Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1019. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of emergency residential care for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2132/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCare Services
Ceisteanna (1019)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (1020)
George Lawlor
Ceist:1020. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in each general hospital nationwide; the number of medical beds, surgical beds, maternity beds, beds in accident and emergency, intensive care beds and other beds, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2137/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter I have referred the question to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (1021)
George Lawlor
Ceist:1021. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants employed in each hospital nationwide, by speciality, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2138/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1022)
George Lawlor
Ceist:1022. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of acute psychiatric beds available nationwide; the location of each; her plans to increase this number; the proposed location of any additional beds planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2139/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (1023)
George Lawlor
Ceist:1023. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses employed in each hospital nationwide, by specialty, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2140/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1024)
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:1024. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the plans going forward for the approval of the psychiatric medication lumateperone (details supplied) for the treatment of bipolar disorder as part of the drug repayment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2145/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1025)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:1025. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the recent accreditation of a drug (details supplied) and the lack of a generic version of the medication; and if she would consider including the medication under the drugs payment scheme to ensure affordable access to vital treatment. [2154/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1026)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:1026. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the psychology appointment for a child (details supplied). [2156/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1027)
Brian Brennan
Ceist:1027. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health the services available to cohorts (details supplied) to ensure essential medical care can be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2157/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1028)
Pat Buckley
Ceist:1028. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if a drug (details supplied) can be included on the drugs repayment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2158/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Charges
Ceisteanna (1029)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:1029. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the extra revenue that would be generated if patient charges in HSE-funded hospitals for single-occupancy rooms increased by a further 20% based on 2024 figures. [2162/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Charges
Ceisteanna (1030)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:1030. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue that was raised via accident and emergency department charges at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, in 2024. [2163/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (1031, 1033)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:1031. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to implement a significant increase in ambulance cover for the residents of County Kerry and the tens of thousands of annual visitors to the county (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2173/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Cahill
Ceist:1033. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to take into consideration the geography and accessibility issues in west and south Kerry in emergency situations, by giving strong consideration to locating an air ambulance service on Valentia Island in conjunction with Valentia Coastguard Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2179/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1031 and 1033 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the South-West of the country is served by a dedicated HSE Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) which is based in Rathcool, Co Cork.
The HEMS service, operated by the National Ambulance Service in conjunction with a private aviation provider, is the first publicly-funded aeromedical service covering the Munster region. The service provides patients with access to lifesaving prehospital emergency care interventions at the scene by highly trained advanced or specialist paramedics and swift transfer to further definitive care.
The South-West of the country is also covered by the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) who provide additional national HEMS support to the NAS on an ‘as available’ basis from their bases in Shannon, Dublin, Sligo and Waterford.
Regarding the Deputy's specific questions concerning a dedicated air ambulance service for the Kerry and West Cork coastlines and further land ambulance resourcing in Co Kerry, as these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1032)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:1032. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will expedite the implementation of the business plan submitted by an organisation (details supplied) for the patients who attend a day service in Listowel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2178/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 1033 answered with Question No. 1031.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1034)
Donna McGettigan
Ceist:1034. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the services and supports that will be put in place for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2180/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (1035)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1035. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to examine the issue of mixed wards in hospitals (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2182/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1036)
Pat Buckley
Ceist:1036. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the crisis in neurological care in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2187/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1037)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1037. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of reports of adverse effects, including suicidality, that the HPRA has received for doxcycline over the past 20 years; and the number of reports of deaths associated with doxcycline received by the HPRA over the past 20 years. [2193/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In order to inform a response to your question, my Officials have reached out to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The HPRA operates a reporting scheme in Ireland through which suspected adverse drug reactions (also known as side effects) can be notified. All reports are carefully evaluated by the HPRA's pharmacovigilance department per national and EU legislation and guidance. The description of suspected adverse reactions, including the number and category, reflects available information known at the time by the HPRA. These data may change as more information about individual reports becomes available through follow-ups and as reports are further evaluated.
