Written Answers Nos. 566-585
566. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason medication (details supplied) is not free and available to stage 4 cancer patients; if she will take steps to improve access to these medicines for persons who cannot afford to pay for them as happens in the UK’s NHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67593/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
567. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent by her Department or the HSE on leasing a facility (details supplied) in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67595/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, this PQ has been referred to the HSE to respond.
568. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reasons a facility (details supplied) has not reopened; if there are any building issues; when the facility will be allowed to reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67613/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
569. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) will officially open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67615/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
570. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health for an update regarding consideration of the shingles vaccine for inclusion in the national immunisation schedule for those aged 65 and over; if her Department has undertaken any further assessment of the cost-effectiveness of adding the vaccine since the HIQA review in 2024; and if she will outline any planned timelines for revisiting this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67620/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice.
The current NIAC guidelines state that the shingles vaccine may be considered in those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles.
Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.
HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.
HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.
Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.
Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.
My Department considered the findings of this HTA and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable.
571. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the reason a person (details supplied) who made an appeal to the treatment abroad scheme on 16 June 2025 has yet to receive an update; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67626/25]
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.
572. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health `the number of WTE radiographers, by grade that were filled at National Orthopaedic Hospital in the years of 2024, and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [67627/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
573. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the average ambulance turnaround time within the accident and emergency department of the Mater Hospital; the steps being taken to reduce the turnaround time for ambulances; in each of the first 11 months of 2025, in tabular form [67628/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
574. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres currently at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown; if each of those operating theatre are in full use at present. [67629/25]
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.
575. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been waiting over 24 months for a knee operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67680/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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
576. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the rollout of National Clinical Practice Guideline Screening and Management of Domestic Violence in Pregnancy and the Early Postnatal Period; the number of staff that has received training to date; if GPs are included in this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67688/25]
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.
577. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has not been placed on the waiting list for surgery abroad. [67689/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
579. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of funded speech and language therapist and occupational therapist posts that are currently in place in the Irish health and disability systems; the number of posts that are currently vacant; and the measures to ensure those posts are filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67693/25]
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
580. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of people for each local health area as of 1st November 2025 or latest date available, on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than 4 months, 4-12 months, and the number waiting more than 12 months; the numbers for each category waiting aged 0-17 years (both CDNT and Primary Care Services) and those aged 18 and above, in tabular form. [67694/25]
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
581. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of people as of 1st November 2025 or latest date available on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list; the number waiting less than 4 months, 4-12 months, and the number waiting more than 12 months; the numbers for each category waiting aged 0-17 years (both CDNT and Primary Care Services); and those aged 18 and above; broken down by local health area, in tabular form. [67695/25]
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
582. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of people for each local health area as of 1st November 2025 or latest date available, on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list; the number waiting less than 4 months, 4-12 months, and the number waiting more than 12 months; and the numbers for each category waiting aged 0-17 years (both CDNT and Primary Care Services) and those aged 18 and above, in tabular form. [67696/25]
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
583. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if her Department recognises the severe consequences of maintaining the dental treatment services scheme at its current level which is clearly underfunded; the other area of healthcare that expects practitioners to deliver treatment at a loss; if she plans for dentists to continue participating under such conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67697/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides oral healthcare, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, additional fillings and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients, are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon.
A package of measures was introduced in 2022 to expand the care available under the Scheme and significantly increase the fees paid to contractors . These measures are having an impact, with access to care continuing to increase each year since they were introduced. In 2024, over 227,000 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, supporting over 44,000 extra patients compared with 2022. Access to care has continued to improve this year, an additional 5,802 patients have been treated, and a further 14,640 treatments provided in the January-October 2025 period compared to the same period in 2024.
Fees paid to dentists for DTSS care are now aligned with other European countries which provide comparable public dental care, noting that many European countries, especially in the southern and eastern regions, don’t have any scheme in place for adults, which is free at point of access.
In the longer term, the Government is committed to reforming oral healthcare services, including the DTSS, through the implementation of the service reforms set out in the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP), Smile Agus Sláinte. The Policy also contains a range of strategic workforce planning actions to increase national workforce capacity, in support of improving patient access to care. The Programme for Government contains commitments to implement the National Oral Health Policy, reform oral healthcare services for medical card holders and address workforce capacity.
The implementation plan for the first phase of the Policy is currently being finalised by my Department and the HSE. The plan includes reform of services for adult medical card holders among the initial priorities.
584. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reimbursement costs for all procedures under the dental treatment services scheme; the average actual costs of same treatments; if her Department has reviewed the average laboratory costs in relation to the payments made to dentists under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67698/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
585. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 896 of 20 September 2023, if she will outline all other medical procedures which medical card holders in CHO7 are not able to avail of at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67701/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
