Written Answers Nos. 230-250
230. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to granting an automatic entitlement to a medical card to patients who are prescribed oxygen (details supplied). [36256/25]
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. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
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 - in particular, to take full account of 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.
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.
231. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied) who has been referred for cataract surgery at University Hospital Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36268/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
232. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to examine the case for an addition to the drugs payment scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36269/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:
• From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
• From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances. This includes the rental costs for oxygen. Further information can be found at:
www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/drugs-payment-scheme/card/
233. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the updated regulations on alcohol labelling including calorie content, health warnings and other information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36271/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of smaller alcohol retailers related to the complicated proposed rules regarding labelling which would require them to have individualised labels for each product; if a generic label could be considered with a unique QR code; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36272/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.
The requirement for health warnings and information on the labels of alcohol products was enacted at Section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 on 17 October 2018. The Minister for Health made the Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and commenced Section 12 of the Act on 18 May 2023. That law will come into operation on 22 May 2026.
235. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health whether the widow or widower of a person formerly employed by the health service, predating the introduction of PRSI for public servants, has an entitlement to a pension equal to half of said employee's pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36277/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMost pre-existing public service pension schemes, including those in the Health Service, make provision for survivor’s benefits in the event of the member’s death e.g. payment of a pension to a surviving spouse and/or dependent children. Such benefits are provided by way of a separate Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Scheme that is associated with the main occupational pension scheme that the public servant is a member of. The Single Scheme also makes provision for both personal pension benefits and survivor benefits in one scheme.
A survivor’s pension will be paid where the public servant was a member of the Spouses’ & Children’s Pension Scheme, irrespective of the PRSI class.
Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Schemes were introduced in the public service at different points in time. Membership of such schemes is generally compulsory for any person joining the associated main scheme on or after the date of introduction of the relevant Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Scheme while staff serving at the time such schemes were introduced were generally given a time-limited option to join or opt-out. Membership of the revised Spouses’ & Children’s Pension Scheme for all new employees is compulsory since 01 January 1986. The original Spouses’ & Children’s Scheme (known as the Widow’s & Orphan’s Scheme) was compulsory for male employees from the 1970s and for female employees from September 1984.
A spouse’s pension may be payable following the death of a member, to the member’s surviving legal spouse. The rate of pension payable will depend on the benefits accrued by the deceased member and generally comprises 50% of the deceased member’s pension. The method of calculating the deceased member’s pension will depend on whether the member died in service, in retirement or in retirement where retirement was on health grounds, and on their PRSI classification. For example, assuming retirement at normal retirement age -
• Officers who pay Class D PRSI retire with a non-integrated (or uncoordinated) retirement benefit. On the death of the member the spouse’s pension is 50% of the deceased’s pension.
• Officers who pay Class A PRSI retire with an integrated (or coordinated) retirement benefit. On the death of the member the spouse’s pension is 50% of the deceased’s pension. However, the deceased’s pension is based on a notional figure arrived at by the formula PR – CSP, where:
- PR is the deceased officer's pensionable remuneration; and
- CSP is the annual rate of Contributory State Pension payable - on the last day of the deceased officer's pensionable service - by the Department of Social Protection to a single person without dependants.
There are factors relating to an individual’s membership options and type of retirement which may impact on the entitlement and rate of the pension in certain cases.
236. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the status of the cases of two young children (details supplied) who have undergone surgery for hip dysplasia; and when their family will receive their review and follow-up checks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36285/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
237. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive psychological services through CAMHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36289/25]
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.
238. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the progress of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022, including the establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority, and the regulation of domestic and international surrogacy arrangements; if she will outline the expected timeline for the remaining legislative stages and implementation of the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36310/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on July 2nd 2024, having passed all stages in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The primary purpose of this complex and far-reaching legislation is to regulate fertility clinics providing treatment such as IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) and IUI (intrauterine insemination) and ensure that assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way and with the necessary oversight. Therefore, the AHR Act 2024 encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in Ireland, including: the use and donation of gametes and embryos for AHR and research; pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos; posthumous assisted human reproduction; and embryo and stem cell research. The establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), as provided for in the legislation, is a vital aspect required for the effective regulation of this sector.
