Written Answers Nos. 339-349
339. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the status of deliberations of the National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group's report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66622/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUro-gynaecological (transvaginal) mesh devices have been widely used for the past two decades for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. While many patients have benefitted from mesh implant procedures, over time it has emerged both nationally and internationally that women have experienced complications associated with these products which have impacted on their health and quality of life.
In July 2018, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) asked the HSE to pause all vaginal mesh surgical procedures where clinically safe to do so, pending implementation of recommendations as set out in his report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures.
In 2023 the HSE established a National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group. The focus of this group was to review and assess implementation of the CMO’s recommendations and assess the appropriateness of resuming uro-gynaecological mesh procedures. The Department received an updated report from the group in February 2025.
Officials in my Department are currently liaising with the HSE and other stakeholders as part of an evidence-based process to determine whether to re-introduce the procedure. As this is an extremely complex issue it is not possible to give a timeline for decision at present.
While uro-gynaecological mesh procedures are paused in countries such as Ireland, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, the procedure remains available in some European countries. The Department is aware that a small number of women have applied to the Treatment Abroad Scheme for funding to travel for mesh procedures in the EU/ EEA/ Switzerland.
The Treatment Abroad Scheme is a European Union-wide scheme which is designed to ensure that all EU/European Economic Area (EEA) public patients, including Irish patients, have access to the same level of medical expertise and treatments, regardless of their State of residence. Where a treatment is available in the EU/EEA or Switzerland, but not in the patient’s home State (or not available within a reasonable timeframe), a patient may apply for funding under the Treatment Abroad Scheme to travel for the treatment.
Women’s health is a key priority for the Department of Health. I understand the impact the pause on the use of uro-gynaecological mesh has on women who wish to avail of this surgery, however the Department must take a safety-first approach to this issue
340. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to address infrastructure constraints in Cork University Hospital's rheumatology department (details supplied); if so, the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66623/25]
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.
341. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1707, 1708, 1709 and 1710 of 4 November 2025, if healthcare providers must indicate on prescriptions that they are for the management of the symptoms of menopause such that pharmacists may submit claims for those prescriptions under the free HRT scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66624/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
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 legislation does not make amendments to what must be included in a prescription for it to be considered valid.
Currently, prescriptions written by Irish registered prescribers practising in Ireland are valid whether presented in paper format or received through Healthmail. Healthmail is a secure clinical email service that allows health care providers to send and receive clinical patient information in a secure manner. The service is provided by the Primary Care Directorate of the HSE and is managed by eHealth Ireland and supported by the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Irish Pharmacy Union.
I am not in a position to comment on or intervene in individual cases, patient’s prescriptions, or decisions made by individual pharmacists in the exercise of their professional judgement.
Pharmacists have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that each dispensing is safe, appropriate, and in the best interests of the patient. These responsibilities are reflected in the Code of Conduct: Professional Principles, Standards and Ethics for Pharmacists (www.psi.ie/sites/default/files/2024-06/PSI's%20Code%20of%20Conduct%202019.pdf) which sets out the principles of professional practice expected of all pharmacists in Ireland. In particular, Principle 2 of the Code outlines the obligation to “provide safe and effective care,” and Principle 5 emphasises the need to “exercise professional judgment in the best interests of patients.”
These principles require pharmacists to consider, at each dispensing, not only the legal validity of the prescription, but also whether the continued supply of the medicine is clinically appropriate. This includes situations where the full 12-month supply may not be dispensed if, in the pharmacist’s judgement, further assessment is needed, or where clarity from the prescriber may be required.
Where a member of the public believes that a pharmacist has not acted appropriately or has not complied with their legal or professional obligations, they are entitled to make a complaint to the PSI. All complaints received are considered in accordance with the provisions of the Pharmacy Act 2007. A decision not to progress a complaint does not suggest that the concerns were not considered seriously, but rather that the statutory threshold for further action under section 36(1) of the Act was not met.
