Colm Burke
Question:831. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether she plans to meet the social media companies whose platforms are being used to sell counterfeit obesity medicines which endanger public health. [33441/26]
View answerSocial Media
Questions (831)
Written answers
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the agency with responsibility for the regulation of medicines in Ireland and have an enforcement role with regard to illegal medicines.
The Department of Health supports the HPRA in the exercise of its statutory functions and continues to work closely with them to ensure regulatory oversight and to promote public awareness of the serious risks associated with sourcing prescription medicines from unauthorised suppliers.
This work includes a focus on weight-loss medication also known as Glucagon-like- peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a type of prescription medicine authorised for the of diabetes or for weight management under certain conditions, or both. The HPRA works in close co-operation with colleagues from An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service.
There continues to be significant inter-agency collaboration to combat the illegal supply of health products into and within Ireland. The HPRA also co-operates and shares intelligence with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies across Europe and worldwide to prevent the illegal manufacture, importation and distribution of medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics.
As part of its enforcement remit, the HPRA continues to monitor and disrupt online activity promoting unauthorised medicines, with 4,762 web pages, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages amended or shut down in 2025. This figure includes web pages linked to falsified weight loss products and the HPRA engages with website providers and social media companies in relation to the illegal online supply of weight-loss medication in Ireland.
The HPRA plays an active role in protecting public health by raising awareness of the risks associated with buying prescription medicines online and has repeatedly warned of the health risks associated with the use of GLP-1 medicines that have been obtained outside of the legitimate pharmacy setting and without a prescription supplied by a doctor providing professional oversight.
It publishes dedicated consumer information on its website – available in multiple languages - clearly outlining the dangers of buying prescription medicines online, including the risks of unauthorised, falsified and substandard products.
To reinforce this messaging, the HPRA has also delivered targeted public awareness campaigns using digital and social media channels. For example, the HPRA has recently run an online campaign highlighting that medicines purchased online may not contain the correct ingredients, may be unsafe, and are not subject to the safeguards that apply when medicines are supplied through recognised and regulated sources such as pharmacies. This campaign is designed to reach people where online purchasing decisions are often made and to encourage safer choices.
In addition, the HPRA engages regularly with the media by providing factual information and public health advice through proactive engagement, press releases and in response to queries, helping to ensure that accurate, balanced messaging reaches the public.
Across all of this work, the HPRA consistently advises that prescription medicines should only be obtained through regulated channels, where appropriate medical supervision is in place, and where patients can have confidence in the quality, safety and authenticity of their medicines.
It is also worth noting that for a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE it must undergo HSE’s pricing and reimbursement process for medicines, which has supported the introduction of 263 new medicines, from 2021 to March 2026. This has been facilitated by Budgets 2021-2025 which allocated an additional €158 million for new drugs.
Budget 2026 allocated €217 million in additional funding for drugs, with €30 million of this allocated for new drugs funding.
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.
There is no hierarchy of disease, and pricing and reimbursement applications are considered in order of application.
HSE decisions on which medicines, are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, outlined in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
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).
In line with the Act a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine or new use of an existing medicine added to the formal Reimbursement list and the company must continue to engage with the HSE through-out the process.
As per the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s Guidance on Internet Supply of Non-Prescription Medicines | PSI, https://www.psi.ie/practice-supports/guidance-and-guidelines-pharmacists-and-pharmacies/guidance-internet-supply-non the sale of prescription-only medicines (including obesity medicines) online are strictly prohibited in Ireland, from a website in Ireland to residents in another country, and to a resident in Ireland from another country. In Ireland, only non-prescription medicines are allowed to be sold online.
Medicinal Products
Questions (832)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:832. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health whether the drug sotatercept, approved for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in other jurisdictions, will be made available to patients in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31813/26]
View answerWritten answers
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; therefore, I have requested an update from the HSE on this matter.
