Written Answers Nos. 228-247
228. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists, by grade, based at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, in the years 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34881/25]
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.
229. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position of her Department’s focused talks with a union (details supplied) on the community pharmacy contract and associated services and arrangements, including fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34895/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State (the Department of Health and the HSE) has commenced formal contract negotiations with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), under the agreed Framework of Engagement, published on 23 May 2025 (see www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/framework-of-engagement-between-the-department-of-health-the-health-service-executive-and-the-irish-pharmacy-union/).
The current formal talks include a consideration of fee and service arrangements and related matters, with due regard to the IPU’s role as the representative body for community pharmacists. The intention is to reach an agreement which will support a modernised community pharmacy sector.
Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
230. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if the shingles vaccine will be made available free to immuno-compromised individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34896/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. It also considers emerging evidence and therefore the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
Once a recommendation from NIAC has been received and considered by the Chief Medical Officer of my Department, a request can be made to HIQA to carry out a Health Technology Assessment. This assessment looks at the evidence of the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine. The assessment also looks at the value for money, cost, organisational, social and ethical issues of providing a new vaccine. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.
The recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix) is licensed in Europe for the prevention of shingles and its most common complication, post-herpetic neuralgia.
NIAC recommends the RZV vaccine for adults aged 65 and older, and for adults aged 18-49 who are at increased risk of shingles.
My Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to carry out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles.
HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.
Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process. My Department has considered the findings of this HTA and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable.
231. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if a rapid review will be carried out for inclusion of leqembi for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease on the drugs payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34897/25]
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.
232. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of implementing a ban on the sale of all nicotine inhaling products within a 500-metre radius of any primary or secondary school; if any research into this proposal has been carried out by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34946/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary focus of policy and action in relation to e-cigarettes is to reduce uptake by children and young people.
The proposed measures in the Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 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 a review structure to monitor the impact of any restrictions on e-cigarette use and smoking among both young people and adults, as well as provisions to amend the list of allowed flavours as new evidence presents.
The Bill will contain a range of measures to reduce youth use of nicotine inhaling products such as vapes. This includes:
• a ban on point-of-sale display and advertising of these products in most shops,
• restrictions on the colours and imagery used on nicotine inhaling products and their packaging,
• a ban on devices resembling toys or games,
• restrictions on flavours for sale and requirements for only basic flavour names to be used, and
• a complete ban on disposable vapes.
Once completed, the draft legislation will require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535).
Assessment of the effectiveness of these comprehensive measures to reduce youth use of these products will indicate whether additional measures might be necessary or useful.
233. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any research her Department has carried out into the health impact of smokeless tobacco products, including but not limited to, nicotine pouches; if consideration has been given to put the same level of restriction on these products that apply to cigarettes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34947/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date my Department has not carried out specific research on nicotine pouches however it continues to monitor the national and international evidence on these products. There is currently little evidence on possible health harms which may be due to these being are a relatively recent product.
The regulation of nicotine pouches is being discussed at EU level, both in terms of how these products are categorised and in the context of the review of the EU Tobacco Products Directive. An EU public consultation was carried out in 2023 to gain views on further regulation of novel products such as nicotine pouches, and it is expected that they will be included in the next iteration of the EU Tobacco Products Directive.
235. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress her Department has made in honouring the Programme for Government commitment that an early access programme for medicines would be established by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34949/25]
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 2021-2024 allocated €128 million for new drugs which has allowed the HSE to approve 194 new medicines. Seventy four (74) of these drugs were for treating cancer and forty-nine (49) were drugs for rare diseases. Budget 2025 allocated 30 million euro for new drugs to come from efficiencies to be identified by the HSE.
The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medicines) Act 2013 provides nine criteria to be considered when evaluating a medicine for reimbursement. While a medicine costing over €45,000 per QALY may not be considered cost-effective, many medicines above this threshold have been approved for reimbursement in recent years.
In 2023, a review, by Mazars, of the drug reimbursement process was published. It found that the process was operating as intended and within international norms.
Recommendations from the Mazars Report have now been implemented. A pricing and reimbursement application tracker has been launched to improve transparency. In 2024 an additional 34 staff were recruited to enhance capacity across the pricing and reimbursement system. Given the unique technical skill set required for these roles, hiring was only completed in the second half of last year. It is expected that the impact of these staff will be seen as we continue through 2025.
As outlined in the Programme for Government, consideration will be given to early access mechanisms for medicines. These mechanisms and their effects are complex and must be evaluated carefully.
236. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health her Department's plans to increase funding and resources for a hereditary cancer model of care. [34960/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra237. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department is taking to establish oversight for the implementation of the hereditary cancer model of care. [34961/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra238. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department is taking to ensure the development of networked services and multidisciplinary teams, as recommended in the national cancer control programme in the hereditary cancer model of care, HSE national cancer control programme. [34962/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the actions she is taking to ensure workforce development, as recommended in the national cancer control programme in the hereditary cancer model of care, HSE national cancer control programme. [34963/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra240. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department is taking to ensure there is patient information and supports for those under the hereditary cancer model of care. [34964/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra241. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department is taking to provide patient information and supports, as recommended in the national cancer control programme in the hereditary cancer model of care, HSE national cancer control programme. [34965/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra242. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department has taken to identify the IT infrastructure required to enable the implementation of this hereditary cancer model of care, including genetic counselling network and referral to national specialist genetics multidisciplinary teams. [34966/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241 and 242 together.
The Hereditary Cancer Steering Group oversees the implementation of the NCCP Hereditary Cancer Model of Care. The NCCP are due to publish an implementation report on The Hereditary Cancer Model of Care by the end of this year. As such, I have referred the Deputy's individual questions to colleagues in the HSE for direct reply.
243. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of virtual medical related appointments in the years 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and the number of prescriptions provided at these virtual appointments. [34967/25]
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.
244. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 19 June 2025, if he will provide supplementary information in relation to highlighted matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34577/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to clarify for the Deputy that the private sector activity referred to in the answer given to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 19 June 2025 refers to the activity of international students using travel agents operating outside of the State to help them organise study, accommodation and travel arrangements to come and study in Ireland.
These agencies act as intermediaries between prospective students and predominantly private higher education and English language education providers. This activity occurs in other jurisdictions and therefore these agencies are not subject to national regulation. Any contracts entered into between international students and such agencies do not come under the remit of my Department. It is crucial for international students choosing to use travel agencies to ensure that they choose reputable and trustworthy agents with a proven track record.
The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), operated by the Department of Justice, in conjunction with my Department, establishes criteria and requirements for education providers in Ireland to accept non-EU/EEA students that require immigration permissions into the State. It is a mandatory ILEP requirement for providers to have learner protection arrangements in place. These include a requirement for education providers to operate an 'escrow' type account with a bank or financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland to safeguard funds on behalf of prospective students pending the outcome of their application for a visa.
As outlined previously, Ireland’s English language education sector is undergoing stronger regulation with the introduction of the TrustEd Ireland quality mark. The TrustEd Ireland scheme is underpinned by new statutory Codes of Practice, which include provisions in relation to partnerships with recruitment agents and ethical marketing. Further information on these provisions is available at: www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2023-10/iem-02-ele-code-of-practice-october-2023.pdf.
245. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of newly qualified dentists who qualified in Ireland, the number who were Irish/EU students and those who were non-EEA students but who qualified in Ireland, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34761/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra246. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has engaged with all third level institutions with a view to increasing the total number of places available for the training of both dental nurses and dental hygienists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34764/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department can make additional funding available to third level colleges which are providing dental training courses in order that they may increase the total number of places available for Irish students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34765/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details of the total number of Irish/EU students and the total number of non-EEA students who have qualified from University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin for each of the years ending 31 December 2020 to 31 December 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34766/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 246, 247 and 248 together.
My officials are working closely with their counterparts in the Department of Health to expand training places in areas of acute skills shortage, including oral healthcare and dentistry.
The Department of Health is undertaking a scoping project and skills assessment across the oral healthcare sector. This will help inform planning for future workforce needs, including dental hygienists and dental nurses.
The Dental Council has submitted revised scopes of practice to the Department of Health, proposing an expanded role for dental hygienists. If approved, this will require updates to training curricula and potential increases in training places.
The Department of Health is also exploring the establishment of a new mid-level oral health professional grade, which may further affect demand for dental hygiene training.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) ran an expression of interest process in October 2022 to identify options for the creation of additional capacity in a range of priority healthcare disciplines including Dentistry. As a result of this process, a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), will commence in September 2025, training students in a community-based model of dental education, significantly increasing the number of dentistry training places available nationally and expanding access to dental services. This programme will provide at least 20 new dentistry places per annum for Irish/EEA students, supporting a significant increase in current provision.
My Department, the HEA and the Department of Health are engaging with UCC regarding their Dentistry provision. An announcement on their work is expected in the coming weeks.
The number of Dentistry graduates requested by the Deputy, sourced from the HEA student records system, is detailed in the attached spreadsheet.
|
- |
Graduation Year |
||||||
|
HEI |
Programme Name |
Domicile Group |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
University College Cork |
Dentistry (Hons) |
Ireland |
25 |
20 |
25 |
20 |
25 |
|
Non-EU |
10 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
15 |
||
|
Trinity College Dublin |
Dental Science |
Ireland |
25 |
20 |
20 |
25 |
20 |
|
EU |
5 |
5 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
Non-EU |
15 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
20 |
||
|
University College Cork |
Graduate Entry |
Non-EU |
10 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