The AHR Bill as initially published also included provisions in respect of domestic altruistic surrogacy. However, the final AHR Act 2024 also includes substantive new provisions in respect of the regulation of future surrogacy arrangements undertaken by Irish residents in other jurisdictions and the recognition of parentage arising from certain past domestic and international surrogacy arrangements (‘historic surrogacy’ provisions).
While the AHR Act 2024 was progressing through the Houses of Oireachtas, issues were identified which required further consideration and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. Formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill – which is largely concerned with outstanding issues of parentage and citizenship but also seeks to make other necessary amendments to various sections of the AHR Act 2024 itself, including in respect of the ‘historic surrogacy’ provisions – is at an advanced stage, led by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, in conjunction with officials from my Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
At one point the possibility of commencing certain sections of the AHR Act 2024 (in relation to the ‘retrospective surrogacy’ provisions) was being explored. However, it was subsequently agreed that it was more practical and legally pragmatic to commence all the surrogacy provisions concurrently. I recently met with relevant advocacy groups and advised them of the position.
Full commencement of the 2024 AHR Act will require a fully established and operational AHRRA being in place and the enactment of the necessary amendments and additional provisions contained in the AHR Amendment Bill.
Intensive work is ongoing in relation to the commencement of all the provisions in the AHR legislation in its totality, including in respect of further progressing the establishment of the AHRRA. It should be emphasised that the AHR legislation will provide for the introduction, for the first time, of a new regulatory environment for a wide range of complex practices within Ireland and, indeed, in respect of surrogacy and donor-assisted human reproduction procedures, potentially even some undertaken in other jurisdictions.
It is important that establishing a new state agency in this environment is done in a way that can allow it to operate effectively in order to deliver its statutory functions.
The Deputy will appreciate that at this point I cannot give a definitive timeline for the commencement of the AHR legislation in its totality; however, I can absolutely assure him that this is a priority for Government and for me personally, and we will continue to advance this much-needed legislation and set up the regulatory authority as soon as practicable.
239. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health patients currently receiving treatment in facilities in the United Kingdom funded by the HSE; the length of time each patient has been receiving such treatment; the total cost of these arrangements over the past 12 months; the reasons patients continue to be treated outside the State and whether there are any plans or strategies to repatriate these patients to appropriate services in Ireland, including timelines and resource planning to facilitate this. [36316/25]
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.
240. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the expected capital expenditure required in future years to underpin the implementation in full of ‘Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36327/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for digital has steadily increased since 2018, but the current level of investment, representing about 2.6% of the overall health budget, would need to increase to 4.4%, for us to deliver Digital for Care, including electronic health for all. These figures are based on independent research and insights internationally, but would result in Ireland comparing favourably with countries that are considered digitally mature and leaders in digital health.
241. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the current wait times for appointments at the epilepsy monitoring unit at a hospital (details supplied); the number of patients currently awaiting appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36341/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra242. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have been seen at the epilepsy monitoring unit at a hospital (details supplied) in each of the past five years and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36342/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.
As the issues raised are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
243. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the installation of a PET scanner at University Hospital Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36356/25]
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 Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a hospital (details supplied) in Cork will provide the full allocation of beds in its dementia unit to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36401/25]
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.
245. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the capacity of the national paediatric allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (bone marrow) unit in St. James’s Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36402/25]
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.
246. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health when the national paediatric allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (bone marrow) unit in St. James’s Hospital was established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36403/25]
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.
247. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the cost to establish the national paediatric allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (bone marrow) unit in St. James’s Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36404/25]
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.
248. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the staffing numbers at the national paediatric allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (bone marrow) unit in St. James’s Hospital, broken down between full- and part-time staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36405/25]
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.
249. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of children in Fingal west who attended an HSE dentist in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36431/25]
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.
250. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for general adult psychological counselling, including HSE primary care psychology and GPs referring to mental health services; and the steps being taken to reduce waits to within three months. [36443/25]
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.