The HSE has advised that it 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 assesses 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 Irish citizens and 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 in line with 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
In terms of the specific details of the applications for pricing and reimbursement of sotatercept (Winrevair®):
• The HSE received a complete application for pricing and reimbursement on the 29th November 2024 from Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. (the applicant) for sotatercept (Winrevair®) in combination with other pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapies, indicated for the treatment of PAH in adult patients with WHO Functional Class (FC) II to III, to improve exercise capacity (HTA ID 24041)
• Further information on the progress of sotatercept (Winrevair®) through the HSE assessment and approval processes for the above indication is available via the Pricing and Reimbursement Application tracker available at https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/information-healthcare-workers/pcrs/corporate-pharmaceutical-unit/ HSE application ID HSE100005 has been assigned to this application.
This application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (833)
Brian Brennan
Question:833. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to make the shingles vaccine free of charge to the general public. [31814/26]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Medicinal Products
Questions (834)
Louis O'Hara
Question:834. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if people living with type 2 diabetes could be made eligible for free dexcom continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices under the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31851/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter and 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, this question has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Substance Misuse
Questions (835)
Paula Butterly
Question:835. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health if her Department will examine the feasibility of rolling out a biennial survey on youth health outcomes and substance use in County Louth, similar to the Icelandic-model survey currently being implemented in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31859/26]
View answer
Reply not received from Department.
Health Services
Questions (836)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:836. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address the gaps in neurological services identified in the recent report by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31864/26]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (837)
Pearse Doherty
Question:837. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will transfer to St. James’s Hospital ICU unit from Sligo University Hospital; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31867/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Questions (838, 1126, 1127, 1128, 1130, 1134, 1136, 1137, 1191, 1192)
Albert Dolan
Question:838. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that current reimbursement timelines for orphan medicines align with the commitments on timely and equitable access set out in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030; the measures that are being taken to address delays in cases where EMA-approved treatments, including those for Friedreich’s ataxia, remain unavailable to patients in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31882/26]
View answer
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1126. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE has examined the favourable reimbursement opinion issued in France for Skyclarys in Friedreich’s ataxia, and whether such international assessments are considered in Irish rare disease reimbursement decisions. [32776/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1127. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE is aware that Italy’s medicines authority approved reimbursement of Skyclarys for Friedreich’s ataxia in December 2025, and whether this decision has been considered in the Irish process. [32777/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1128. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has received a commercial proposal from Biogen Idec Ireland Limited in respect of omaveloxolone, marketed as Skyclarys, since 16 April 2026; and if not, what steps the HSE is taking to progress the matter. [32778/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she will consider introducing a formal interim access pathway for rare disease medicines where a treatment has European marketing authorisation, there is no alternative disease-modifying therapy available, and the reimbursement process remains unresolved. [32780/26]
View answer
Barry Ward
Question:1134. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any research being carried out into the viability of providing treatment for people suffering from Friedrichs ataxia in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32792/26]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:1136. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the approval process for skyclarys as a treatment for Friedrichs ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32794/26]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:1137. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the delays in the approval of skyclarys as a treatment for Friedrichs ataxia aligns with the "equitable access" as outlined in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32795/26]
View answer
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:1191. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has considered introducing a managed access scheme or interim reimbursement pathway for orphan and rare disease medicines that have received European Medicines Agency authorisation but are awaiting a final HSE reimbursement decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33126/26]
View answerPádraig O'Sullivan
Question:1192. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health given that European data indicates significant variability between member states in the reimbursement of orphan medicines for rare diseases, the steps her Department is taking to align Ireland's rare disease reimbursement framework with comparable EU jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33127/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 838, 1126, 1127, 1128, 1130, 1134, 1136, 1137, 1191 and 1192 together.
The Government is committed to investing in new medicines. Budgets 2021-2025 allocated an additional €158 million for new drugs, which has facilitated the introduction of 263 new medicines, to date. 72 of these new medicines were for rare diseases. 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.
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.
This level of investment is unprecedented in supporting patients through the availability of new and innovative medicines.
The National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030, was launched last year. The strategy outlines a comprehensive framework designed to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and support for people living with rare diseases, aiming to improve quality of life, promote equitable access to healthcare, and foster innovation in rare disease research and treatment. It also emphasises the importance of access to orphan medicines among its key recommendations. An Implementation Oversight Group has been launched and met in February to begin work planning for the 11 recommendations.
