Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:427. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to review the answer to a previous parliamentary question (details supplied) regarding the sale of a property. [62301/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Service Executive
Ceisteanna (427, 428)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:428. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to review a matter detailed in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the sale of a property. [62302/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for these questions. If the Deputy forwards a copy of the correspondence referred to in the questions, I will ask the appropriate officials within my Department to review.
Question No. 428 answered with Question No. 427.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (429, 434)
Barry Ward
Ceist:429. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to the provision of podiatry care due to waiting lists particularly for elderly patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62332/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:434. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the adequacy of financial support available to elderly persons in receipt of a podiatry card; if she has been made aware of the significant top up payments required for patients that use this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62337/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 429 and 434 together.
Chiropodists/podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat conditions and abnormalities of the foot and lower limb. These services can significantly improve a person's quality of life by alleviating painful symptoms and maintaining mobility. The demand for such services is increasing due to our aging demographic.
The availability of chiropody services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) varies across the country. Where chiropody services are provided by the HSE the following groups usually get priority:
• Medical card holders who are aged 65 and over
• People who have Health Amendment Act Cards
• People who have illnesses such as diabetes or arthritis
• People with disabilities
People can make enquiries with their GP, Public Health Nurse, or Local Health Office for information about which chiropody services are available in their area.
In County Dublin and County Wicklow primarily, there has been a long-standing chiropody treatment card scheme, where qualified podiatrists can apply to be on a register as a HSE approved chiropodist/podiatrist. Once approved, patients can request to attend the private podiatrist clinic or request a domiciliary visit from a private podiatrist.
Medical Card holders over the age of 65 years or people with Diabetes who hold a medical card (or in some cases, a Long Term Illness card), are entitled to apply for a chiropody treatment card. Each person under this scheme can avail of 3-6 treatments per year. The HSE pays the private podiatrist €33.41 for a domiciliary visit and €22.88 for clinical visit. The patients then top up the payment themselves and the fee is determined by the podiatrist.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (430, 431, 432)
Barry Ward
Ceist:430. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of podiatrists that are currently practicing in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62333/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:431. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of podiatrists that are currently practicing in the greater Dublin region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62334/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:432. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of podiatrists that are currently practicing in the Dún Laoghaire area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62335/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 430, 431 and 432 together.
The titles of podiatrist and chiropodist became officially protected on 31 March 2023.
The Podiatrists Registration Board (PRB) at CORU has statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining a register of members of the profession.
As of 12 November 2025, there are 585 results on the register of podiatrists:
www.coru.portaleu.thentiacloud.net/webs/portal/register/#/.
Question No. 431 answered with Question No. 430.
Question No. 432 answered with Question No. 430.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (433)
Barry Ward
Ceist:433. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding average wait times for medical card holders to access to a podiatrist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62336/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 434 answered with Question No. 429.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (435, 436)
Barry Ward
Ceist:435. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding annual recruitment of podiatrists to work in the health service; her views on whether it is adequate to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62338/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Ward
Ceist:436. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding schemes or incentives in place or under consideration to promote an increase in the number podiatrists working in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62339/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together.
The number of registered podiatrists in Ireland as maintained by the Podiatrists Registration Board (PRB) at CORU currently stands at 585 (see [coru.portaleu.thentiacloud.net/webs/portal/register/#/]).
This represents a substantial increase in the numbers previously reported to the Department:
|
Year |
Registered podiatrists |
|
2022 |
135 |
|
2023 |
285 |
|
2024 (May) |
343 |
There have been concerted efforts to increase capacity within the public health system. For example, an additional 27 podiatry student places were provided in the academic year 2023/24, including 2 podiatry student places in Northern Ireland.
The number of podiatrists working as Whole-Time-Equivalents (WTEs) in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has also increased:
|
HSE role |
2019 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (Sept) |
|
Podiatrists & Chiropodists |
25 |
79 |
82 |
85 |
The number of podiatrists working in the HSE has increased by 7.5% (6 WTEs) since December 2023, and by 60 WTE (240%) since December 2019.
Podiatrists play a vital role in the operation of specialist diabetes teams within the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme which supports people with complicated type 2 diabetes.
Question No. 436 answered with Question No. 435.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (437)
Barry Ward
Ceist:437. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views the adequacy of publicly available information related to the provision of partially State funded podiatry care; if an advertising campaign in HSE clinics and GPs will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62340/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (438)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:438. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when home support hours will commence for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal which were approved in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62353/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (439)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:439. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the provision of a new emergency department at Beaumont Hospital; when it is envisaged construction will begin; the planned timeline for completion; when the new department will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62371/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are a number of significant proposals for capital investment at Beaumont Hospital, and all are progressing through the requisite design and planning stages. All of these proposals are being managed through the HSE capital development process in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines.
As a live hospital campus there is an added complexity in terms of planning, sequencing and enabling each of these projects. Our Model 4 acute hospitals require a significant amount of enabling works to prepare for larger projects. These key enabling pieces are ongoing at Beaumont.
In May 2025, the proposed new Emergency Department received a final grant of planning. The project is now progressing to detailed design stage.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Female Genital Mutilation
Ceisteanna (440)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:440. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to increasing core funding for the existing female genital mutilation (FGM) treatment service; the steps she is taking to assist the service in meeting the substantial growth in demand for FGM treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62376/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The provision of health services are a matter for the Health Service Executive. The Deputy’s question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct response.
Female Genital Mutilation
Ceisteanna (441)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:441. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been brought to a model of care (details supplied); if she will engage with stakeholders to establish a nationwide framework for female genital mutilation (FGM) treatment services; if there are plans to create a network of FGM clinics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62377/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The provision of health services are a matter for the Health Service Executive. The Deputy’s question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct response.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (442)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:442. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 609 of 23 September 2025, to clarify if a group were excluded from the costing for the free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) scheme; if so, to outline how, given the details of an internal communication in relation to the basis for the costing (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) measure, which came into effect on 1 June 2025, where a woman has been prescribed HRT by her healthcare provider for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the pharmacy dispensing fees will be met by the State.
This measure is intended to support the management of the symptoms of menopause and, therefore, relates to the provision of treatment for the symptoms a specific medical condition/life stage i.e. menopause. HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing symptoms of menopause and has shown to be the most effective intervention.
Menopause has been highlighted as a key priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce. It is a key action in the Women’s Health Action Plans. A number of measures have been implemented in recent years to improve the experience of menopause for women in Ireland, including this HRT arrangement.
I am aware that HRT is used in the treatment of other medical conditions/circumstances, including gender-affirming healthcare, hypogonadism, IVF, and some cancer treatments. However, the current provision of the Free HRT Arrangement, legislated for under the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024, limits eligibility to those whose healthcare provider has prescribed HRT to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.
The costing outlined by the Deputy was based on an analysis of population data and a projection of the number of HRT items dispensed annually. The costing did not encompass the payment of a dispensing fee to pharmacists.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (443)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:443. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 817 of 14 October 2025, if radiation therapists have an explicit agreement with respect to incremental credit and agency work (details supplied); if not, the reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62382/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (444)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:444. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the amount the HSE has spent on Holter monitors between the years 2020 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62384/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (445)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:445. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the shortage of Holter monitors and the wait lists and times for individuals to get access to a Holter monitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62385/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (446)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:446. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to reduce Holter monitor wait times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62386/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.