Written Answers Nos. 896-903
896. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health the number of forensic medical examinations carried out by UHL’s forensic medical examination service between 2006 and 2018, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53543/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, this PQ is referred to the HSE for direct response to the deputy.
897. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 693 of 23 June 2026, the level of private practice which is occurring in each public hospital by specialty, and not the number of contract holders, in tabular form; if she will confirm whether such data exists; whether it is collected or monitored; and, if so, if it will be provided; if not, the way in which compliance with contractual obligations is monitored; and the reason this data is not collated. [53559/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
898. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health her plans to consider GLP1 drugs to be included under the drugs payments scheme for persons prescribed it for medical conditions other than diabetes for example polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53573/26]
View answerThe Government recognises the importance of providing the best care possible to patients with this condition. Women’s Health has been and will continue to be a focus of the Department of Health. The Government has made real progress in improving the healthcare available to women in Ireland.
Supported by €158 million of funding in Budgets 2021-2025, the State delivered access to 250 new medicines. 101 of these were for the treatment of cancer. Budget 2026 allocated €217 million additional investment in medicines, including €30 million in funding for new medicines. This has, as of June 2026, delivered access to 26 new medicines, including 9 for the treatment of cancer.
Under 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 device.
In accordance with the legislation, a medicine must have a marketing authorisation (licence) to be included in the formal list of reimbursable items. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists licensed in Ireland do not currently have an EU marketing authorisation for the treatment of Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) or similar endocrine conditions.
A pharmaceutical company can apply to the HSE for reimbursement for a specific indication (use) of a specific licensed medicine. Medicines can have more than one licensed (market authorised) indication and each indication represents a separate application.
Controls are in place within PCRS on claiming processes to ensure that only HSE approved indications are reimbursed across a range of medicines. Controls are currently in place for the GLP-1 agonists to restrict reimbursement support to the HSE approved indications. Off-label prescribing of GLP-1 agonists are not supported for reimbursement under Community Drug Schemes.
It is incumbent on a company to apply to the appropriate regulatory body for a marketing authorisation to extend the licence for a GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of PMOS and then to submit a new pricing and reimbursement application for any newly approved indication to the HSE.
899. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health to supply the travel and subsistence claimed, by all ranks of Registrars from the Civil Registration Service north-east for each of the months from 1 May 2025 to 1 May 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53577/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
900. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to support the mental health reform pre-budget submission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53586/26]
View answerAs Minister, I receive a large volume of pre-budget submissions each year. I value the partnership, input and efforts of voluntary and community organisations, and I take each submission into consideration as part of the Estimates process.
The Department is engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the HSE in relation to the 2027 Estimates process. Until these discussions are concluded, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter. However, I am committed to ensuring the continued enhancement of mental health services through the allocation of additional funding for mental health in 2027.
The Government's clear commitment to enhancing mental health services is demonstrated by significant funding increases in recent years. I would note that Budget 2026 provided a record allocation for mental health services of almost €1.6 billion, representing an increase of more than 50% since I assumed the role of Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health in 2020.
The additional funding for current expenditure provided under Budget 2026 for the Health Vote was €1.5 billion, bringing the total current allocation to €25.8 billion. This included funding to maintain existing levels of service and to support new service developments, including the recruitment of 300 additional whole-time equivalent staff within Mental Health services during 2026.
Budget 2026 marked the sixth consecutive year of increased investment in mental health services. This sustained growth in funding has supported continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with Sharing the Vision, Ireland's national mental health policy, and Connecting for Life, the national suicide and self-harm reduction strategy. These investments support a broad continuum of care, from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention through to specialist mental health services.
Recent budgetary investment has enabled a continued focus on priority areas, including crisis support and suicide prevention, youth mental health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and the expansion of the National Clinical Programmes.
Importantly, as budgets increase, we must ensure that robust plans and strategies are in place so that resources are used effectively and efficiently for the benefit of people using our mental health services. All aspects of mental health services continue to be improved and developed through Sharing the Vision in the short, medium and longer term. Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention through to acute and specialist mental health service delivery over the period 2020–2030.
901. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to expedite the digitalisation of the health service in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53595/26]
View answerDigitalisation of the health service is essential to delivering Sláintecare and improving access, quality, safety and efficiency across the healthcare system. The Government recognises digital health as a key enabler of health service reform and is committed to accelerating the digital transformation of health and social care services through sustained investment and the delivery of major national digital health programmes. This work is being progressed through Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024–2030, which sets out the strategic roadmap for the digital transformation of health and social care in Ireland.
Significant progress is already being made across a number of major programmes. The HSE Health App continues to expand, with over 200,000 registered users as of June 2026, providing patients with greater access to health information and digital services. A major release was delivered in March 2026, with further releases planned during 2026 to enhance functionality and support more convenient access to services through digital channels.
The National Shared Care Record is being rolled out on a phased basis, enabling healthcare professionals to securely access important patient information across care settings. Government approval of the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) Programme Preliminary Business Case in February 2026 has enabled the programme to progress through Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines and into procurement. This represents a significant milestone towards the delivery of a nationally governed Electronic Health Record system and one of the largest digital transformation investments ever undertaken in the State. The National Electronic Health Record will be transformative in supporting more integrated, efficient and patient-centred healthcare services across Ireland. Together, these initiatives will support safer, more connected and patient-centred care by ensuring that critical health information is available to healthcare professionals when and where it is needed.
Digital technologies are also supporting wider service reform and improved patient access. The expansion of virtual care services and virtual wards is helping to reduce avoidable hospital attendances and admissions while enabling more patients to receive care closer to home. Digital solutions are improving referral pathways, information sharing and the coordination of care across healthcare settings. Virtual wards are now operating across all six health regions and continue to expand.
The Government is also progressing the development of a national ePrescribing solution, with procurement expected to conclude later this year. Alongside investments in interoperability, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, these initiatives are helping to build the foundations of a more connected, efficient and digitally enabled health service.
While significant work remains, substantial progress is already being made. Through the implementation of Digital for Care, the rollout of the National Shared Care Record, the procurement of the National Electronic Health Record, the continued expansion of the HSE Health App and the development of a national ePrescribing solution, the Government is accelerating the digital transformation of health and social care. These investments will support safer and more integrated care, improve patient access to services, and help deliver the broader reform objectives of Sláintecare.
902. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the clinical director role, commissioned by the HSE's Chief Clinical Officer in 2025; the timeline for publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53602/26]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
903. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a breach of public pay scales identified at a hospital (details supplied); the steps taken to date to ensure that the hospital complies with public pay policy; if this matter has been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53603/26]
View answerAll voluntary hospitals are required to implement salary structures in accordance with the Consolidated Salary Scales, as sanctioned by the Department of Health and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
Compliance with public sector pay policy is a clearly defined condition within the Service Level Agreements between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and each voluntary hospital. Adherence to these terms is a prerequisite for the allocation of public funding.
The recent disclosure concerning the remuneration of the CEO of St John’s Hospital in Limerick is concerning. It has come to light that the salary approved by the hospital’s Board exceeds the sanctioned salary scale for a CEO working in a hospital of its classification, in breach of public pay policy.
The Department of Health in its correspondence with the HSE has been very clear that breaches of pay policy cannot be tolerated, and that any such breach must be rectified immediately.
