Written Answers Nos. 1121-1140
1121. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE qualified medical dosimetrists posts filled at University Hospital Waterford as of 18 May 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 June 2023, in tabular form. [38790/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1122. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant neurologists with a special interest in migraines and headaches that are based at University Hospital Waterford in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [38791/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1123. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the reason for HSE/National Ambulance Service (NAS) apparently not giving employment to the fully qualified and PHECC registered paramedics on NRS panels whilst the NAS struggles to fill rosters and provide full ambulance cover, including in county Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38795/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1124. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health if an urgent appointment for neurosurgery can be provided to a person living in County Louth (details supplied). [38798/26]
View answerUnder 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.
1125. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the cost of establishing each integrated healthcare area; and the projected annual cost of operating each integrated healthcare area compared to community healthcare organisations. [38801/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1126. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms in place in her Department to ensure delivery on the commitments in the Programme for Government; the civil servant specifically responsible for overseeing such delivery; the measures that are used to assess progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38815/26]
View answerThe Department remains committed to ensuring the effective and timely delivery of Programme for Government commitments in line with Government priorities.
Delivery of these commitments is embedded within the Department’s business planning process, and aligned with strategic objectives set out in the Department’s Statement of Strategy. Progress in relation to the commitments is reported regularly through internal performance reporting arrangements.
Responsibility for delivery of individual commitments rests with the relevant line units and senior officials, with overall coordination supported by central functions within the Department. Delivery is overseen at senior management level, including through the Management Board and through regular engagement with the Minister, Ministers of State and their offices.
1128. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any HSE national policy, clinical guideline, serious incident framework, or safety protocol explicitly references signs of life following termination of pregnancy. [38839/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1129. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any hospital is required to notify the HSE National Incident Management Team where signs of life are observed following termination of pregnancy. [38840/26]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred it to the HSE for direct response.
1130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has classified any such event as a serious reportable event, serious incident, or notifiable patient safety incident since 2019. [38841/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1131. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has sought legal advice regarding statutory reporting obligations in such cases. [38842/26]
View answerAll cases are different, and are assessed individually on their own merits. Legal advice is sought when appropriate.
1132. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether HIQA has any inspection, governance, or oversight role in relation to such incidents. [38843/26]
View answerAs incidents are unique with varying circumstances, each incident is assessed individually on its own merits and actioned accordingly.
1133. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if there will be an independent assessment within the HSE of the pension entitlements of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38844/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1134. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the division of the HSE or Department of Health that holds responsibility for estimating the number of patients clinically eligible for orphan medicinal products approved for reimbursement in the State (details supplied). [38846/26]
View answerUnder 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.
1135. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if any budget impact assessment, cost projection, prevalence estimate, or epidemiological model was prepared in advance of reimbursement consideration for omaveloxolone (skyclarys); and the details of same. [38847/26]
View answerUnder 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.
1136. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE maintains a national registry, prevalence estimate or centrally collated dataset for Friedreich's ataxia patients in the State. [38848/26]
View answerUnder 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.
1137. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health how reimbursement decisions for high-cost orphan medicines are financially planned where the HSE does not centrally retain data regarding the number of clinically eligible patients. [38849/26]
View answerUnder 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.
1138. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the HSE medicines management programme, or any external body estimated the likely eligible patient cohort for omaveloxolone (skyclarys) prior to reimbursement consideration. [38850/26]
View answerUnder 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.
1139. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if any hospitals, hospital groups, or specialist neurology centres currently facilitate access to omaveloxolone (skyclarys) through named-patient arrangements, manufacturer-supported supply, or exceptional approval mechanisms outside PCRS reimbursement pathways. [38854/26]
View answerThis PQ has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as it relates to an operational matter.
1140. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE maintains any national policy governing interim patient access to medicines awaiting reimbursement decisions for rare diseases. [38855/26]
View answer1141. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the Department or HSE has examined establishing a formal compassionate or early-access medicines framework for patients with rare progressive conditions pending health technology assistant and reimbursement determinations. [38856/26]
View answer1225. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department or HSE has considered establishing an accelerated reimbursement pathway for medicines relating to rare progressive neurological disorders. [39070/26]
View answer1230. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if there is a mechanism permitting interim or conditional reimbursement for medicines treating progressive neurological diseases pending completion of the full reimbursement process. [39075/26]
View answer1338. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health with reference to the framework agreement on the supply and pricing of medicines 2026-2029's commitment to develop an early access scheme for rare diseases; if she will consider the equity of creating a fast-track for patients with rare diseases versus the track for patients whose diseases may not be rare but may have a greater clinical need; if she will consider the appropriateness of creating a two-speed system considering Section 21-2-D of the Health (Pricing & Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; if she agrees that an early access scheme should be an accelerator for patients whose medical needs are most urgent; if she will confirm that the principle of equity will be upheld in the planned early access scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39350/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1140, 1141, 1225, 1230 and 1338 together.
I recognise the importance of timely access for patients to new medicines and supporting those living with rare diseases in Ireland. Budgets 2021-2025 allocated €158 million for new drugs, and Budget 2026 allocated an additional €30 million. Since 2021, this has facilitated the introduction of 270 new medicines, 74 of which are for rare diseases.
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.
Ireland is among the highest spenders on health across the EU (OECD), with the third-highest rate of State coverage of pharmaceutical expenditure in Europe.
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. The Minister for Health has no role in decisions on pricing and reimbursement.
The State has successfully negotiated new Framework Agreements with Medicines for Ireland (MFI) and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), on the pricing and supply of medicines.
These agreements include commitments to reaching pricing and reimbursement decisions within 180 days, excluding stopclocks.
In addition, the developers of new medicines will aim to shorten the timeline to submit medicine reimbursement applications in Ireland to within six months of formal authorisation by the European Commission. Together these measures will enable faster access for patients in Ireland.
The Programme for Government contains a suite of measures on medicines which my officials will seek to progress over the lifetime of this Government. As part of the Agreement talks, the State and the pharmaceutical sector have agreed 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. As this work progresses, it will be essential that we take account of the views of patients, of industry, and of clinicians. The mechanisms involved are complex, and the potential impacts must be carefully considered to ensure any future system is fair, effective, and sustainable. In parallel, my officials have commenced work examining reimbursement systems in use across the European Union.