Alternatively, outside of the statutory complaints process, anyone can raise a concern with the PSI about the behaviour, conduct or practice of a pharmacist, or the service they have received in a pharmacy. All concerns are formally reviewed by the PSI to consider whether further action is needed. In these situations, those raising the concern are not kept informed of the outcomes of the internal reviews/actions taken by PSI. Further information is available on the PSI’s website: www.psi.ie/complaints-and-concerns/differences-between-complaint-and-concern.
As the HRT arrangement is administered by the Health Service Executive, I have also them to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
342. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to clarify if a definition in the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024 excludes a group from the free HRT scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66625/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis 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. It does not, therefore, exclude any particular cohort, but rather focuses on supporting those experiencing the menopause transition.
Menopause has been highlighted as a key priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce, as women have spoken of being dismissed and forgotten about during this time. 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 Specialist Menopause Clinics for complex care and, most recently, the Free HRT Arrangement.
The diagnosis of any medical condition and the prescribing of treatment for said condition is a matter for a patient and healthcare provider to discuss
343. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 22 October 2025, to confirm if the strategic workforce implementation group has been stood down; if a new strategic workforce advisory group has been established to work on a new report for the next phase of reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66626/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cross departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was established in March 2022. The Group was charged with examining strategic workforce challenges in publicly and privately provided front line carer roles in home support and nursing homes and with making recommendations to address these.
The Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants was published in October 2022. It presented a suite of 16 recommendations, to be overseen by an implementation group, chaired by the Department of Health. The implementation Group met a total of six times, including a meeting in October 2024.
As a result of the implementation of the Group’s recommendations, significant reform has been delivered. A new HSE home support tender has been in place since August 2023. This delivers on commitments for sectoral reform such as payment for travel time for home support providers and paying carers the National Living Wage at a minimum. Additionally, each year since the establishment of the SWAG record number of hours of home support have been achieved.
There has been a range of developments since the establishment of the SWAG. These include the publication of the ESRI’s report on national future capacity requirements in older people’s care in June together with regional projections published in November, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment’s recent public consultation on the review of occupations lists for employment permits, and Quality and Qualifications Ireland’s recent public consultation to inform new draft Awards Standards for Healthcare at NFQ Level 5.
In light of these developments, and their effect on the ongoing implementation of the Group’s recommendations, the Department is reviewing the existing recommendations. In doing so, due consideration will be given to the development of an approach to the next phase of reform to address workforce challenges in the sector.
In collaboration with the Institute of Public Health, the Department of Health has developed a National Survey of the Experience of Home Support Workers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants. The survey seeks to gain insights into the experiences of front-line carers in home support and residential care across public, private and not-for-profit organisations. This will inform both the Department's understanding of how SWAG’s recommendations have impacted the carer workforce and future developments in addressing workforce challenges.
Once the survey outputs have been collated, my Department will work with the SWAG to produce a final report. It is envisaged that this report will include further, updated recommendations regarding the carer workforce in the context of progress already achieved and ongoing developments as outlined.
344. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health the number of newly established vacancies in the intellectual disability service providers in the greater Dublin area in the past three years not including vacancies in existing placements which arise from deaths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66638/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for Department of Disabilities Children and Equality and should be redirected to that Department.
345. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health the total number of residential placements on private providers throughout Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66639/25]
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.
346. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health if private care providers, operating public contacts are accountable to the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66640/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to the operation of Oireachtas Committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, are for the Houses of the Oireachtas
347. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health the number of placements provided and funded by CHO9, CHO7 and CH06, where service users have been placed outside of their own community/county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66641/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for Department of Disabilities Children and Equality and should be directed to that Department
348. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the economic model of the private sector is the determinant of where in Ireland residential services are established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66642/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question should be directed to the Minister for Children, Disabilities and Equality
349. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health her views on whether moving service users to locations of more than 60km from their family home a breach of their human rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66643/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for Department of Disabilities Children and Equality and should be redirected to that Department.
