Written Answers Nos. 910-929
910. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1161, the reason her Department has yet to correct the inaccurate précis of statute provided by her Department’s pensions specialist (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34481/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs per the HSE response to PQ 44610 supplied to you on 4th December 2024, this matter relates to a long standing legal dispute. The person in question has already been informed that any correspondence should go through their legal representative.
911. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene to assist a child (details supplied) in accessing an expedited appointment for a vital and time-sensitive health service. [34482/25]
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.
912. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have received appointments and the condition for which they were treated under the HSE's chronic disease management programme in each of the last four years, and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34487/25]
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.
913. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the annual costs associated with the implementation of the chronic disease management programme in each of the last four years, and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34488/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
914. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the services currently provided for adult patients with epilepsy at Mater University Hospital; the number and grade of staff that are currently attached to this service at this site; the number of current staff vacancies within this service; the number of epilepsy patients currently registered with this service; the number of patients currently awaiting first consultations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34497/25]
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.
915. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if her Department has fully examined the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2024, which warns of the potential for smokers to relapse if vape flavours are banned; if she can provide any estimate of the number of smokers that are expected to relapse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34498/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra916. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if she has considered the impact the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2024 will have on speciality vape shops, which will be forced to close if all vape flavours are banned; if she has quantified the burden that the point-of-sale display ban for vapes will have on small retailers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34499/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 915 and 916 together.
The Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) for the Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2024 was conducted by my Department. The purpose of the RIA is to describe the policy context and objectives, before identifying possible ways to achieve the objectives and the impacts of such responses.
The RIA examines the current evidence regarding the individual and population-level public health impact of vaping. It also sets out the possible impact of measures on vaping and smoking behaviour, as well as the impact on businesses. An SME test for the Bill was published as an appendix to the RIA.
This analysis has informed the final proposed measures in the Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill. The proposals take into consideration the population-level impact of vaping and the need for a high level of health protection for young people. The proposals include provisions to monitor the impact of any restrictions on vaping and smoking among both young people and adults. It also includes provisions to amend the list of allowed flavours as new evidence presents.
The Bill is also proposed in the context of significant increases in stop smoking support via the HSE Quit Service since 2022. This includes free universal provision of Nicotine Replacement Therapies, as well as behavioural support through a range of pathways and more than double the number of clinics, to support those quitting smoking, and those looking for support to avoid relapse to smoking.
The Bill is currently being drafted, and if approved by Government it will be put to the members of the Oireachtas for consideration.
917. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the addiction services are available in Wicklow for young people and children under the age of 18; the number of patients served; the current waiting lists for these services; the services they provide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34510/25]
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.
918. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if the case will be re-examined and expedited. [34512/25]
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.
919. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health the measures she is taking to uphold the commitment as outlined in the Programme for Government to ensure patients have timely access to new and innovative treatments, and in particular the drug named givinostat (brand name duvyzat), which is crucial for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34523/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a suite of measures on medicines, which we aim to progress over its lifetime. Access to medicines is the focus of a number of workstreams across my Department.
Budgets 2021 to 2024 allocated €128 million for new drugs which has allowed the HSE to approve 194 new medicines. Seventy-four (74) of these were for cancer and forty-nine (49) of these are for rare diseases.
Budget 2025 allocated 30 million euro for new drugs to come from efficiencies to be identified by the HSE.
On foot of the recommendations of the Mazars Review, a pricing and reimbursement application tracker was launched in December 2024 to improve transparency.
In late 2024 an additional 34 staff, an increase of over 80% in staffing across the pricing and reimbursement system, were recruited to enhance capacity across the pricing and reimbursement system. Given the unique technical skill set required for these roles it is expected that the impact of these staff will be seen as we continue through 2025.
This enhanced capacity has been allocated by Government to enhance the pricing and reimbursement process but industry must also play its part by submitting pricing and reimbursement applications as soon as marketing authorisation is granted by the European Medicines Agency.
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, I have asked the HSE for an update in this matter.
