Tuesday, 25 Nov 2025

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (843)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

843. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she has reviewed the joint statement from groups regarding changing the reimbursement arrangements for high-protein oral nutritional supplements (ONS) (details supplied); if she is aware that the expert view has warned that such changes would undermine evidence-based nutrition support for vulnerable patients; if high-protein ONS will remain available to all patients for whom they are clinically indicated without proposed additional restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65429/25]

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.

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (844)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

844. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health her Department’s plan to deregulate the use of a medication (details supplied) in an effort to help reduce drug deaths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65431/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Naloxone services, including training, are part of an integrated approach to reducing drug harm under the National Drugs Strategy. In 2024, the HSE supplied 6,944 units of naloxone to services nationwide and trained 2,330 people in overdose awareness and naloxone administration in collaboration with community partners.

Promotion by service providers to encourage uptake of existing training and roll out of existing mechanisms and initiatives on naloxone access is resulting in greater awareness and availability of naloxone in the community.

Under existing legislation, naloxone can be prescribed to an individual by their doctor, however it can also be supplied under certain conditions without a prescription for the purposes of administration by appropriately trained individuals in emergency situations.

The regulations provide for the supply and administration of naloxone, without a prescription, by an individual appointed by a listed organisation, for the purpose of saving life or reducing severe distress in emergency situations, where that individual has successfully completed an approved training course on the administration of such medicines and on the management of any adverse reaction.

The regulations also provide for the creation of a list of organisations that may procure naloxone without a prescription for supply and administration in an emergency by trained persons in the organisation. For context, ‘listed organisation’ means an organisation or emergency rescue organisation listed in the list of organisations maintained by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

The HPRA website provides detailed information on emergency medicines, including what they are, who can use them, and how they are regulated. This can be found at the following link: www.hpra.ie/regulation/human-medicine/patients-and-healthcare-professionals/emergency-medicines. The HPRA may be contacted directly for further guidance on emergency medicines.

There are therefore no legislative restrictions on organisations applying to the HPRA to become a ‘listed organisation’, including An Garda Síochána, The Irish Prison Service, private, public, NGO’s, voluntary and charitable organisations.

Hospital Charges

Ceisteanna (845)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

845. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the status of the Programme for Government commitment to reduce hospital car parking charges; if she is aware of a 25% increase in car parking fees in November 2025 at Sligo University Hospital (SUH); the amount of revenue generated through parking charges within the car park at SUH in 2024 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65462/25]

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 (846)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

846. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical geneticists, genetic counsellors and genetic resource associates that have been recruited by the HSE, in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [65470/25]

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.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (847)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

847. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric gastroenterologists based at University Hospital Limerick in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [65471/25]

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 Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (848)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

848. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [65472/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an Inpatient/Day case or Outpatient waiting list.

While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on a waiting list. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.

Under 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.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (849)

Pádraig Rice

Ceist:

849. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the process for service users applying to both the PRSI wig grant and the HSE grant wig allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65474/25]

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.

Healthcare Policy

Ceisteanna (850)

Pádraig Rice

Ceist:

850. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the timeline on the establishment of a national genomic medicine centre to process genetic tests nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65478/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The establishment of a national genomic medicine centre is a key objective under the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland. As a major capital project, it must proceed through the formal Capital Appraisals Process to ensure rigorous planning and financial oversight.

The timeline remains contingent upon several critical factors, including the final agreed scale of the facility, the successful conclusion of feasibility studies, and the completion and approval of preliminary costing required for the full Business Case. My Department continues to work closely with the HSE’s National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO) in progressing the initial planning stages as swiftly as possible.

Medical Research and Training

Ceisteanna (851, 852)

Pádraig Rice

Ceist:

851. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the number of clinical practice tutors for radiography students have increased in line with the increase in university places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65481/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig Rice

Ceist:

852. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to ensure that clinical practice tutors for radiography students are supported in their role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65482/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 851 and 852 together.

The HSE model of service delivery is now at regional level and each HSE Health Region is responsible for the allocation of their budget and workforce within the parameters of the pay and numbers and the agreed commitments in the HSE Service Plan. There is work underway in each of the regions led by new HSCP leadership teams to collate information regarding practice tutors and the number of student placements. This enables an understanding of capacity for placement, and any requirements for support for practice placements for educators, such as tutors.

The 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 HSE is in the process of preparing its National Service Plan for 2026, to be submitted to the Department for approval during November, setting out how the HSE will operationalise the Department’s priorities funded in Budget 2026, including the key priorities of improved access, quality and safety for those who use our services and value for money for the public more broadly.

