Written Answers Nos. 1178-1189
1178. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the grant aid and funding available from her Department to a community group to assist in the provision and installation of a defibrillator in a public space. [2794/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAutomated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations. AEDs are among the various items eligible for funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund.
The Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme) is operated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to voluntary, not-for profit sports clubs, community groups, National Governing Bodies of Sport, and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.
The programme funds the purchase of AEDs for the above-mentioned groups and many of these are also available to the wider community.
Funding is also available through the HSE’s national lottery grants schemes and other community grants schemes. At a local level, the network of local sports partnerships throughout the country delivers education and training opportunities across a broad range of areas to local sports clubs and community groups. This includes first aid workshops, which typically cover CPR and-or defibrillator training as part of the content.
From the 1st of January 2023, my Department through the Department of Finance removed VAT from AEDs to make the cost more feasible for groups, organisations or individuals looking to purchase an AED.
1179. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health her plans to recognise polycystic ovary syndrome as a chronic condition under the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2817/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1180. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health her plans to cover medications like Ozempic under the drug payment scheme for polycystic ovary syndrome, due to insulin resistance being a core symptom of the syndrome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2818/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1181. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health to clarify the current status of the free HRT scheme roll-out; an updated timeline for the roll-out of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2823/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMenopause is an important health and wellbeing issue which has been prioritised as part of the Government’s commitment to improved women’s health outcomes.
Much important work has been done in this area, driven by the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plans, launched in 2022 and 2024.
The new Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future continues to emphasise this important commitment to improving women’s health outcomes and experiences. The new HRT measure represents another step to widen access to menopause related treatments and services and follows on from all the other developments that have taken place over several years.
Budget 2025 announced the intention to fund the medicine cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products prescribed to a woman to help manage the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause.
On Tuesday, 5th November the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024 passed all stages in the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law.
This legislation means that where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) product by her healthcare provider to alleviate the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products will be met by the State.
For the purpose of this measure, menopause means, in relation to a woman, the various stages for the treatment of menopause symptoms and includes perimenopause, post menopause, early menopause, premature menopause and medically induced menopause.
This measure will cover any HRT medications and products which are currently reimbursable by the HSE, which have been prescribed for the purposes of alleviating the symptoms of menopause. The cost of GP consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing fees are not included in the measure.
The Department of Health engaged with both the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Pharmacy Union in relation to the practical rollout of this measure.
The Department of Health is working to introduce this measure as soon as possible.
1182. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health whether a person with a serious medical condition (details supplied) could be provided with a GP in the town they have lived in for seven years (details supplied) instead of having to travel over an hour to see their GP on a routine-basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2824/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
Where a person that holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned, having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area), can apply to the HSE Eligibility Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list in accordance with the GMS contract.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private practitioners, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other practices in the surrounding areas. The HSE website provides a "Find a GP" facility which can assist in finding nearby GP practices.
A number of measures have been taken in recent years to increase the number of GPs practicing in the State and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients across the country.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice was increased by €211.6m. This provided for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees for additional services and increased practice supports. The GP Agreement 2023 further increased GP capitation fees, increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a grant support for additional staff capacity as well a practice staff maternity leave support. These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors.
Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available from 2024. 346 new entrants commenced training last year, a 21% increase on the previous year’s intake of 286.
Furthermore, the recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 114 IMG GPs were in practice as of October last and funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs from outside Ireland to the country this year.
1183. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health for an update on the new national sexual health strategy; the timeline she is working towards for its publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2826/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSexual health is a priority for the Department of Health; the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 (NSHS) was developed as a core policy under the Healthy Ireland Framework and is a priority under the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, 2021-2025. Implementation of the Strategy is led by the HSE Sexual Health Programme (formerly the Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme). The first Strategy was extended until the end of 2022 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An independent Review of the NSHS, by Crowe Ireland, was published in March 2023 and is available on the Healthy Ireland website. The Review identified 56 Priority Actions, of which 49 were assessed as having been successfully progressed. It also sets out 32 indicative recommendations to build on achievements, and to optimise development of a new Strategy.
This Government is committed to enhancing sexual health services in Ireland. As outlined in the Programme for Government, 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, we plan to:
• Publish a new National Sexual Health Strategy.
• Develop an Action Plan to support the elimination of new HIV transmissions by 2030, in line with international targets and provide additional supports for people living with HIV.
• Increase the availability of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and reduce waiting times for access to it.
In more detail, the following priorities have been identified for the new National Sexual Health Strategy:
• Supporting sexual health across the lifecourse
• Implementing a Model of Care for sexual health services, focusing on prevention; diagnosis, treatment, information and surveillance for STIs and HIV, and on geographic equity.
• Building capacity and meeting demand for HIV prevention and treatment including PrEP and PEP and additional supports for people living with HIV
• Expanding capacity and further developing the home STI testing service and STI testing and treatment more widely, bearing in mind the increase in STI transmission rates, internationally;
• Improving Sexual health information, education and supports, including awareness of consent;
• Further developing and expanding the Free Contraception Scheme for women and the National Condom Distribution Service, to support better access to contraception and STI prevention, also recognising the key role of hormonal contraception in treating adverse period symptoms;
• Supporting sexual health related research and laboratory testing services;
• Working in partnership across Government, supporting other relevant policy areas, including women’s, men’s and LGBTI+ health, DSGBV prevention, recognising the needs of marginalised groups, using a socially inclusive approach and focusing on the sexual health-related elements of these areas of work;
• Supporting our international commitments concerning sexual health.