The HSE has advised that there is a National Application, Assessment & Decision Process for new medicines which is underpinned by Primary Legislation (Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013) put in place by the Oireachtas. The HSE must comply with the relevant legislation when considering investment decisions around new medicines.
The HSE must robustly assess applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed.
Pharmaceutical companies are required to submit formal applications to the HSE if they wish for their medicines to be added to the list of reimbursable items / funded via hospitals. The decision of pharmaceutical companies to market licensed medicines i.e. whether or not to submit a formal application, is outside the control of the HSE.
In terms of the specific details of an application for pricing and reimbursement of Givinostat (Duvyzat®):
On 25th April 2025, the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a conditional marketing authorisation for Givinostat (Duvyzat®) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in ambulant patients, aged 6 years and older, and with concomitant corticosteroid treatment. On the 6th June 2025 the European Commission granted EU conditional marketing authorisation for Givinostat (Duvyzat®) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
A pricing and reimbursement application has not yet been received by the HSE for Givinostat (Duvyzat®).
As outlined above, the national assessment and decision process cannot commence in the absence of a pricing and reimbursement application submission to the HSE.
920. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health to ensure statutory staff patient ratios are put in place and enforced at private nursing homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34529/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix (The Framework) is a systematic, evidence-based approach to determine safe staffing levels and skill mix for nursing and healthcare assistant roles. It is determined by patient/resident need and demonstrates impact through the measurement of a range of outcomes. Framework development comprises three phrases. Since 2018, two safe staffing policy documents have been published, Phase 1 focused on Adult General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings and Phase 2 focused on Adult Emergency Care Settings. National implementation of these policies is a priority with significant Government investment since 2020 of €56.2 million.
Phase 3 of the Framework in Community settings comprises three distinct stages: (i) Long-Term residential care settings for older persons; (ii) Community care settings; and (iii) Step-down and Rehabilitation settings.
Phase 3 (i) of the Framework is now at an advanced stage of development for long-term residential care settings for older people. The framework was tested nationally across a selection of public, private and voluntary long-term residential care settings for older persons. The pilot testing was underpinned by a programme of research that measured resident, staff and organisational outcomes associated with the chosen evidence based staffing model and dependency tool. The researchers are confident that this assessment tool and staffing model capture the care needs of residents. The effectiveness and appropriateness of both the tool and model was demonstrated through repeat assessments and peer reviews.
To date, three research reports have been provided to the Taskforce which concludes the research phase of development. All reports are expected to be published in the coming months. Based on the evidence, policy development is underway and is expected to be sent to me in Q3 2025 before publication.
When published, the policy will provide, for the first time, an objective and evidence based approach for all nursing homes nationally to determine their nursing staffing levels and skill mix required based on resident need and the opportunity to enhance and strengthen the role that the regulator can play in objectively monitoring the implementation of the Framework on a national basis.
921. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a podiatry appointment in primary care as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; the number waiting 0 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks. [34544/25]
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.
922. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an ophthalmology appointment in primary care as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; the number waiting 0 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34545/25]
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.
923. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an audiology appointment in primary care as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; and the number waiting 0 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34546/25]
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.
924. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a dietetics appointment in primary care as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; and the number waiting 0 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks. [34547/25]
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.
925. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a psychology appointment in primary care as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; and the number waiting 0 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks. [34548/25]
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.
926. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a counselling appointment in primary care as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; and the number waiting 0 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks. [34549/25]
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.
927. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each Local Health Office area waiting for a child and adolescent mental health services appointment as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; and the number waiting 0 to 12 weeks, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks. [34550/25]
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.
928. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health units to date in 2022. [34551/25]
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.
929. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours currently being provided in each LHO area as of 1 June 2025, or the latest date available; the way that compares to target in each LHO for the same time period; the number of persons currently on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area; and the number waiting 0-3 months, 3-6, 6-12 and over 12 months, in tabular form. [34552/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