The National Service Plan for 2026 will include HSE plans, targets and timelines for specific measures to be progressed in 2026. Further information on the specific measures to be progressed in 2026, along with the associated funding and staffing, will be available when the National Service Plan has been completed and approved.

The National HSCP Office has established a number of supports for educators. This includes the establishment of HSCP Regional Leadership Teams including: a HSCP Director, Regional Integration and Development Lead, A Practice Education Co-ordinator and Practice Development Co-ordinator, with strong links to the National HSCP Office. These regional teams are engaging and working closely with their HSCP colleagues through meetings, webinars and establishing Joint Working Groups which includes Tutors. The National HSCP Office and the Regions offer support for educators and practice tutors as follows:

• An interactive training programme for HSCPs who provide placements and shared access to other online resources.

• A HSCP governance agreement for implementation at regional level, with the input of representation from the Radiography managers, and the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Region. To formalise the commitments regarding provision of placements in the region, providing certainty to the HSCP providing the placements, and to the HEI. This facilitates timely preparation and planning for placements.

• The HSCP Quality Framework for Practice Education and associated tools also supports practice tutors and educators to ensure the quality of placements.

Minister for Health

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. As of the beginning of this month, 2,587 GPs hold a GMS contract, while a further 634 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but hold one or more other HSE contracts for the provision of health services.

Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.

Medical card and GP visit card eligibility is provided primarily on a means tested basis in accordance with the Health Act 1970. The HSE assesses each card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a relevant card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances and takes into consideration certain expenses. Where a person does not qualify for a medical card, they may still be eligible for a GP visit card.

The HSE may also exercise discretion and grant a medical card or GP visit card where the applicant exceeds the qualifying threshold but incurs significant medical expenses. Furthermore, an emergency medical card may be provided where the person has a terminal illness, is receiving end-of-life treatment, or needs a medical card for urgent ongoing care.

All children under 8 years of age and persons aged 70 years and over are eligible for a GP visit card on the basis of their age. In addition, certain other cohorts of persons are automatically eligible for either a medical card or GP visit card, this includes automatic medical card eligibility for children under 18 years old who have been diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years. Detailed information on medical card and GP visit card eligibility is available from the HSE website.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (861)

Liam Quaide

Ceist:

861. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under the care of Midleton, Youghal, Cobh and Glenville adult mental health teams who have been transferred to continuing care settings or high-support hostels since February 2021, excluding former residents of a centre (details supplied); and the name and locations of those services. [65532/25]

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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (862)

Paul Lawless

Ceist:

862. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a procedure given they have been waiting since March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65534/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Health Service Executive

Ceisteanna (863)

Louis O'Hara

Ceist:

863. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if the access criteria for IVF through the HSE will be reviewed to make treatment available to more women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65535/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (864)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

864. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if adult ADHD services are currently operational within CHO7; the locations in which they are based; the staffing levels assigned; and the number of patients assessed or treated by the service in the past 12 months. [65574/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (865)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

865. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to ensure consistency between what HSE management reports as available ADHD services and what clinicians and community adult Mental health teams report is actually available on the ground in CHO7. [65575/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

ADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

The HSE’s Model of Care for ADHD in Adults, which I launched in 2021, outlines a National Clinical Programme for ADHD in Adults based on multidisciplinary community teams to diagnose and treat ADHD in adults. As Minister I have resourced the establishment of the teams envisioned by the Model of Care, with total funding of over €5 million on a recurring annual basis. The national network of ADHD teams is now fully funded and in recruitment, with 7 teams currently operational. I secured the funding in Budget 2025 to roll out all remaining teams envisaged in the Model of Carea

In relation to the additional specific information requested regarding the operation of the ADHD National Clinical Programme in that particular area, as this is an operational matter, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (866)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

866. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the specific funding allocated to the roll out of adult ADHD services in CHO7 since 2022; the way in which funding has been spent, by year and by expenditure category. [65576/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

ADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

This National Clinical Programme is based on multidisciplinary community teams to diagnose and treat ADHD in adults. As Minister, I'm proud to have launched the Model of Care for Adult ADHD and to have resourced the establishment of the teams envisioned by the Model of Care. The ADHD Programme is funded with total funding of over €5 million on a recurring annual basis. As a result, there are 8 teams funded, with 7 teams are currently operational. Additional funding was secured by myself as Minister in Budget 2025 to roll out all further teams envisaged in the Model of Care. It is understood that those teams will be operational in the near future to provide specialist mental health services to people with ADHD.

In relation to the specific information requested regarding the operation of the ADHD National Clinical Programme in the area referenced, as this is an operational matter , I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.