Reports of suspected adverse reactions are submitted (with personal identifiers and contact details removed) to the EMA’s EudraVigilance database. The EudraVigilance database is regularly analysed to detect any possible safety signals related to medicines.
Over the past 20 years, the HPRA has received 67* suspected adverse drug reaction reports associated with doxycycline. Of these, two involved fatal outcomes: one was unrelated to suicide, while the other was associated with a suicide.
* Data obtained from the HPRA's National Adverse Reaction database. It is important to understand that conclusions on the safety of a medicine cannot be drawn based on the information from suspected adverse reactions alone, given well-established and known limitations in interpreting such data in isolation.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1038)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1038. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of reports of adverse effects, including suicidality, that the EMA has received for Doxcycline over the past 20 years; and the number of reports of deaths associated with Doxcycline received by the EMA over the past 20 years. [2194/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In order to inform a response to your question, my Officials have reached out to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), our national competent authority for medicines.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) operates the EudraVigilance system, which is used to manage and analyse information on suspected adverse reactions. It supports the safe and effective use of medicines by facilitating electronic exchange of information and early detection and evaluation of possible safety signals. The EMA make EudraVigilance data, anonymised following data protection requirements, accessible to the public on www.adrreports.eu.
It is important to understand that conclusions on the safety of a medicine cannot be drawn based on the information from suspected adverse reactions alone, given well-established and known limitations in interpreting such data in isolation.
The number of individual cases identified in EudraVigilance for doxycycline via the adrreports.eu website is just over 14,000, including reports from both EEA and non-EEA areas since the system was first established in the 1990s. Of those, a relatively small number describe suicide or suicidal ideation, some of which had a fatal outcome. The specific numbers are available publicly through the website, together with additional guidance on interpreting the information.
Should the Deputy wish to obtain any data unavailable through the public website, additional time will be needed for the HPRA to liaise with the EMA to request this data. The HPRA have indicated that they would be happy to do so.
It is also noted that all EudraVigilance data relevant to the concerns around suicide were examined as part of the EMA's signal management procedure, which was recently completed. Based on that review, evidence to support a causal association between doxycycline and suicide/suicidal ideation was not established; however, the matter will continue to be monitored.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1039)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1039. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to detail the investigation, if any, that was carried out by the HPRA into the death of a person (details supplied) following the taking of doxycycline. [2195/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At the request of the Deputy, the response to this PQ has been forwarded directly to the Deputy for their attention on 4th February 2025.
Departmental Bodies
Ceisteanna (1040)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1040. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health how the HPRA is funded. [2196/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is largely self-funded by fee income. These fees are laid out in an annual Statutory Instrument, made under Section 13 of the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 (IMB Act).
A policy of annual fee reviews following consultation, was introduced in 2004. The HPRA may additionally charge for services, under Section 14 of the IMB Act following consultation with the Minister for Health.
Since its establishment in 1996, The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), has consistently run its regulation of human medicines authorisation, manufacturer and wholesaler operations without recourse to exchequer funding.
Sufficient reserves have been established to allow the HPRA to fund capital and IT expenditure and deal with unexpected costs as these arise. This is both a requirement under the IMB Act and a stated objective of the Authority of the HPRA.
For medical devices, cosmetics, blood, tissues and cells, the HPRA receives a partial subvention from the Department of Health but also commits to ensure that the income received matches the costs of those functions.
The total HPRA income for 2023 was €39.629 million of which €5.560 million in funding was provided by the Department of Health.
Departmental Meetings
Ceisteanna (1041)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1041. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to meet with persons (details supplied) concerning the death of a person. [2197/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would appreciate it if the Deputy could ask the persons concerned to correspond with me on this matter by email to MinistersDiary@health.gov.ie.
Cancer Services
Ceisteanna (1042)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:1042. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the steps she will take to establish the way and the reason a woman (details supplied) failed to have her cancer diagnosed in a timely manner; and if she will implement a treatment regime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2204/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.