Tuesday, 26 May 2026

Health Screening Programmes

Questions (1490)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

1490. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health her plans to re-introduce the scoliosis screening programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40261/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Mental Health Services

Questions (1491)

Liam Quaide

Question:

1491. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list for CAMH, per county. [40263/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (1492)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1492. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if she will consider a proposal to allow elderly people who are not entitled to a medical card and who have paid PRSI all their lives be exempt from the €100 accident and emergency charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40267/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an emergency department (€100) and a minor injury unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.

There are no plans at present to amend the provisions in relation to the application of these charges.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1493, 1494, 1495)

Paula Butterly

Question:

1493. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels across adult mental health services in County Louth, including psychiatry, psychology, nursing and social work; the number of vacant posts by discipline; the steps being taken to address recruitment and retention challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40278/26]

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Paula Butterly

Question:

1494. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health the extent to which staffing shortages are contributing to delays in accessing adult mental health services in County Louth; whether additional funding or workforce planning measures are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40279/26]

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Paula Butterly

Question:

1495. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently on waiting lists for adult mental health services in County Louth, including primary care psychology, counselling and community mental health teams; the average waiting times in the area; the number of individuals waiting longer than recommended timeframes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40280/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1493, 1494 and 1495 together.

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

Question No. 1494 answered with Question No. 1493.

Question No. 1495 answered with Question No. 1493.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1496)

Louis O'Hara

Question:

1496. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department has undertaken to explore the viability of expanding free access to the shingles vaccine to those aged over 65 years-of-age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40281/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (1497)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

1497. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if her Department and the HSE are developing a strategic infrastructure programme to plan for replacement and expansion at public radiation oncology services, as stated by An Tánaiste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40292/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Successive national cancer strategies, together with the National Plan for Radiation Oncology and the clinical oversight of the National Cancer Control Programme, have underpinned and delivered significant investment in radiation oncology services, including new types of radiotherapy treatment and the opening of new state-of-the-art centres in Cork and Galway along with the ongoing phased expansion of the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON).

To build on these improvements and taking account the clinical importance of this service and the growing patient population, there is a need to plan for the replacement of linear accelerators on a phased basis at all public radiation oncology centres. A key action for the Department and the HSE is the development and implementation of a Strategic Infrastructure Programme for linear accelerator replacement and, where appropriate, expansion at public radiation oncology facilities.

To develop this Programme, the Department is establishing a Working Group, including representatives from the Department of Health and the HSE. The Programme will be developed in line with sectoral policies and strategies including the National Cancer Strategy, the National Plan for Radiation Oncology and Health Infrastructure Investment policy (as set out in the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework).

The Strategic Infrastructure Programme will examine current and future clinical and service needs and will provide a planned, coordinated approach to systematic replacement and, where appropriate, expansion of linear accelerator (LINAC) infrastructure and associated enabling works at publicly operated radiation oncology centres.

The Working Group will be chaired by Department officials and include representations from across HSE functions such as the HSE National Cancer Control Programme and HSE Capital & Estates. The Working Group may also invite additional expert input, including clinical, health planning and economic expertise, and may engage with other relevant stakeholders on a consultative basis, as required.

It is expected that the inaugural meeting of the group will take place in the coming weeks.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (1498)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1498. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review the correspondence (details supplied); if she will provide an update on the current review of the programme in question; if she will outline any plans to expand patient access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40300/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The purpose of the Review of Access to Cannabis for Medical Use is to provide independent, evidence-informed advice to my Department and I on access to cannabis-based products for medical use in Ireland, including the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) and the Ministerial Licence Scheme, and to make recommendations to inform long-term national policy.

The Group will:

• Review the current operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme and the availability of Schedule 2 Cannabis products.

• Examine the appropriateness to expand the range of conditions covered by the programme, where sufficient evidence exists that cannabis may prove beneficial.

• Review the current access to Schedule 1 Cannabis products and the current operation of the ministerial licence.

• Develop a national policy on access to, and the administration of cannabis products that are subject to ministerial licence.

The Review Group is comprised of a range of medical specialists and experts and patient representation.

To support the Review of Access to Cannabis for Medical Use my Department commissioned the Health Research Board (HRB) to undertake an international evidence review as a key input to the process.

The HRB subsequently published its review in 2024, entitled The Efficacy and Safety of Medicinal Cannabis in Adult Populations.

The Review group will consider the evidence included therein and will also engage with relevant expert stakeholders, including patients and/or their families, to inform the Review through consideration of lived experience. Consideration is also being given to including a formal public consultation process as part of the Review.

This will be agreed in collaboration with the Chair and the Review group.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (1499)

John Paul O'Shea

Question:

1499. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new elective hospital in Cork; i the current stage of planning, design and delivery; the expected timeline for construction and opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40303/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The government is fully committed to increasing elective-only day-case capacity through the Elective Ambulatory Care Programme. This is being delivered in two phases: a national network of Surgical Hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity, and then, a national network of Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, in Cork, Galway and Dublin.

These new ‘elective-only’ facilities are for day-case patients, they are not for acute or emergency care. Significant international evidence supports the separation of scheduled (elective) and non-scheduled (emergency) care, leading to improved care for all patients. These elective facilities will provide routine treatments, procedures and consultations which have been scheduled in advance for non-emergency issues and which do not require an overnight stay. There are no in-patient beds; instead, patients arrive and leave on the same day.

The HSE is developing these new facilities as quickly as possible, whilst ensuring value for money from each project, economies of scale and standardisation, and that wider infrastructure needs are considered where required.

Two surgical hubs are already operational (Tallaght and Mt Carmel) and are having a significant impact on reducing waiting times. A further five hubs are due to become operational this year (Swords, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford) with two further hubs in Sligo and Letterkenny in design. When fully operational each hub is expected to deliver additional annual activity of between circa 4,000- and 8,000-day case procedures, 5,700 minor ops procedures and up to 18,500 OPD appointments.In relation to Cork, construction of the new surgical hub is complete and commissioning of the hub is now underway. The hub is expected to become operational in Q3 this year, which will add significant elective care capacity, including 4 day case theatres, 2 minor ops rooms and 4 OPD treatment rooms.

Alongside the delivery of the Surgical Hubs, planning is underway for new larger national Elective Treatment Centres (also referred to as Elective Hospitals) in Cork, Galway and Dublin to meet our longer-term elective care capacity requirements.

Detailed design for the Elective Treatment Centre in Cork (at St Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire) is underway. Relevant surveys and site investigations have been conducted. The HSE is progressing enabling packages and engaging with statutory planning authorities to prepare the necessary planning permission applications and to progress the Cork Elective Treatment Centre to shovel-readiness. The HSE expects to submit planning applications for Cork this year. Pending the outcome of planning processes it would be premature to speculate on the timing of subsequent phases for the elective hospitals programme.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (1500)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

1500. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the engagement her Department has had with Regional Hospital Mullingar regarding the need for additional parking onsite given the severe shortage for patients attending for appointments. [40306/26]

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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.