Written Answers Nos. 2411-2431
2412. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health her plans to develop a clear clinical pathway and specialist multidisciplinary functional neurological disorder service, including measures to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis as well as appropriate ongoing support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20748/25]
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.
2413. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of national independent review panel reports underway currently, by CHO area and, by the type of service under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20754/25]
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.
2414. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of national independent review panels launched in each of the past ten years, by CHO area and, by the type of service reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20755/25]
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.
2415. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a list of the pseudonyms ascribed to each person subject to a National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) since the NIRP was established; and the titles of each report generated by the NIRP since it was established. [20756/25]
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.
2416. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will review the current HSE funding criteria for access to the weight management medication saxenda, in cases where it has been prescribed for clinically significant health reasons ; if she will consider allowing more compassionate and flexible discretion in individual cases, particularly where patients with serious chronic conditions such as COPD, asthma, and a history of cancer have demonstrated clear medical benefit from the treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20758/25]
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 medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2417. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she will consider individuals with a permanent stoma for the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20759/25]
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%.
2418. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and an appointment expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20765/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2419. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if there is a plan for the expansion of the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix to service providers involved in the care for adults and children with intellectual disabilities; and if so, the timeline for same. [20766/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and should be redirected to the appropriate Department.
2420. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the top-class home care palliative care package provided in the UK and strive to bring it up to the same standards in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20798/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe government is committed to support people living with a life-limiting illness to live as well as they can.
There are 32 community specialist palliative care teams covering all 26 counties. The community specialist palliative care teams work in close partnership with GP’s and primary care teams. They provide expert palliative care to both adults and children in all community settings including nursing homes.
In 2024, community palliative care teams provided care to an average of 4,314 patients each month in their own homes. This was a 10.5% increase from 2023 (3,905) and reflects the increased demand for palliative care services in the community. Between 2022 and 2025, an additional 35 clinical nurse specialists in palliative care posts have been allocated to services across the country. This is to meet rising demand and to extend out of hours services to 7 days a week.
In partnership with the Irish Cancer Society and Irish Hospice Foundation, the HSE also delivers Night Nursing care to patients receiving specialist palliative care. The service enables people to die at home and provides respite to carers during end-of-life care. In 2024, 2,674 patients received Night Nursing care in their own homes, utilising an average of three nights of care per patient. This amounts to a total of 9,170 nights of specialist end-of-life care. 14 nights are available under the Night Nursing program at end of life; however, if a patient or family require more than this, it can be granted based on the clinical assessment and availability of nurses.
In 2025, the Department of Health will provide €1.9 million to the Irish Cancer Society and Irish Hospice Foundation to support delivery of the Night Nursing service. An evaluation of the Night Nursing service is currently being carried out with a view to further strengthening the service and ensuring it has the capacity to meet future demand.
One of the actions for the HSE in the National Adult Palliative Care Policy (2024) is to conduct a review of out-of-hours home based palliative care and to provide an option appraisal of suitable arrangements for future service provision. The HSE will be exploring international models of out of hours service provision including the UK as part of this review which is expected to begin in 2025.
As part of the Programme for Government, we will continue to invest in palliative care to achieve full national coverage of hospice and community services. We will also continue to fund our National Adult Palliative Care Policy. The total national palliative care budget for 2025 is over €184 million – a 15% increase on 2024 and a 50% increase on 2020. The government will continue to prioritise our palliative care services, working towards the highest possible quality of end-of-life care and support for people with life limiting illnesses across the country.
2424. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the number waiting for a BreastCheck through the HSE’s national screening service for each CHO; the average wait time for BreastCheck for each CHO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20808/25]
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.
2425. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure essential medication is supplied to a nursing home patient (details supplied) through either the enhanced medical card or the long-term treatment scheme. [20813/25]
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.
2426. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 934 of 25 February 2025, the status of filling the post for an ophthalmologist in Clonmel, the absence of which is causing lengthy waiting times for routine and urgent referrals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20814/25]
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.
2427. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric ophthalmologist registrars based at CHI Temple Street, in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [20839/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2428. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health The locations within CHO9 where dental surgeons and senior dental surgeons with a special interest in special needs dentistry are based in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [20840/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2429. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of regional community-based specialist eating disorder services; the locations of these services; the number of WTE health and social care professionals working in these services [20841/25]
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.
2430. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE community orthoptist posts by location within CHO9. [20842/25]
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.
2431. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of permanent full-time job offers Beaumont Hospital made to graduate nurses in 2024; the number of those offers that were accepted. [20843/25]
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.
