update on omaveloxolone (Skyclarys®). The NCPE HTA Report was received by the HSE on the 16th December 2025, including submissions made by patient organisations. These submissions will form part of the data that the HSE considers.

The HSE invited the marketing authorisation holder, Biogen (Idec) Ireland Limited, to commence price negotiations and offered a range of dates to the company. The HSE have advised this meeting took place on the 12th February 2026, and as of April 16th a commercial proposal from the company remains outstanding.

This application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.

Abortion Services

Questions (222)

Michael Collins

Question:

222. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of first consultations and second consultations for abortions that were provided by general practitioners, family planning clinics and women’s health clinics in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28878/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (223)

Colm Burke

Question:

223. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of a health technology assessment for medical devices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28879/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a systematic process of evaluating health technologies, including medicines, vaccines, and medical devices. A HTA systematically gathers evidence to assist a decision-maker, generally the Department of Health, or a body such as the HSE, in informing policy decisions on adopting, funding, or disinvesting in a health technology. It considers clinical effectiveness, safety, economic impact, and wider societal implications. This is distinct from regulatory approval, which focuses solely on whether a medicine or medical device is safe, effective, and of high quality, and takes no account of the monetary costs to the health system. Regulatory approval determines if a product can be marketed, whereas HTA goes further by examining cost-effectiveness and broader ethical, social, and organisational impacts.

Under the Health Act, 2007, HIQA has a statutory remit to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies and provide advice to the Minister or the HSE. HIQA conducts HTAs for programmes and services at the specific request of the HSE or Department of Health. HIQA HTAs for the most part do not focus on a specific medical device or diagnostic but often assess a class of medical devices or diagnostics as a component of a broader programme.

HIQA HTAs usually focus on assessment of national programmes. These “full HTAs” comprise all relevant HTA domains including description of the technology, burden of disease, clinical effectiveness and safety, cost effectiveness and budget impact, organisational aspects, and patient, social and ethical issues.

HIQA analyst teams independently review the available evidence and create the economic models as part of this work. Full HTAs take on average 12 to 24 months to complete depending on the complexity of the topic and whether a public and targeted consultation on the draft report is required.

Occasionally “rapid HTAs” are undertaken by HIQA which focus on a smaller number of domains such as description of technology, burden of disease, clinical effectiveness and safety only. Rapid HTAs take on average six months to complete.

A recent example of a HIQA full HTA was the “HTA of extending BowelScreen to those aged 50 to 54 years” which included a class of diagnostic tests as part of a national screening programme. A recent example of a rapid HTA for a medical device was the “Rapid HTA of the use of vesicostomy buttons in children”.

The cost of a HIQA HTA is typically proportional to the time taken (rapid versus full HTA). Generally, each HTA is conducted by a team of approximately four analysts (full time equivalents (FTE’s).

Dental Services

Questions (229)

Barry Ward

Question:

229. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if any review is ongoing in relation her Department’s policy on flexible working and remote working for civil servants in her Department, particularly in the context of increased fuel prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28958/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

A review of my Department's Blended Working Policy was completed in 2025 in line with the Blended Working Evaluation Model issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. At present, there are no planned changes to remote working arrangements for staff in my Department in the context of increased fuel prices. However, we will continue to be guided by the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in this regard.

Departmental Data

Questions (230)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

230. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred annually by University Hospital Galway to have Pet scans completed over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28966/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Questions (231)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

231. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred annually by University Hospital Galway to have Pet scans completed externally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28967/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Procedures

Questions (232)

Grace Boland

Question:

232. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of cases of ENT surgeries being cancelled or placed on standby at short notice by Beaumont Hospital due to lack of bed availability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28970/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Procedures

Questions (233)

Grace Boland

Question:

233. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of cases of ENT surgeries being cancelled or placed on standby in error in Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28971/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (234, 235)

Eoghan Kenny

Question:

234. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the timelines for the development and publication of a national allergy action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28986/26]

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Eoghan Kenny

Question:

235. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the metrics, data, assessments or policy considerations that are required by her Department in order to develop and publish a national allergy action plan, given that no such plan is currently in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28987/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together.

