Written Answers Nos. 1153-1169
1157. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives aggregated national reporting on waiting times for access to PrEP services; and if so, to provide the most recent data. [32892/26]
View answer1158. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national register or centralised data system exists to track demand for PrEP services across all providers; and if not, whether one is planned. [32893/26]
View answer1159. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of clinics currently delivering PrEP services nationally, including both public and private providers, and whether this number has increased since 2023. [32894/26]
View answer1160. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national standard exists for maximum acceptable waiting times for access to PrEP services; and if not, whether such a standard will be introduced. [32895/26]
View answer1161. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed geographic disparities in access to PrEP services; and if so, to provide details of any identified gaps. [32896/26]
View answer1162. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of individuals unable to access PrEP services due to capacity constraints in the most recent year. [32897/26]
View answer1163. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any interim or bridging access arrangements exist for individuals clinically eligible for PrEP but unable to secure an appointment within the public system. [32898/26]
View answer1164. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether funding allocated to expand PrEP capacity in 2025 and 2026 has been fully utilised; and if not, the reasons for any underspend. [32899/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1157, 1158, 1159, 1160, 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 together.
Further to PQRef: 29880/26 of 28/04/2026, to which we provided a comprehensive response and to which the HSE are also responding, we can add the following information in respect of PQ32899/26 and others composited above.
The Department of Health does not receive waiting list data for PrEP, nor do we have access to the HSE's data systems. We understand from HSE colleagues that excess demand of approximately 30% was estimated, prior to additional capacity coming on stream in Q3-4 2025.
The training framework for GPs and other private providers has expanded the numbers of GPs and other primary care healthcare providers providing PrEP from 17 in late 2023, with more providers likely to complete training in the current year. Details of current providers, both public and private, can be accessed at www2.hse.ie/conditions/hiv/where-to-get-prep/.
A Model of Care for sexual health is currently in development and this will examine inequities such as geological disparities and capacity issues, as outlined in the National Sexual Health Strategy, 2025-2035.
It is our understanding that all PrEP positions are currently filled and that any temporary vacancies are typically addressed via the use of locums. PCRS data relating to expenditure on PrEP medications would indicate marginal overspends in recent years. PCRS reports on PrEP drug expenditure can be accessed at: www.sspcrs.ie/portal/annual-reporting/.
In terms of additional detail regarding:
• PrEP expenditure;
• the current status of the Model of Care;
• any registers of patients and centralised data concerning PrEP;
• any national standards around HIV and PrEP treatment and supports;
• any national standards concerning waiting times;
• quantification of geographic disparities;
• the numbers of people clinically eligible for PrEP but unable to access it publicly.
As some of the questions raised are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1165. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the way in which value for money is assessed in respect of funding provided to the Institute of Public Health in the absence of defined performance indicators. [32900/26]
View answerThe All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.
The IPH regularly produces high quality input into the Department of Health, and has done so since its inception in 1998. The outputs of the IPH includes the provision of reports, events, policy briefs, consultation responses, journal articles and conferences. The work plan of the IPH is varied and responsive to both long term and emerging public health needs and challenges on the island of Ireland. The IPH has significant expertise and experience in Public Health and the potential cost to procure such such services from private companies would be multiples of the cost of the IPH. The IPH provides both Departments of Health on the island of Ireland highly responsive Public Health expertise, which is invaluable at times of crises or for emerging Public Health threats and on this basis represents real value for money.
The oversight agreement of the IPH was jointly agreed by the Departments of Health in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the Independent Board of the IPH. Therefore the oversight of the IPH is decided jointly in accordance with the statutory requirements in both jurisdictions.
1166. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the current oversight arrangements for the Institute of Public Health have been formally assessed against the requirements of the Public Spending Code. [32901/26]
View answerThe All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.
The IPH does not meet the criteria to consider when selecting expenditure areas for evaluation against the requirements of the Public Spending Code (PSC). Therefore the IPH has has not been the subject of a formal review against the PSC.
1167. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent external evaluation of the outputs or impact of the Institute of Public Health has been conducted since 2020. [32902/26]
View answerThe All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.
In 2026, the IPH has published it's 'Corporate Strategy, A Healthier Island for All 2026-2030. In preparing the strategy it undertook an independent review of it's activity.
1168. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether funding provided to the Institute of Public Health is subject to periodic review or renewal based on performance outcomes. [32903/26]
View answerThe All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.
The funding allocation provided to the IPH is reviewed annually. The allocation is based on the agreement of an annual work plan for the IPH which is guided by the Corporate Strategy which has been jointly agreed with the IPH and both Departments of Health. The annual work plan is agreed both internally in the Department, based on policy priorities and on common Public Health goals and priorities on the island of Ireland. The IPH regularly produces high quality input into the Department of Health, and has done so since its inception in 1998. The outputs of the IPH includes the provision of reports, events, policy briefs, consultation responses, journal articles and conferences.
1169. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the annual level of Exchequer funding allocated to the Institute of Public Health for each year since 2020. [32904/26]
View answerThe information requested is attached.