There is a suite of measures, that have been implemented and are to be implemented to shorten the timeframe from the issue of a Marketing Authorisation on foot of a positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency to a decision on whether to reimburse the medicine by the HSE's Senior Leadership Team.
These measures include:
• Funding by the Government to an almost doubling of capacity in the HSE’s pricing and reimbursement system with 34 additional staff.
• New Framework Agreements on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines with Medicines for Ireland (MFI) and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) which provide commitments towards achieving a 180-day timeline for completing health technology assessments (HTA) and reimbursement decisions following application by the Marketing Authorisation Holder. The Agreements outline a structured process towards achieving the 180-day timeline for reimbursement decisions by Q1 2029, accelerating patient access to new treatments.
• A commitment from IPHA member companies to aim to shorten the timeline to submit reimbursement applications in Ireland to within six months of marketing authorisation of medicines by the European Commission.
• An Agreement between the State and IPHA and MFI 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 and recommendations in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030. The Department of Health are examining early access mechanisms across the EU for the Minister for Health’s further consideration.
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 is the statutory decision maker for the pricing and reimbursement of new medicines under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The HSE considers the criteria set out in the Act.
As the HSE is the statutory decision maker for the pricing and reimbursement of new medicines I have asked them for an update on omaveloxolone (Skyclarys®).
A HTA Report from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics 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 27th a commercial proposal from the company remains outstanding.
This application remains under consideration with the HSE and cannot proceed until a commercial proposal is received from Biogen (Idec) Ireland Limited.
The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
Health Services
Questions (839)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:839. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE provides any direct supports, allowances, or reimbursement schemes to assist families caring for persons requiring continuous electrically powered medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators in the home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31916/26]
View answerWritten answers
Thank you for your query. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (840)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:840. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has carried out any assessment of the financial burden placed on households providing home-based care for persons dependent on electrically powered medical devices; if any policy proposals are under consideration to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31917/26]
View answerWritten answers
This PQ is not for the Department of Health. We respectfully request that this Parliamentary Question be redirected to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment as the matters raised fall under their remit.
Medicinal Products
Questions (841)
Ciarán Ahern
Question:841. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to funding the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31918/26]
View answerWritten answers
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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Questions (842)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:842. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 3408 of 14 April 2026, when a response will issue. [31925/26]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for the regulation and registration of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
As Parliamentary Question No. 3408 pertained to the recognition of overseas applications for nurses and midwives, the PQ was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for direct response to the Deputy. The NMBI have informed the Department that a response was issued to the Deputy on Friday 24th April.
Following the NMBI response, if the Deputy wishes to resubmit a new Parliamentary Question with the original query this can also be referred to the HSE to provide any outstanding information in relation to operational matters.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (843)
Thomas Gould
Question:843. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether fair deal applications for persons currently in hospital can be fast-tracked. [31936/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Transfers
Questions (844)
Thomas Gould
Question:844. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the safeguarding protections in place to prevent persons being discharged from hospital to unsuitable home condition [31938/26]
View answerWritten answers
“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
Mental Health Services
Questions (845)
Thomas Gould
Question:845. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE psychologists working in child and adolescent primary care mental health in each of the Cork primary care centres and the average waiting time for a first appointment in each of the centres, in tabular form. [31939/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (846)
Michael Cahill
Question:846. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a surgery appointment (details supplied) will be expedited given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31959/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Minister for Health cannot intervene in individual cases, As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (847)
Pádraig Rice
Question:847. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the work underway to further increase medical card income limits as committed in the Programme for Government, given that income thresholds for people under 70 years have not been increased in over 20 years despite significant inflation and social welfare payment increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31960/26]
View answerWritten answers
Medical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie.https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs. Details are available at: Medical card for over 70s https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/over-70s/.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
In addition, where a person's sole household income is derived from a social protection payment, he/she will be awarded a medical card.
As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to “seek to further increase medical card income limits”. There is a programme of work currently underway in my Department, which is reviewing the existing eligibility framework, to clearly assess what is working well and to inform future policy proposals regarding the eligibility framework based on robust evidence. This is an important step towards delivering on universal healthcare in Ireland.