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question.

Any consideration of a national allergy action plan would need to take account of a range of factors, including the existing configuration of allergy services within the public health system, available clinical evidence, population health data, patient safety considerations, and the roles of relevant agencies under the remit of the Department

While there is currently no national allergy action plan currently in place, and no specific timelines have been agreed for the development or publication of such a plan at this time, nevertheless I acknowledge the significant impact of allergies on individuals and families and wishes to outline that a range of services and measures are already provided within the public health system.

These include specialist allergy services delivered through Children’s Health Ireland, the national Oral Immunotherapy programme in Cork University Hospital, and legislative provision for the administration of adrenaline in emergency situations, including in school settings, by trained personnel.

I also note the important role of agencies under the remit of my Department, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and Safefood, in supporting allergen awareness, food safety and public education.

I will continue to keep allergy services and supports under review in the context of broader public health priorities.

Question No. 235 answered with Question No. 234.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (236)

Eoghan Kenny

Question:

236. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing accessible online training for schools to deal with medical emergencies such as anaphylaxis, so as to ensure that all school staff can access appropriate guidance and to support a safer environment for children, teachers and school communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28988/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)

We would direct the Deputy that this is a matter for the Department of Education to seek such answer.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (237)

Emer Currie

Question:

237. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to address a backlog for ultrasound injections at Connolly Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29024/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (238)

Donna McGettigan

Question:

238. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to monitor and regulate the sale of high-caffeine fortified beverages which contain significant stimulant levels and an alcohol content of 15% ABV; if her attention has been drawn to the specific health risks these products pose to young people; the impact the Government’s decision to defer the implementation of Section 12 alcohol labelling regulations from May 2026 to September 2028 will have on consumer awareness of the risks associated with such products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29059/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 regulates aspects of the promotion and sale of all alcohol products as defined in the Act including those products which contain other ingredients such as caffeine, The Act does not distinguish between products containing different additional ingredients as its objective is the reduction of health harms caused by alcohol.

The main provisions of the Act are:

• minimum unit pricing;

• health labelling of alcohol products;

• the regulation of advertising and marketing of alcohol products;

• the regulation of sponsorship;

• separation and reduced visibility of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets; and

• the regulation of the sale and supply of alcohol in certain circumstances.

The date of operation of the labelling provision in the Act was deferred by a decision of Government of 22 July 2025 in the context of trade considerations. No other changes have been made to the relevant legislation therefore the health warnings and information, as provided for by the Act and related regulations, will be required to be present on the labels of alcohol products on 3 September 2028 for the information of consumers.

Medicinal Products

Budget 2026 allocated €30 million of funding available for new drugs to be allocated from the overall additional €217 million in funding allocated for medicines.

This level of investment is unprecedented in supporting patients through the availability of new and innovative medicines.

The Programme for Government contains a suite of measures on medicines, which the State aims to progress over its lifetime. Access to medicines for patients with rare diseases is the focus of a number of workstreams across the Department.

The HSE is the statutory decision maker on the pricing and reimbursement of new medicines. The HSE advise the following regarding an update on omaveloxolone (Skyclarys®). The NCPE HTA Report was received by the HSE on the 16th December 2025, including submissions made by patient organisations. These submissions will form part of the data that the HSE considers.

The HSE invited the marketing authorisation holder, Biogen (Idec) Ireland Limited, to commence price negotiations and offered a range of dates to the company. The HSE have advised this meeting took place on the 12th February 2026, and as of April 16th a commercial proposal from the company remains outstanding.

This application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.

Two new Framework Agreements have been reached with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) and Medicines for Ireland (MFI) on the pricing and supply of medicines.

As part of these Agreements, the State and MFI and IPHA have agreed to develop a future strategic partnership. This partnership will support the Department of Health in its development of proof of concept for a pilot early access programme focused on rare diseases, in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government.