Tuesday, 25 Nov 2025

Health Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (820)

John Paul O'Shea

Ceist:

820. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health for an update on the waiting lists for home support in each CHO area for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65239/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (821)

Marie Sherlock

Ceist:

821. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to extend the public fertility scheme to same-sex couples who are currently excluded from the scheme; the timeline for any such changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65252/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme to ensure that fertility-related issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.

Referrals for publicly-funded, privately-provided assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment commenced in September 2023, subject to patients meeting the criteria agreed by the Department and the HSE. The access criteria were developed by a multidisciplinary group, with reproductive medicine expertise and followed consultation with experts in the field along with a review of the international evidence. These criteria are in keeping with those applied in other jurisdictions.

More information is available on the HSE website in respect of the publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative at:

www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/trying-for-a-baby/your-fertility/getting-ivf-icsi-iui-hse/

or on public fertility services more generally at:

www2.hse.ie/conditions/fertility-problems-treatments/fertility-treatment/

Up to 21 November 2025, over 3,400 couples have been referred by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant for AHR treatment, following extensive investigations and/or secondary level treatment within the Regional Fertility Hubs. Furthermore, the Hubs have successfully and directly managed thousands more patients presenting with fertility-related issues who have been referred by their GP. Not all couples experiencing fertility challenges actually require such advanced and invasive interventions as IVF.

I was pleased to announce recently that, from 30 June 2025, an important criterion for accessing state-funded AHR treatment has been broadened. Couples with one existing child in their relationship, and who meet all the other current access criteria, can now access publicly-funded AHR treatment, including one full cycle of IVF or ICSI, if they are referred for same by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant within one of the Regional Fertility Hubs. Previously, couples with one child in their current relationship were not eligible to access publicly-funded AHR treatment.

There are complex regulatory and clinical issues to be considered in respect of certain categories of AHR treatment. In the case of treatment involving the use of donated gametes, while there is regulation at European level concerning the quality and safety of procedures involving donated gametes, and the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 deals with matters relating to parentage and the right to identity of donor-conceived children arising from such procedures, there are a number of further clinical and regulatory requirements regarding the donation and use of donated gametes which are being considered.

The access criteria and the terms of the AHR treatment initiative are being kept under ongoing review. Further potential changes to the access criteria or expansion of the initiative requires continued extensive consultation between Department officials, colleagues in the HSE, and also with relevant specialists in the field of reproductive medicine. This will include consideration of additional funding requirements which may ensue from any proposed expansion of the initiative.

It should be noted that supports previously available to patients who access IVF, or other AHR treatment, privately, whereby tax relief on the costs involved can be claimed under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme, continues to be provided.

In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. The annual cost to the State of the financial support for these medicines is far from insignificant.

I want to reassure you that my Department and the Government are focused, through the full implementation of the Model of Care for Fertility, on ensuring that patients receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced AHR treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the most effective deployment of finite public resources

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (822)

Tom Brabazon

Ceist:

822. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists and physiotherapists, by grade posts filled at Coolock primary care centre in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65269/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (823)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

823. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health for an update on the establishment of the Traveller mental health specialist group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65280/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Traveller Community are recognised as a priority group in national mental health strategies such as Sharing the Vision and the National Suicide and self-harm Prevention Strategy - Connecting for Life. Travellers experience disproportionately high levels of mental health difficulties and suicide rates. The population health approach that this policy advocates contains universal recommendations that benefit everyone in society but also acknowledges that additional work is required to promote positive mental health and build resilience among specific priority groups deemed to be ‘at risk’.

To address the area of Traveller mental health and the adverse mental health outcomes experienced by members of the Traveller community, I asked the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) for Sharing the Vision to establish a Traveller Mental Health Specialist Group. The specialist group is in the process of being set up with the significant input of the HSE-chaired National Traveller and Roma Mental Health Working Group and representative Traveller mental health organisations.

The proposed lifespan of the Specialist Group will be 12 months, from the January to December 2026. The Specialist Group will be requested to produce a “Traveller Mental Health Action Plan” for enhancing and optimising mental health supports for Travellers, considering the needs and circumstances of the Traveller community, principally aligned with Sharing the Vision and considering interdependent and associated policies and strategies.

The Group will feature representation from the Traveller community, including lived experience representatives and those involved in providing services in the community.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (824)

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

824. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant nephrologists at Cork University Hospital in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65334/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (825)

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

825. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant psychiatrist posts filled, based at each primary care centre within CHO5 in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65335/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (826)

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

826. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE family support worker and community development worker posts that were filled at mid-western regional drugs and alcohol task force in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65336/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (827, 828)

Malcolm Byrne

Ceist:

827. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the access which is available for young adults to mental health services in Gorey and North County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65340/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Malcolm Byrne

Ceist:

828. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the access which is available for young adults to mental health services in Arklow and South County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65341/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 827 and 828 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 828 answered with Question No. 827.

Health Service Executive

Nursing Homes

Ceisteanna (837)

John Connolly

Ceist:

837. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health if the workforce plan proposed by the management of a nursing home (details supplied) to identify the number and grading of staffing required to safely increase the available beds to 38 has been completed; if the HSE has hired the requisite number of staff provided for in the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65370/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (838)

John Connolly

Ceist:

838. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the consideration within her Department towards the inclusion of caplacizumab on the drug reimbursement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65371/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna (842)

George Lawlor

Ceist:

842. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric occupational therapists posts, that were filled at Enniscorthy primary care centre in 2023 and to date in 2025, by year, by grade, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65404/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.