Written Answers Nos. 750-770
750. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for physiotherapy at St. Joseph's Care Centre, Longford, by waiting-time bands, less than four weeks; four to 12; 12-26; 26-52, greater than 52 weeks, and by clinical priority (urgent/soon/routine); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56599/25]
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.
751. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Health the specific measures being implemented in CHO 8 to reduce physiotherapy waiting times at St. Joseph's Care Centre, Longford; the target reduction by quarter for the next 12 months; the expected timeframe to eliminate waits beyond 26 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56600/25]
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.
752. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all measures contained in new funding in Budget 2026, in tabular form. [56607/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe additional funding for current expenditure in Budget 2026 for the Health Vote is €1.5 billion, bringing the total current allocation to €25.8 billion. This includes funding to maintain existing levels of service and for new service developments, including funding for the recruitment of 3,300 additional whole time equivalent staff in 2026.
The specific measures to be prioritised for additional funding in 2026 will be set out in a Letter of Determination to the HSE, which will be issued within 21 days of Budget 2026. This letter will reflect my key priorities for 2026 of improved access, quality and safety for those who use our services and value for money for the public more broadly.
The HSE will then prepare its National Service Plan for 2026, to be submitted to the Department for approval within 21 days of receipt of the Letter of Determination, setting out how the HSE will operationalise those priorities.
Once the Letter of Determination and the National Service Plan have been finalised, a breakdown of all measures to be progressed in 2026 will be available.
753. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total existing levels of service provision in Budget 2026. [56608/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe additional funding for current expenditure in Budget 2026 for Vote 38 is €1.5bn.
This includes funding for existing level of service and new developments including funding for the recruitment of 3,300 WTE at an estimated cost of €149m.
This increased level of funding brings the total current Health budget for 2026 to €25.793bn.
754. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of expansion of services funding in Budget 2026 by subhead, separating existing levels of service funding from new measures funding, in tabular form. [56609/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra755. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the detail of all new measures of funding in Budget 2026, broken down by line item, excluding any existing levels of service funding. [56610/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 754 and 755 together.
The current Health budget will grow by €1.5 billion in 2026, an increase of 6.2% compared to the Budget 2025 allocation. This will fund an increase of 3,300 whole time equivalents (WTE) in the workforce in 2026. The detailed allocation of this funding and workforce will form part of the preparation of the HSE National Service Plan for 2026.
756. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the Nayagam risk assessment and review; if she will commit to its full publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56613/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn September 2023, a comprehensive patient safety review and assurance process was commissioned by the HSE into the paediatric orthopaedic surgery service. This review is being undertaken by Mr Nayagam.
The HSE have advised that the risk assessment aspect of the review has been completed and is being considered.
The first phase of the review took longer than anticipated mostly because of the time required for due process and fair procedures. The completion of the full report in compliance with the terms of reference is not expected until early 2026. As per the terms of reference, the final report will be submitted to the Commissioner at the conclusion of the Independent Review and published thereafter.
757. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocated for spending on medicines by the HSE in each of the past five years; the outturn expenditure on medicines in each of those years; the projected allocation for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56629/25]
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.
758. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the HSE expenditure on medicines for each of the past five years, by category (including high-tech medicines, biologics, biosimilars, generics and community drug schemes); the projected spend for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56630/25]
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.
759. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health her plans to revise the national uptake targets for each medicine in the best value medicines programme; if so, the targets and the date she expects them to be met; the reasons for the targets not being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56631/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra762. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of clinicians that continue to prescribe higher-cost originator medicines contrary to the HSE's best value medicines guidance; the measures which will be introduced to ensure adherence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56634/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra763. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing sanctions for hospital groups that fail to meet best value medicines uptake requirements, or alternatively strengthening gain-share incentives to ensure the savings target is delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56635/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra765. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the best value medicines programme contributes to reducing the financial burden on the HSE's medicines budget and assists in securing access for patients to new and innovative treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56637/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra766. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the progress of the best value medicines programme in achieving its stated target of at least 80% of individuals being in receipt of the best value medicine; if she will provide a breakdown of uptake levels by each target area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56638/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 759, 762, 763, 765 and 766 together.
A record of over €3 billion, around €1 in every 8 of public funding spent on health, is now being spent on medicines. This is an unprecedented level of investment in supporting patients through the availability of the latest and wide range of medicines.
Sustainability remains a core priority for the Government. It is crucial, given high levels of expenditure growth across the health sector in recent years and the new challenging economic conditions, that medicines expenditure does not come at a cost to other health areas.
The State has made €158 million available for new drugs between 2021 and 2025. In 2025, the €30m made available for new drugs funding is to be generated through efficiencies to be identified by the joint DOH-HSE Medicines Sustainability Taskforce.
To date, this has allowed the HSE to approve 238 new drugs and new uses for existing medicines, including 97 medicines for treating cancer and 64 orphan drugs to treat rare diseases.
