Written Answers Nos. 834-853
834. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons with a special interest in limb reconstruction based at University Hospital Limerick in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51109/25]
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.
835. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances, rapid response vehicles and motorcycles based at each ambulance station within Limerick which are available to attend emergency calls on a 24-7 basis in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51110/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
836. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health her plans to implement spinal muscular atrophy screening in the national heel-prick test (details supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51131/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra855. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in expanding the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP) to include spinal muscular atrophy; the timeline for introduction of screening for this condition in the NNBSP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51339/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra856. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in expanding the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP) to include severe combined immunodeficiency; the timeline for introduction of screening for this condition in the NNBSP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51340/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra868. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health for an update on implementing spinal muscular atrophy screening in the national heel-prick test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51453/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra875. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the implementation of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) screening in the national newborn bloodspot heel-prick test, in view of the decision made in 2023 to include SMA in the programme alongside severe combined immunodeficiency; the reasons for the ongoing delay in its roll out despite the allocation of funding and the acknowledged urgency of early detection; and the timeframe for when SMA screening will be fully implemented to ensure that no child in Ireland is denied the opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment. [51504/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 836, 855, 856, 868 and 875 together.
As Minister for Health, I am determined to support our screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population. Currently, all newborn babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’), which tests for nine rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life.
The Deputy may be aware that a new National Rare Disease Strategy was launched on 27 August. This Strategy aims to ensure that all people living with a rare disease and their families have access to equitable, inclusive and cross-sectoral care throughout their life journey that will enable them to reach their full potential and to live their best lives. Work is ongoing to ensure the full implementation of the Strategy, including the establishment of an Implementation Oversight Group and the development of a detailed implementation plan outlining the actions required to fully achieve the Strategy's 11 recommendations.
Incremental progress continues to be made on the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP). In 2023, two recommendations from NSAC on the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NNBSP were approved. In Budget 2024, an additional €1.4 million of new development funding was provided to support the SMA/SCID implementation process. Once both conditions have been fully implemented, the number of conditions screened for in Ireland will increase to 11.
In terms of the current implementation status, the HSE has advised that the equipment needed to enable the roll-out testing for SMA and SCID has been procured, and that verification testing has commenced and is progressing well. The recruitment process to hire the additional staff required to support the expansion of the NNBSP has almost concluded and work has commenced on developing screening pathways for both conditions.
Officials in my Department are actively engaged with the HSE to ensure that progress continues on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID. Nevertheless, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. This is why I remain committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice.
837. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for occupational therapy and respite for a person (details supplied); when the person's file will be transferred from Limerick to Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51141/25]
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.
838. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries carried out in Cork hospitals in 2024; the average waiting time for surgery; and the number of patients currently awaiting procedures in 2025. [51154/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
I published the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 in February, representing this Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times for patients and improving access to hospital care.
In keeping with this commitment, significant funding of €420m was allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025, €190m for the HSE and €230m for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
With the 2025 plan, we are continuing to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, progressing towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy about patients waiting for cataract surgery, the information at the link below, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the number of patients waiting for cataract surgery in public hospitals in Cork as at end August 2025, by time band and the average length of time that those patients have been waiting. In respect of the average waiting times, it should be noted that the NTPF collects data on patients on waiting lists at a point in time and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided at the link.
In relation to the particular query raised regarding the number of cataract surgeries carried out in Cork Hospitals in 2024, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
839. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times in Cork hospitals for hip replacement surgery, cataract surgery, and MRI scans; and the measures being taken to reduce backlogs. [51165/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
I published the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 in February, representing this Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times for patients and improving access to hospital care.
In keeping with this commitment, significant funding of €420m was allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025, €190m for the HSE and €230m for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
With the 2025 plan, we are continuing to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, progressing towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy about patients waiting for cataract and hip-replacement surgery, the information at the links below, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the average length of time patients have been waiting for cataract surgery and hip-replacement surgery in Cork hospitals at the end of August 2025. In respect of the average waiting times, it should be noted that the NTPF collects data on patients on waiting lists at a point in time and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided at the links.
With regard to waiting times for radiology and diagnostic services, which have been recognised as an issue for some time. This year the Productivity and Savings Taskforce published an action plan for 2025 which commits to a range of services being available 7 days a week, including diagnostics activity. It will also ensure that all publicly funded diagnostics are captured in the National Integrated Medical Imaging System (NIMIS) by the end of 2025, thereby improving care coordination and reducing duplication of tests and procedures.