Over recent years, Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility for health services, for example:
• Since March 2021, terminally ill patients who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less are now also awarded a medical card on an administrative basis.
• All children under the age of 8 years and all people aged 70 and over are now automatically eligible for a GP visit card.
• The Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) threshold was reduced twice in 2022: From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022 and from €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
• Under the Long-Term Illness Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
• Public in-patient charges for children and adults have been abolished.
• The extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30 (extending to women aged 35 from 1 July 2024).
• Since June 2025, where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy product by her healthcare provider for the purpose of alleviating menopause symptoms, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the associated dispensing fees will be met by the State.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
Medical Cards
Questions (848)
Pádraig Rice
Question:848. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly medical card thresholds for people in their 60s by €100.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31961/26]
View answerWritten answers
Eligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances. Current medical card income thresholds can be considered generally in terms of cohorts aged 70 or older, and under 70 years of age, with separate thresholds and assessment criteria for each.
With regard to the estimated cost of the Deputy's proposals, the information sought is not readily available and will need to be determined. Officials from my Department will be in further contact with the Deputy directly with relevant information as soon as available.
Medical Cards
Questions (849)
Pádraig Rice
Question:849. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the basic weekly medical card threshold by €100.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31962/26]
View answerWritten answers
Eligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances. Current medical card income thresholds can be considered generally in terms of cohorts aged 70 or older, and under 70 years of age, with separate thresholds and assessment criteria for each.
With regard to the estimated cost of the Deputy's proposals, the information sought is not readily available and will need to be determined. Officials from my Department will be in further contact with the Deputy directly with relevant information as soon as available.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (850)
Pádraig Rice
Question:850. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding free GP services to children up to 12 years-of-age, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31963/26]
View answerWritten answers
GP visit card eligibility was expanded in 2023 to all children under 8 years of age and to all those earning up to the median household income. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to 'expand free GP services to children up to at least 12 years, and keep its further extension under review'.
As set out in the Programme for Government, it is our intention within the life-time of this Government to expand GP care without charges to all children up to the age of at least 12 years. This will be done in a planned way, in cooperation with GPs to ensure that there is adequate capacity in place, and through the further expansion of GP visit card eligibility.
Extending GP visit card eligibility to all children aged 8 to 12 years inclusive in 2026 would grant eligibility to approximately 196,000 additional children (based on current card holder numbers and 2026 CSO population projections). Based on average GMS GP costs per card holder for 2025, the additional cost of extending GP care without charges at current capitation rates to all children aged 8 to 12 years in 2026 is estimated at approximately €29.2 million per annum. This is based on full GP visit card uptake for the cohort concerned.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (851)
Pádraig Rice
Question:851. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding free GP care to the entire population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31964/26]
View answerWritten answers
GP visit card eligibility was expanded under the GMS GP Agreement 2023 to all those earning up to the median household income and to all children under the 8 years of age. All persons aged 70 years and over are also eligible for a GP visit card. Following these expansions, over half the population are eligible for GP care without charges under the GMS scheme.
Implementing a general practice model that provides for GP care without charges for all would require significant change to the current model of general practice as the existing model is based on the mixed delivery of GP services to both private and GMS patients.
It is not possible to definitively calculate the cost of universal free GP care given the changes that would be necessary to the current general practice model, and the range of payments and other variables that would have to be accounted for.
Such a calculation would require a complex modelling exercise to account for a range of demographic changes, future projections of service demands, variations of GPs and practice staff numbers, and the cost of remuneration under the new model.
Additionally, the fees payable to GPs could only be determined following agreement with the IMO on the scope and content of the general practitioner service to be provided, as well as on the future of the various other supports provided to general practice. For these reasons, it is not possible to give an estimated cost of extending GP care without fees to the entire population.
Health Services
Questions (852)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:852. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the status of an application submitted in January 2026 (details supplied) under the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31968/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Psychological Assessments
Questions (853)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:853. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health for assistance in relation to a psychiatric review and medication assessment for a person (details supplied). [31969/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Cancer Services
Questions (854)
Erin McGreehan
Question:854. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department plans to establish a rapid access pancreatic cancer diagnostic clinic to ensure assessment within two weeks of referral; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31971/26]
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.