Written Answers Nos. 1230-1252
1230. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on plans to increase the number of general practitioners in Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30398/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1231. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to increase the number of healthcare professionals in Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30399/26]
View answer1232. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to increase the number of healthcare professionals in Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30400/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1231 and 1232 together.
As this is a service matter we have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on these matters.
1233. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in infectious diseases based at St. James's Hospital as of 20 April 2026, in tabular form. [30435/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1234. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE public health nurses based in CHO7 as of 17 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 1 May 2023, in tabular form. [30436/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1235. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title currently working at the pharmacy department of CHI Temple Street. [30437/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1236. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the main policy achievements of her Department since 22 January 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30480/26]
View answerMy Department is continually engaged in policy development and implementation across the full spectrum of issues that impact health and wellbeing in Ireland. To respond to the Deputy, I outline below the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by my Department since I took office in Department Health.
Details of the main achievements are and will continue to be documented in the Department of Health Annual Reports. These documents detail the achievements of my Department over the period, in particular, the achievements as they relate our commitments in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future.
1237. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30550/26]
View answerI am committed to improving cancer care, ensuring better prevention, maintaining improvements in cancer survival rates, and timely access to treatments.
The Government has allocated significant funding of €105 million, including €23 million in 2025, to the National Cancer Strategy since the start of the strategy in 2017 to support cancer services and improve outcomes for patients. This includes allocating funding to screening programmes, cancer treatment and survivorship services.
This funding has enabled the recruitment of over 670 staff to our national cancer services, including 200 nursing staff, 100 consultants, and 180 health and social care professionals in designated cancer centres. Funding in 2025 will support recruitment of 179 additional staff to national cancer screening and treatment services.
Capital funding of over €140 million has been used since 2017 to provide state of the art radiation oncology facilities to establish a National Cervical Screening Laboratory, and to update cancer infrastructure in chemotherapy wards and lab facilities. This year’s capital plan includes €12.13m for radiation oncology projects along with further funding for the design and construction of Oncology Day Units and chemotherapy infrastructure.
Pancreatic cancer is the 9th most diagnosed invasive cancer, accounting for 2.5% of invasive cancer diagnoses in Ireland with around 600 new cases diagnosed each year. Early pancreatic cancer rarely presents with specific or classic red-flag symptoms and such symptoms typically appear only in advanced stages of the disease.
To improve patient care, the HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) have completed scoping the requirements to develop a pancreatic pathway from primary care through tertiary care.
In line with Recommendation 21 from the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, surgery for pancreatic cancer has been centralised to two cancer centres: A national centre in St Vincent’s University Hospital and an associated centre in Cork University Hospital. All hospitals can refer to these centres. The NCCP is working to further develop and streamline pancreatic cancer pathways from primary through to tertiary care with the objective of improving the time to diagnosis and treatment.
Furthermore, the NCCP genomic test directory for cancer, first published in July 2024 has now been expanded to include pancreatic cancer. The test directory comprises a list of clinical indications for genomic testing for cancer patients and is focused on clinically actionable findings.
The NCCP supports healthcare professionals in recognising and managing non-specific symptoms of cancer, including those that could indicate pancreatic cancer. The NCCP also works to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer among the public.
1238. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the limited consultant neurology outreach available in St. Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny; if she will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30557/26]
View answer1239. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in their latest report around consultant neurology outreach available in the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar; and if she will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30560/26]
View answer1240. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in their latest report around the lack of consultant neurology services available in Tipperary University Hospital; and if she will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30561/26]
View answer1241. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the limited consultant neurology outreach available in Cavan General Hospital; and if she will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30562/26]
View answer1242. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the limited consultant neurology outreach available in Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore; and if she will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30563/26]
View answer1243. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) around the limited consultant neurology outreach available in Naas General Hospital; and if she will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30564/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1238, 1239, 1240, 1241, 1242 and 1243 together.
The current Programme for Government commits to increasing the number of neurology nurse specialists and consultant neurologists. Budget 2025 provided for 5 new consultant neurologist posts, 22 neurology nurse specialists and 3 allied health professionals to support implementation of the HSE Model of Care. As of 2026, decisions on the utilisation, prioritisation and reprioritisation of resources are at the discretion of the HSE Regional Executive Officers in alignment with the priorities set out in the HSE 2026 National Service Plan. This is within an overarching framework to remain within both budget and WTE limit. In that regard I have referred your question to the HSE for consideration and direct response to you.
1244. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health is she will make the shingles vaccine available for free for persons with underlying health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30580/26]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is informed by 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.
1245. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if it is the current policy of her private office/Department to formally invite or notify all local Oireachtas members of constituency events at which Ministers are in attendance in the course of performing their ministerial duties and functions; if she will provide the Department's current policy or protocol on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30600/26]
View answer1246. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all events across every constituency attended by the Minister in the course of her ministerial duties since 1 January 2026, where formal invitations/notifications to attend were not issued by her office to all local Oireachtas members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30618/26]
View answer1247. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated date of publication for the third phase of the Women's Health Action Plan. [30639/26]
View answerPhase 3 of the Women’s Health Action Plan is in final development stage and is due to be published shortly.
1248. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the approved number and category of ophthalmology posts in Clonmel, County Tipperary; the number of these posts filled; the number of vacancies; the stage of recruitment each of these vacancies is at; when the consultant ophthalmology service at Clonmel will resume, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30648/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1249. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health with reference to the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, to provide a written copy of the HSE Telemedicine Guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30651/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1250. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if the HSE recognises that the "competency" for provision of healthcare, lies with the treating member State (details supplied) under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30652/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1251. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if the HSE requirement for a face-to-face consultation prior to in-patient care under the EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive in order for patients to obtain reimbursement when the clinician in the treating member State does not deem it to be justified, is compatible with the referenced SI. (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30653/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1252. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the planned new Xray service to be opened in Balbriggan primary care centre, which was announced in January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30668/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
