Written Answers Nos. 1165-1177
1165. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reasons an organisation (details supplied) was not granted funding for a 2023-24 pilot scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2731/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1166. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if she will consider allowing community audiologists, who already provide care to PRSI contributors through the treatment benefit scheme, to serve medical card holders (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2733/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra1167. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will support a proposal to ensure that community audiologists who already provide care to PRSI contributors through the treatment benefit scheme are allowed to serve medical card holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2735/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1166 and 1167 together.
The Minister for Health established the National Hearing Care Plan Working Group in August 2024.
The Hearing Care Plan Working Group is jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. Membership of the Working Group is drawn from relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, the Irish Academy of Audiology, and the Department of Social Protection.
The Group is tasked with making recommendations around developing a holistic model of hearing care in Ireland. This work is ongoing and will consider, among other things, the appropriate linkage between public and private provision of care to maximise positive outcomes for patients.
Further information regarding the Working Group, including its Terms of Reference, can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e68ec-minister-for-health-establishes-national-hearing-care-plan-working-group/
1168. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a dental assessment will be arranged immediately for a child (details supplied); and if the treatment required can be procured in the private sector. [2738/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1169. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment from a CAMHS-ID specialist (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2742/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra1170. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with CAMHS Louth for a specialist dealing with patients with an intellectual disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2743/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra1171. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to allowing a person (details supplied) to avail of appointments with CAMHS-ID specialists available in other parts of the State while on the waiting list for appointment for this service in Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2744/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 171, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1172. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if she will publish the ministerial brief she received following the recent formation of the Government. [2763/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ministerial brief provided to me on my appointment will be published by the Department in the coming days.
1173. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if she plans to include lumateperone within the drugs payment scheme; the status of any considerations; the timeframe in which it may be included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2772/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1174. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the basis on which persons over 69 years are excluded from bowel cancer screening; if she has considered facilitating screening for those aged over 69 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2773/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Since October 2023, BowelScreen, the national bowel cancer screening programme, invites men and women aged between 59-69 to take the free at-home screening test. This is an important part of a phased approach to expanding the screening age, in line with available capacity and resources. When full expansion is complete, people aged 55-74 will be invited for screening.
I am glad to inform that funding of €1.9m has been allocated for the BowelScreen expansion that will start in 2025 and will be completed in 2026.
I would highlight that any decisions about further changes in cancer screening, including further extension of the age ranges, will be made on the advice of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC is already progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has submitted a request to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to consider the evidence for a further expansion of the age range eligibility for the BowelScreen programme.
Finally, I would like to emphasise that population-based screening programmes are for people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact their medical professional.
1175. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a dietician has been hired for Éist Linn in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2777/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1176. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) to ensure they are granted access to dietetic support. [2784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1177. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to consider the immediate issuance of a temporary medical card for a two to three month period to any citizen receiving a cancer diagnosis, covering the time it takes to process a full application, allowing all the treatment required in the immediate period following their diagnosis to commence, avoiding a delay while their application is processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2789/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.
The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
The HSE also has a compassionate system in place for the efficient provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e., where persons are in need of urgent ongoing medical care or when a patient is receiving end of life treatment. In these cases, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and completed medical report by a healthcare professional. In addition, since March 2021, persons who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less are now also awarded a medical card on an administrative basis. Medical cards awarded on end of life grounds are never re-assessed by the HSE thereby providing reassurance and comfort to patients and their families.
Separately, I can advise the Deputy that, since 2015, medical cards are awarded without the need of a financial assessment to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer. Further information can be found on the HSE’s website at: https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/emergency-medical-cards/
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