The NTPF is working to support access to radiology and in October 2024 it published a National Radiology Diagnostic Waiting List Management Protocol. As well as ensuring that patients seeking access to Radiology Diagnostic services are administratively managed in a safe, timely, fair, and equitable manner whilst waiting, the protocol will facilitate improved data collection and reporting about patients on Radiology Diagnostic waiting lists.
In the interim, the information that is currently being collected as part of a pilot project is being tested and validated at hospital, hospital region and national level and as such should not be used/reported without the context of the caveats set out below:
• Data is subject to inclusions and exclusions which are documented in the Data Profile Document. This document is available from Acute Operations and has been circulated to all Hospital Regions.
• Data contains urgent, routine and surveillance/planned activity which is currently not broken down in detail, as such this includes surveillance/planned activity which may not be exceeding planned date.
• Data is still undergoing validation at Hospital and Hospital Region level. Data does not take into account local nuances at site level (Site profile developed to support understanding of same).
• The purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MRI and Ultrasound.
• This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting list, local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level.
The NTPF provides my Department with quarterly reports which set out waiting list data for CT, MRI and Ultrasound by hospital and time band. The most recent report available for the end of Quarter 2, 2025 is set out below.
840. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is not receiving the full time care allocated which has been allocated, with no care provided at weekends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51174/25]
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.
841. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will get an assessment for a hip replacement, as he is in a lot of aggravating pain and has no suitable medication to deal with it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51179/25]
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.
842. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of lactation consultants currently in position across the country, by area, in tabular form; the number of lactation consultant positions that remain open but unfilled; and the way in which it is intended to reach the target as set out in the national breastfeeding action plan. [51180/25]
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.
843. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health her plans to increase the weekly income threshold/means test for persons applying for a medical card aged over 70 years old, to keep in line with the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51214/25]
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.
Persons aged 69 and under 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. Detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs.
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 any difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
Where a person's sole income is derived from a social protection payment, he/she will be awarded a medical card.
It is important to acknowledge that the administration of medical card exists within a wider eligibility framework, for example:
• since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
• under the Long-Term Illness Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
• under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) no individual 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 qualifying health expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
Furthermore, there are a range of additional measures implemented over recent Budgets to increase access and affordability to healthcare, for example:
• In 2023, GP visit card means-tested eligibility was extended to those who earn up to the median household income,
• GP visit card eligibility was extended from all children under 6 to children under 8, and
• Public in-patient charges in public hospitals were abolished.
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.
844. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of service users currently awaiting assessment by the National Gender Service (NGS); the number of service users who have been assessed since the establishment of the NGS and the age of the youngest service user assessed. [51239/25]
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.
845. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of service users who have applied for funding to undergo gender affirming surgery abroad; the total amount the HSE has spent to date on gender affirming surgery carried out abroad; and the age of the youngest service user who was successfully awarded funding for such surgery abroad. [51240/25]
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.
846. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health for an update on the removal of graffiti on the bridge outside Connolly Hospital; if estate management have contacted Fingal County Council’s bridges engineers to resolve questions surrounding the ownership of the bridge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51247/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
847. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2502 of 8 September 2025 and the failure of the HSE to provide a full response to the question, if the HSE will confirm the date on which management at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital were first informed of concerns in relation to the performance of a person (details supplied); if the HSE will also confirm the date it was decided that an independent lookback review would be commissioned; the date in which the review officially commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51256/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
848. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2500 of 8 September 2025, if, prior to the Assurance Quality Framework process that identified concerns regarding the miscategorising of pre-cancerous cells by a person (details supplied) at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda whose work is subject to the current lookback review, any complaints or concerns were raised with management at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in relation to the conduct or performance of the doctor concerned by staff members or others; the date on which any such complaints or concerns were raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51257/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
849. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances and number of paramedic cars stationed in each of the LEAs in County Clare, from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; her plans to increase the number of both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51263/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
850. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51285/25]
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.
851. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for a detailed update and specific timeframe on a CAMHS assessment for child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51304/25]
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.
852. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will fund the home support hours for children (details supplied), at the minimum back to home tuition support hours provided two years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51305/25]
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.
853. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if she will support the full subsidy of maintenance and reliever therapy inhalers for those with asthma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51313/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e., full eligibility (medical cards) and limited eligibility.
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, primarily based on an assessment of means.
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 Drug 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.
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.