The budget for Strategy implementation will be determined each year, via the annual Estimates and Budget processes. For 2025, in order to expand sexual health services and provide additional supports to our rapidly growing population, we have been allocated additional funding of €550,000, through Budget 2025, to further support delivery of the PrEP scheme, bringing the total allocation for PrEP to €6.45m. This additional funding is comprised of €0.2m for additional PrEP drug costs, and €0.35m for additional staffing in the public STI clinics from July 2025, increasing capacity for in-person appointments.
Furthermore, an additional €0.6m has been allocated to support the free home STI testing scheme; given increasing demand for the service. This brings funding for home STI testing to €4.82m in 2025.
Approximately €0.2m has been allocated to support the free contraception scheme, enabling expert advice to be applied to the inclusion of free contraception in the forthcoming expansion of pharmacy services, and supporting forthcoming public information campaigns in 2025 regarding those changes. In summary, an additional €1.35m has been allocated to support sexual health in 2025.
Following the advice of experts on the NSHS Drafting Committee, the new Strategy has now undergone an additional round of stakeholder consultation and feedback, which is now complete. The Strategy is in the final stages of development; it is envisaged that it will be launched in early 2025, also supported by an Action Plan that will map out implementation in more detail for the first 3 years of the Strategy's term. It is envisaged that the Strategy will be published within Q1-2, 2025.
1184. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health her plans to improve sexual health services in Cork; if increased resources will be provided to expand the opening hours of existing sexual health clinics and address long wait times for appointments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2827/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSexual health is a priority for the Department of Health. Timely access to sexual health services, free of cost and accessibility barriers, is central to improving and maintaining sexual health and reducing negative sexual health outcomes. We have introduced many new services in recent years and will further support these and additional initiatives, in line with the forthcoming Model of Care. Development of the Model of Care (MoC) is currently underway and further plans will be included in the new National Sexual Health Strategy, which is due to be published in the first half of 2025.
Mapping of sexual health services in Ireland and a sexual health needs assessment was completed in the lifetime of the first Strategy, to inform the proposed MoC and future service planning. It is envisaged that the implementation plan for the Model of Care will include a resourcing and business plan that considers changing demographics, rising HIV and STI rates, new and emerging infections and sexual health threats, the new regional health areas, geographic equity, workforce, infrastructural capacity, and methods of service delivery.
Budget 2025 has provided additional supports for sexual health, including an additional €600,000 to support increasing demand for the free home STI testing scheme and an additional €550,000 for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) that includes funding for 7 additional whole time equivalent staff in public STI clinics facing significant unmet demand for PrEP, from July, 2025.
As the detail of sexual health service delivery in Cork is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1185. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to include screening for HSV1 and HSV2 in the HSE’s free home STI test kits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2828/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFree home STI testing was rolled out nationally in 2022, following an initial pilot funded by the Sláintecare Integration Fund in 2021. HIV testing is included as part of the standard home STI test.
Since its launch in 2022, the National Home STI Testing Service has proven very popular and has added approximately 33% to national testing capacity. It has reached many people who may have been reluctant to attend an STI clinic in person.
Demand for STI home testing kits has risen steadily since the service was launched in 2022, with approximately 91,000 kits ordered in that year, 108,000 kits ordered in 2023 and 126,000 ordered in 2024. The rate of returned kits has also risen, from 62% in 2022 to 69% in 2023 and 72.5% in 2024.
Reflecting this increase, an additional €600,000 has been allocated for the service in 2025, bringing overall funding for home STI testing to €4.82 million in 2025. In 2024, the percentage of people receiving reactive results was 9.7%, marginally lower than the rate recorded in 2023. Health Protection Surveillance Centre reports published at the end of 2024 also indicate reductions in rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia in 2024 as compared with 2023. It is possible that increased access to testing and subsequent treatment may be reducing rates of onward transmission. The reports can be accessed at: www.hpsc.ie/a-z/sexuallytransmittedinfections/publications/stireports/
Since September 2024, test recipients have had the option to receive free condoms and lubricants with their free test kits, through the National Condom Distribution Service. Approximately 4,400 people have availed of this option to date. 2024 figures for the National Condom Distribution Service show that just over 1.2 million condoms and just under 800,000 lubricant sachets were ordered in 2024.
As the inclusion of screening for HSV1 and HSV2 is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2829/25]
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.
1187. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of communications received by HSE MyOptions from women in unplanned pregnancies in 2020-24, inclusive, by category, by month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2831/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service area (MyOptions) I have referred to the HSE for direct response.
1188. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the drafting, publication and introduction of the proposed nicotine inhaling products Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2832/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCabinet approval was given on 10 September to proposals for a Bill to further regulate nicotine inhaling products, including a complete ban on disposable vapes. Those proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General. Once completed, the draft legislation will require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535).
At this early stage in the legislative process, I do not have a timeline for the introduction of the measures in the Bill.
1189. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections carried out by the HSE environmental health service of each of manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of e-cigarettes and refill containers during 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2834/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
