Written Answers Nos. 824-843
824. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the average cost paid by patients being treated under the endometriosis surgery abroad interim scheme; the average wait time for reimbursement of upfront costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53163/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
825. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the average cost paid by patients being treated for endometriosis under the Cross Border Directive; the average wait time for reimbursement of upfront costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53164/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
826. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of women waiting to be reimbursed under the Cross Border Directive after having availed of the scheme for endometriosis treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53165/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
827. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if endometriosis treatment is included in the treatment abroad scheme; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53166/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
828. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the funding provided for endometriosis services between 2021 and 2025 on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53167/26]
View answerThe Department of Health and the HSE do not allocate funding by individual condition or disease. This is a deliberate policy approach, consistent with Sláintecare and international best practice, which seeks to support integrated care pathways rather than separate disease-specific funding silos. Funding is instead allocated across services and care pathways, allowing resources to be directed to where they can have the greatest impact for patients. Accordingly, a specific annual funding allocation for endometriosis services is not separately identified.
Instead, funding is provided to the HSE through its overall allocation and is deployed across services on based on population need and national priorities. Since 2020, current Health funding has increased from approximately €18 billion to €25.8 billion in 2026, an increase of almost €8 billion or 43%. Over the same period, the funded HSE workforce has increased from approximately 101,000 WTE at the beginning of 2020 to 136,606 WTE funded in 2026. This investment supports improvements in services across the health system, including services utilised by women with endometriosis.
Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve care for women with endometriosis. Key developments include the establishment of specialist endometriosis centres and regional hubs, the expansion of multidisciplinary supports, the publication and implementation of the National Framework for the Management of Endometriosis, the development of specialist care pathways, expansion of surgical capacity, access to treatment abroad in appropriate cases, accreditation of specialist centres, enhanced clinician training and education, and the establishment of structures to ensure patient involvement in service development.
Activity levels within specialist endometriosis services have continued to increase as these new services and pathways have been implemented. The HSE National Service Plan 2026 includes the continued implementation of the National Framework for the Management of Endometriosis as a priority area.
The Government remains committed to improving timely access to diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care for women living with endometriosis.
829. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for an occupational therapy assessment at the Kilbarrack Health Centre, Dublin; the number of people currently on the waiting list; the average and longest waiting time for an assessment; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53168/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
830. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for an occupational therapy assessment at the Edenmore Health Centre, Dublin; the number of people currently on the waiting list; the average and longest waiting time for an assessment; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53169/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
831. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for an occupational therapy assessment at the Killester Health Centre, Dublin; the number of people currently on the waiting list; the average and longest waiting time for an assessment; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53170/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
832. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for a speech and language therapy at the Kilbarrack Health Centre, Dublin; the number of people currently on the waiting list; the average and longest waiting time for an assessment; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53171/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
833. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for a speech and language therapy at the Killester Health Centre, Dublin; the number of people currently on the waiting list; the average and longest waiting time for an assessment; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53172/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
834. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for a speech and language therapy at the Edenmore Health Centre, Dublin; the number of people currently on the waiting list; the average and longest waiting time for an assessment; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53173/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
835. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent physiotherapists employed in the HSE in Dublin; the number of vacancies in such posts; if she is satisfied there is a satisfactory number of staff to meet the needs of the area in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53174/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
836. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Health if there are job vacancies for physiotherapy services in Mayo University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53179/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
837. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Health the wait times for patients who have been referred for physiotherapy services in Mayo University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53180/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
838. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.1035 of 28 April 2026, to provide an update on the matter. [53195/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
839. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if there are any measures to exclude cancer patients or those transporting cancer patients from car parking charges at public hospitals; if any supports are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53201/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to improving cancer care, ensuring better prevention, maintaining improvements in cancer survival rates, and timely access to treatments.
Hospitals that charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses. As a result, many hospitals have introduced reduced rate parking for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship, and all hospitals that charge for parking have a fixed maximum daily rate. The majority of hospitals have some form of exemption or allowances in place such as the option of flexible day passes or multi-trip entry passes for regular hospital attenders, or various concessions based on the type of patient.
The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme also funds the Travel2Care Scheme, which is administered by the Irish Cancer Society and offers financial supports towards travelling for cancer treatment. The Travel2Care Scheme is a limited transportation assistance fund. It is available to patients travelling long distances to designated cancer centres, approved centres, or an approved children’s hospital and covers part of the associated costs, including parking charges, for said travel.
The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future, makes a commitment to explore further ways to reduce hospital car parking charges. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services. Accordingly, in line with this commitment, the HSE continues to keep all fees and concessions under review, in order to progress any opportunities that will ease the burden for those most affected.
840. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health her plans to increase the number of MRI machines nationally. [53202/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
841. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health her plans to increase the number of PET scanners nationally. [53203/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
842. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health her plans to increase the number of CT scanners nationally. [53204/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
843. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to hospital, including to intensive care or on life support, with injuries sustained from e-scooter use in each of the years 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026; if this data is collected on a national basis across all children's hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53247/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
