Written Answers Nos. 854-873
854. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been brought to a new report on men's health (detail supplied); her views on the key asks; the steps she is taking to address the issues identified, in particular premature mortality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51328/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the new report and I did meet with Movember and officials from my Department and the HSE in advance of the launch on the 23rd of September.
Movember is a leading international charity supporting men’s health, focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health, including suicide prevention. They raise funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live healthier and longer lives.
I welcome this new research report on Men’s Health published by Movember as it sheds considerable light on the state of men’s health in Ireland today and the range of factors that shape health outcomes in men. It provides a comprehensive assessment of men’s health presenting new research and outlining the barriers for men accessing healthcare, the wider impact of men’s ill health, on families and communities as well as the economic costs to the country.
Here in Ireland, we are recognised as world leaders in men’s health following the publication of the first National Men’s Health Policy in 2009, and subsequently two further action plans in 2017 and in 2024. Throughout this period, considerable progress has been made in relation to engaging with men and service providers to develop gender specific programmes aimed at improving the overall health and wellbeing of men. Premature deaths have been reduced, networks and alliances have been established between the Voluntary, Academic and Statutory sectors and a strong research base has been developed, informing the delivery of high-quality training on men’s health and specific tailor-made health interventions for men.
We will continue to build on the progress to date, as this report highlights, and ensure we have tailored programmes to address the health needs of men and in particular disadvantaged men. We currently have a number of innovative projects on men’s health including On Feirm Ground which aims to support farmer health and wellbeing in partnership with our colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the CAIRDE Project which is a suicide prevention initiative with the construction sector.
The Men’s Development Network deliver the National Engage Training Programme on behalf of the HSE which aims to equip practitioners to better engage men with health and social services by understanding the unique factors of men's health and employing evidence-based engagement techniques. In addition, the Men’s Health Forum of Ireland coordinates Men’s Health Week on an annual basis which focuses on creating awareness among men on health-related topics.
The Irish Men’s Shed Association is funded by both my Department and the Department of Community and Rural Development which includes funding for the national office and local sheds. The Sheds for Life Programme, a 10-week community-based health promotion programme aimed at supporting the physical, mental, and social well-being of men’s sheds members is offered to sheds throughout the country.
The overall dedicated budget for Men’s Health within my department and the HSE is approximately €1.2m and any request for additional funding will be considered in the overall estimates process.
All the current programmes on offer to men in Ireland aim to improve overall health and wellbeing, however there is agreement that more gender specific programmes are required to address the challenges with disadvantaged men.
I have asked the officials in my Department and the HSE to engage with Movember and identify opportunities to work in partnership in the implementation of the Men’s Health Action Plan. I have also indicated to Movember that we will support their communications campaigns in relation to prompting men to seek help with health issues while encouraging them to avail of current screening programmes.
857. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the amount expended on cloud storage solutions in the past five years and to date in 2025; and if she will provide the data storage supplier, in tabular form. [51366/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department maintains an extensive infrastructure for the provision of ICT services. A portion of these services is facilitated through cloud-based technologies, which are integrated within broader service frameworks. For operational and security considerations, it is not appropriate to disclose specific information regarding service providers. The cloud storage solutions currently deployed by the Department are estimated for the period in question to amount to €236,500.
858. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the status of legislation regarding the future of vaping, particularly with regard to rules introduced in neighbouring jurisdictions and in the North of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51374/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDrafting of both the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill are at an advanced stage.
They are both currently priority for publication in the Autumn Legislative Programme.
There has been ongoing engagement between my officials and officials from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland around similar measures being proposed in both jurisdictions, with a view to regulatory alignment where possible.
Many EU Member States, including Ireland, are taking unilateral action on tobacco and nicotine products to protect public health. However, it is recognised that EU-wide legislation in this area would be most effective. For that reason, I have formally called on the EU Commission to propose a revised Tobacco Products Directive as soon as possible.
859. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to detail the budget allocated to each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [51390/25]
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.
860. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of activity-based funding allocations to each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group for each of the past five years, including the metrics used to determine funding levels. [51391/25]
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.
861. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to detail the annual inpatient and outpatient activity levels at each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group for the past five years; and the corresponding funding allocated, in tabular form. [51392/25]
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.
862. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to provide the average cost per patient treated in each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group over the past five years, by inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department activity. [51393/25]
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.
863. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to provide the number of front-line clinical staff nurses, doctors, allied health professionals employed in each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group for each of the past five years, including the annual budget allocation. [51394/25]
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.
864. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to provide the nurse-to-patient ratio in each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group for each of the past five years, and to indicate whether funding levels have reflected changes in patient volumes. [51395/25]
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.
865. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if she will consider raising the income threshold for medical card eligibility due to the increase in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51397/25]
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.
866. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if public health authorities sample for the presence of the polio virus in wastewater; if so, if it has been detected since the start of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51442/25]
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.
867. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); to ensure clinical and administrative policies have been followed; if an update will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51444/25]
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. The Minister for Health is prohibited 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.
869. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when capital approval will be granted to transition a medical facility (details supplied) in County Donegal from a residential model to a recovery-focused crisis intervention and set-down facility, supported with 24-hour staff cover, as requested by the HSE's Donegal mental health management team. [51464/25]
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.
870. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51467/25]
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.
871. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason funding was removed from the existing health research board funded national clinical trials office (details supplied) before an alternative was put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51471/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Clinical Trials Office (NCTO) was established as a collaboration between seven university-based clinical research facilities with funding committed by the Department of Health via the HRB. The funding was for a fixed three-year period, which expired earlier this year. This coincided with the work of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group which was established by my predecessor Minister Donnelly, with the aim of expanding the clinical trials sector in Ireland.
The NCTOG completed its activity at the end of June, and its Final Recommendations were approved by Government at the end of July. The NCTOG's Final Report, which will be published shortly, will give greater detail into the appropriate steps towards implementing those recommendations including the establishment of a Clinical Trials Advisory Council which will be tasked with overall implementation of the NCTOG's Final Recommendations including the establishment of a new clinical trials body.
The new governance structures outlined will provide a focal point for all organisations and stakeholders wishing to conduct clinical trials in Ireland, as well as patients seeking information and links to participate in clinical trials. The new structures will also strengthen our national framework and mechanisms to engage in the clinical trials space at national and EU level whilst expanding the Irish clinical trials sector, and increasing patient access to innovative and life-saving medicines and medical devices, and growing our country's prominence as a host for high-quality clinical trials. These activities are in line with the Programme for Government 2025 commitments, and are aligned with our new National Rare Disease Strategy, the EU Life Sciences Strategy, and our forthcoming National Life Sciences Strategy.
872. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the recommendations from the national clinical trials oversight group she plans to progress; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51472/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Final Recommendations of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG) were approved by Government at the end of July and will be published shortly. It is my intention to progress all of the NCTOG's recommendations, which are highly ambitious and strategic in terms of transforming the clinical trials sector in Ireland. The recommendations cover key priority areas which will create sector-wide strengthening of the national framework and mechanisms for supporting clinical trials, increasing the numbers of clinical trials taking place in Ireland and improving patients' access to innovative treatments, while enhancing our global prominence as a host for high-quality clinical trials.
The first priority area of the NCTOG Final Recommendations relates to establishment of a Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC), which will oversee the establishment and setup of a National Clinical Trials Body. These new governance structures will provide a focal point for organisations and stakeholders wishing to conduct clinical trials in Ireland, while also supporting patients to access information and links to participate in clinical trials. Naturally, these initiatives will require concerted effort and coordination between government, academia, industry, and the public, and as such will be the subject of intensive work over the coming months and years. I look forward to updating Government on the progress of the Council as we seek to implement the NCTOG recommendations in full.
873. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will assist in the urgent case of a person seeking help with his claim for continuous glucose monitoring reimbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51479/25]
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.