In August 2024, the HSE Senior Leadership Team approved the Overview of Medicines Funding Governance Processes. This document clearly articulates the governance processes for the funding of medicines in the HSE. It clarifies that the authority to approve the expenditure of funds on new medicines or new uses of existing medicines across the HSE is reserved solely to the HSE National Senior Leadership Team.
The Medicines Sustainability Taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Health and the HSE. Membership includes representatives of the Department of Health, the HSE's Medicines Management Programme, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service, the HSE's Acute Hospitals Division, HSE Finance, and clinical experts. Under the direction of the Productivity and Savings Taskforce, it supports the HSE’s examination of medicines expenditure in the health service and to identify measures to maximise value from the resources within the medicines budget. The focus is on generating savings where possible and ensuring that the funding available provides the greatest level of access to medicines for as many patients as possible.
In line with the Productivity and Savings Taskforce targets, the Medicines Sustainability Taskforce aimed to achieve a minimum of €20m in savings in 2024 and this was exceeded by over €30 million.
Regular updates from the Medicines Sustainability Taskforce are published on the Department of Health website: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/medicines-sustainability-taskforce/.
760. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the uptake rates for each best value medicine by hospital group or clinical site; to identify those that are underperforming against the targets set by the HSE to save money for the HSE; the specific actions she will take to bring prescribing into line with HSE policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56632/25]
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.
761. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the total additional cost to the HSE resulting from sub-optimal uptake of best value medicines since the programme was introduced; and the impact this has had on access to new medicines for patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56633/25]
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.
764. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the communication and support provided to patients being switched to best value medicines; the monitoring which has been undertaken on patient outcomes and acceptance of switching; and if she will publish the data annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56636/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter and 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 medical devices, this question has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
767. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill; when she expects legislation to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56639/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President in July 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 of embryos; posthumous assisted human reproduction; and embryo and stem cell research. The establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority, 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.
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 – 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.
I welcome the publication on October 8th of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health in relation to pre-legislative scrutiny of the AHR Amendment Bill and would like to thank the Cathaoirleach, the Deputy, other Committee members and staff for their positive engagement on this matter. The report is being considered by my Department and also other relevant Departments.
I assure the Deputy that publishing the AHR Amendment Bill is a priority for Government and work is continuing to achieve this as soon as practicable.
768. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason she has only appointed seven ordinary members to the Board of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), given that section 126(1) of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 provides that the Board shall consist of ten ordinary members; her plans to appoint three further ordinary members to the board; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56659/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to say that I signed Orders formally establishing the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), as provided for in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, and appointing the first Board, including a Chairperson, from 13 October 2025. The AHR legislation will provide for the introduction, for the first time, of a new regulatory environment for a wide range of complex assisted human reproduction 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.
As the Deputy is aware, it is a matter for me as Minister for Health to appoint members to the Board. In doing so, I am required to have regard to the provisions of the Act, particularly those articulated in Part 9, and to the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All appointments to State Boards, other than appointments explicitly provided for in particular legislation are made from candidates identified through an independent process conducted by stateboards, part of the Public Appointments Service. The Public Appointments Service has responsibility for providing an open, accessible, rigorous and transparent system to support Ministers in making appointments to State Boards. The Public Appointments Service supports Government Departments to assist in the delivery of high-quality governance and accountability through the appointment of diverse, talented and committed board members who reflect the diversity of the society it serves.
Board Members of State Boards are not appointed in their capacity as representatives of particular advocacy groups but as individuals who bring their expertise to bear in the functions of a Board, particularly those relating to high standards of corporate governance in State Agencies. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies describes the role of Board members as bringing an independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy, performance, resources, key appointments, and standards of conduct.
Members of State Boards are appointed to act on behalf of the citizen to oversee the running of the affairs of state bodies. State bodies must serve the interests of the taxpayer, pursue value for money in their endeavours (including managing risk appropriately), and act transparently as public entities. Members of State Boards, and the relevant management team, are accountable for the proper management of the organisation.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 requires me to appoint people who have sufficient expertise and experience relating to matters connected with the functions of the AHRRA, and with corporate governance and management generally. In making the appointments I have announced, I had regard to appointing expertise to the Board that will ensure a robust implementation of corporate governance systems and people who can bring independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy, performance, resources, key appointments, and standards of conduct in the AHRRA.
The Board is collectively responsible for providing leadership and direction to the AHRRA within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enables risk to be assessed and managed, and satisfies itself, with reasonable assurance, that such controls are adequate to secure compliance with statutory and governance obligations.
Following the process seeking suitable candidates, I identified members to appoint to the first Board of the AHRRA. Three vacancies remain to be filled and I expect to commence a further campaign to fill these vacancies in due course. I will have regard to the need to ensure candidates will bring relevant additional expertise to the Board, and, in particular, will address the requirements arising in Part 9 of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 and in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
769. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the current number of acute inpatient beds in each public hospital, by hospital and health region, in tabular form. [56660/25]
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.
770. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the current number of community beds, by location and health region, in tabular form. [56661/25]
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.
