Written Answers Nos. 2432-2452
2432. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not yet received the results from an MRI scan in Cavan General Hospital they had in February 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20884/25]
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.
2433. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the reasons the position of psychologist at the Athenry primary care centre, County Galway, has not yet been filled; if this position remains open; if it is currently being actively advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20889/25]
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.
2434. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she will review the current capacity of the complex menopause clinic at University Hospital Galway, which is currently operating for only one half-day per week, despite a waiting list of eight-nine months; if consideration will be given to expanding this vital service to meet growing demand, particularly for women referred by oncologists and those experiencing early menopause due to cancer treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20890/25]
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.
2436. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the nature of refurbishment works that were carried out at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [20908/25]
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.
2437. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the type of cardiothoracic surgeries that were carried out at the Mater Hospital in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [20909/25]
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.
2438. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health to list all the hospitals that currently use the Da Vinci surgical system, in tabular form. [20910/25]
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.
2439. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff grade podiatrist and senior grade podiatrist aligned to the chronic disease management team within CHO9 in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [20911/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis PQ has been referred to the HSE as it is an operational matter.
2440. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of high-dependency beds and intensive care beds opened and staffed in each hospital part of HSE Dublin and north east health regions as of 22 April 2025; and if she will provide same figures as of 30 April 2021, in tabular form. [20912/25]
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.
2441. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health for an update on an application (details supplied) for the fair deal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21013/25]
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.
2442. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children that have accessed primary care psychology services in County Louth in each of the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [21020/25]
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.
2443. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children that have accessed primary care psychology services, per CHO area, in each of the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form. [21021/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
2444. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) who had hip surgeries in 2021 and 2024 in both Cappagh and Temple Street, will be notified if their care is one of the cases being investigated or not being investigated; if her Department will communicate with the child’s parents if the surgeries were necessary or not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21023/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department does not comment on individual cases.
2445. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the locations within County Cork where attention deficit hyperactivity teams are based. [21027/25]
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.
2446. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE child and adolescent psychiatrists employed by CAMHS mental health intellectual disability services within CHO1 in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21028/25]
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.
2447. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to install a breast screening unit in Dundalk, County Louth. [21035/25]
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.
2448. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review correspondence (details supplied) regarding the case of a child; if she will acknowledge that the orthodontist in the North will not deal with the case in the current circumstances and state that this procedure needs to be carried out in a hospital environment; if she will refer this correspondence to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21036/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2449. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will recognise fibromyalgia as a long-term disability for the purposes of healthcare, in line with a recent decision taken on this matter in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21038/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFibromyalgia is a condition characterized by severe pain, fatigue and stiffness, among many other symptoms. Fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose because there is no specific test and the symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions. Treatment often requires interventions from various medical specialists for management of symptoms as they arise.
The 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%.
2450. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she will explore incorporating disability-related expenses into the medical card means test, particularly for individuals with ongoing high disability-related and health costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21042/25]
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.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. The weekly gross medical card income thresholds for people aged 70 and over are currently €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple.
Persons under 70 are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/.
The issue of granting medical cards on the basis of illness or a disability 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.
However, 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.
Since December 2018, the medical card earnings disregard for people in receipt of Disability Allowance was increased from €120 to €427 per week and applies to the assessment process for single people and to family assessments. This significant policy change gave effect to an important recommendation of the Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities report. This substantial increase in allowable earnings acknowledges that a Medical Card is a particularly significant support and ensures that people with disabilities can continue to be supported to access care when needed.
I can assure the Deputy that, in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any proposals are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.
2451. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if she will expedite a hospital appointment for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21043/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2452. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can progress with cataract treatment; when an urgent appointment will be made available to them, particularly in view of the fact that their sight has deteriorated to the point where they require both glasses and contacts to have functional sight with their sight deteriorating further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21044/25]
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.
