Written Answers Nos. 1181-1207
1181. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the HSE and public health system of adding Hantavirus to the list of notifiable diseases, including training, laboratory testing, contact tracing and potential isolation measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38987/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1184. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the consultation process undertaken with medical professionals, general practitioners and relevant stakeholders prior to signing the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38990/26]
View answer1186. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of additional notifications the HSE expects annually as a result of the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026; the staffing and resource implications for public health departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38992/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1184 and 1186 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1190. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing a single clinically-led prioritisation system for ophthalmology referrals based solely on clinical need irrespective of referral pathway; the reasons such a system does not already exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38998/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1191. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health when specific medical cards will be issued to those who have applied under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39031/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1192. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health when an applicant (details supplied) will receive their specific medical card under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39032/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1193. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients removed from orthopaedic outpatient waiting lists through administrative validation in 2025, broken down by hospital, waiting-time band and reason for removal. [39036/26]
View answer1194. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients removed from orthopaedic inpatient or day-case waiting lists through administrative validation in 2025, broken down by hospital, waiting-time band and reason for removal. [39037/26]
View answer1195. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if an audit will be carried out to establish how many orthopaedic patients removed through administrative validation in 2025 were later re-presented or were re-referred for the same condition. [39038/26]
View answer1196. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE or NTPF records the full waiting time from GP referral to completed orthopaedic procedure; and if not, if the absence of full-pathway waiting-time data has been assessed as a governance risk. [39039/26]
View answer1199. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the Waiting Time Action Plan 2026 includes specific targets for reducing orthopaedic outpatient waiting times; and if so, to provide those targets by HSE region. [39042/26]
View answer1200. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the Waiting Time Action Plan 2026 includes specifically funded capacity for knee replacement pathways, including outpatient assessment, diagnostics, theatre capacity and post-operative rehabilitation. [39043/26]
View answer1202. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department will examine the separate publication of outpatient and inpatient waiting lists, which understate the real waiting time experienced by patients requiring knee replacement surgery. [39045/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1193, 1194, 1195, 1196, 1199, 1200 and 1202 together.
A break down by hospital in respect of validation removals for 2025 has been provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund and is attached. As validation is based on the original date of referral rather than by reference to waiting list time band, such a breakdown has not been provided. All removals and reinstatements, if necessary, through validation are in accordance with the relevant waiting list protocol.
Data relating to “reason for removal” is not currently collated for administrative validation accordingly, the totals include patients who responded that they did not wish to remain on the waiting list as well as those who did not respond to a validation letter.
In consultation with my Department and the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is leading on a Best Practice Reporting (BPR) project which will provide a greater level of detail in respect of how long patients on acute hospital waiting lists can expect to be waiting for care.
BPR will provide access to meaningful wait time information for patients and practitioners and will assist in maximising resources in the effective management of waiting time and waiting list information.
Full details relation to the 2026 WTAP are available at [(www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/waiting-time-action-plan-2026/]).
1197. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE records the number of patients awaiting orthopaedic outpatient assessment for knee replacement, who are not yet counted on an inpatient or day-case surgical waiting list. [39040/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1198. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if any national clinical prioritisation framework exists for patients awaiting knee replacement who are experiencing severe pain, loss of mobility, inability to work or loss of independent living capacity. [39041/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1201. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if patients awaiting orthopaedic care receive written confirmation to distinguish that they are on an outpatient assessment list or an inpatient/day-case surgical list. [39044/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1203. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of confirmed lyme disease cases recorded annually in the State from 2020 to 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39047/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1204. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE maintains national clinical guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of lyme disease; if so, when such guidance was last reviewed or updated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39048/26]
View answer1205. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the extent general practitioners receive specific training or continuing professional development guidance relating to lyme disease diagnosis, treatment pathways and long-term complications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39049/26]
View answer1206. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department or HSE has conducted a review of delayed diagnosis of lyme disease and associated patient outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39050/26]
View answer1207. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients referred annually for specialist assessment relating to neurological complications associated with lyme disease from 2020 to 2026 [39051/26]
View answer1211. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE collects data on the number of patients presenting with long-term or chronic symptoms following lyme disease infection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39055/26]
View answer1216. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if any dedicated disability, occupational or psychosocial supports exist for persons experiencing long-term complications associated with lyme disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39060/26]
View answer1217. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE maintains data on waiting times for infectious disease consultations relating to suspected lyme disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39061/26]
View answer1218. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if a review has been undertaken regarding access to intravenous antibiotic treatment for severe lyme disease cases within the public health system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39062/26]
View answer1221. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions annually associated with lyme disease, neurological lyme disease, lyme carditis or lyme arthritis from 2020 to 2026, in tabular form. [39065/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207, 1211, 1216, 1217, 1218 and 1221 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
