Tony McCormack
Ceist:977. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an orthopaedic appointment in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [4018/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (977)
Freagraí scríofa
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.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (978)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:978. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if legislation is planned to ban the practice of vaping from public gathering places in the same way as the actual smoking ban; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4019/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A legislative prohibition on vaping in indoor workplaces is not currently being pursued. However, the Tobacco Free Ireland policy is currently under review. As part of this process we are reviewing existing policy and legislation on smokefree and aerosol free areas to determine if they require strengthening.
My Department and the HSE continue to support initiatives at local authority level, such as the 'Not Around Us' Campaigns which seek to increase the number of smoke and vape-free environments, particular in areas which may be frequented by young people. Individual businesses and organisations are also free to establish their own policy on this matter.
Hospital Charges
Ceisteanna (979)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:979. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue generated via car parking fees at St. Lukes Hospital Kilkenny in 2023, 2024, 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4020/26]
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.
Hospital Charges
Ceisteanna (980)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:980. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue generated via car parking fees at University Hospital Waterford in 2023, 2024, 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4021/26]
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.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (981)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:981. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade employed in general medicine at St. Lukes Hospital in Kilkenny; the number of staff vacancies currently within the department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4026/26]
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.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (982)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:982. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and the grade employed in general medicine at University Hospital Waterford; and the number of staff vacancies currently within the department. [4027/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (983)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:983. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that attended each outpatient clinic at St. Lukes Hospital Kilkenny, in 2025; the frequency in which each clinic is held; and if the clinics are consultant or nurse led, in tabular form. [4029/26]
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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (984)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:984. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of patients presenting to St. Luke's Hospital accident and emergency department with mental health issues; the number of those were admitted to mental health unit, by month for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4032/26]
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.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (985)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:985. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the commitment to open in James Connolly Hospital a general anaesthetic dental service for special care patients. [4066/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Officials in my Department engage with the HSE on an ongoing basis to understand and address the challenges in the provision of oral healthcare services. Some patients may require access to care under sedation to enable them receive oral healthcare and treatment - which may include Inhalation Sedation, IV Sedation, and General Anaesthetic.
General anaesthetic services for primary care oral healthcare patients are facilitated in a number of locations. Most locations are HSE hospitals but in some cases, lists are carried out in private hospitals through local arrangements or access may involve the patient travelling to an adjacent health region. Children with complex medical needs or who are under the age of 2 are referred to Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, and Temple Street Hospital.
The development of Oral Healthcare Services under General Anaesthesia at the Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital is a joint development between HSE Oral Healthcare Services and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) - who will provide clinical governance and continuity in patient pathways between primary care patients and those whose treatment is more appropriately provided through the CHI Consultant Oral Healthcare Service.
As an interface service between the HSE Oral Healthcare Services and CHI, completion and commissioning of the unit requires the development of new patient care pathways, staffing arrangements and service guidelines, the development of which is being undertaken against a background of consolidation of existing children’s hospital units into a single service, as well as the transition to the Health Region model.
A process of engagement is currently underway between the HSE regions of Dublin North East and Midlands regarding the provision of dental general anaesthetic services at James Connolly Hospital. So far, there has been investment in infrastructure and equipment; however, remaining clinical governance and staffing arrangements for anaesthetic and nursing care need to be established in order to complete the commissioning of the unit.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (986)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:986. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for paediatric general anaesthetic dental service for special care patients in each CHO. [4069/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (987)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:987. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for a general anaesthetic dental service for special care patients in each CHO. [4070/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (988)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:988. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the locations for each paediatric general anaesthetic dental service for special care patients. [4071/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (989)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:989. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the locations for each adult general anaesthetic dental service for special care patients. [4072/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (990)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:990. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting since June 2025 for results from Cavan General Hospital. [4082/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (991)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:991. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when capital approval will be granted to transition a medical facility, Radharc na Sléibhte, Carndonagh, County Donegal, from a residential model to a recovery focused crisis intervention/set down facility, supported with 24-hour staff cover, as requested by the HSE's Donegal mental health management team. [4083/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Capital developments are a key priority for me as Minister, to ensure fit for purpose mental health facilities nationwide that meet our needs into the future. My Department are currently working with the HSE to develop and deliver a 10 year Mental Health National Capital Plan, backed up by substantial investment.
Last year saw the largest ever allocation of capital funding for mental health, of €31m, and this year’s allocation will be higher again.
Under the National Development Plan, in excess of €400m will be available for mental health capital projects over the next 5 years to advance essential developments across community and hospital settings. This was outlined in the recently published Health Sectoral Plan under the NDP.
As you have raised a specific service location, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (992)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:992. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if additional services will be provided to Kenmare following the closure of dental and physiotherapy services in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4084/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Climate Action Plan
Ceisteanna (993)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:993. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health when an agency (details supplied) and the Medicines Management Programme will produce a Climate Action Roadmap, detailing how they will meet the latest Climate Action Mandate (including undergoing a 50% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030); the way in which in the future they will formulate a robust and visible sustainability programme in their assessments of medicines and health technologies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4094/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is in regular contact with the bodies under its aegis in relation to their compliance with the Climate Action Mandate and its range of obligations. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, along with the other bodies under the Department's aegis, will be required to provide or update their Climate Action Roadmap as appropriate relative to the size of each organisation.
These roadmaps provide detail on how each organisation will deliver on its energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission objectives, while larger public bodies are required to provide a greater level of detail. The assessment of medicines by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics is a process underpinned by the Health Act 2013.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (994)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:994. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health her Department's plans to expand surrogacy support in Ireland to same-sex couples who are currently excluded from the State's IVF scheme; the timeline and the potential steps necessary to expand the scheme; if interim measures will be introduced by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4095/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 – including IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) and IUI (intrauterine insemination) – commenced in September 2023, subject to patients meeting the criteria agreed by the Department and the HSE. The access criteria were developed by a multi-disciplinary 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.
Up to the end of December 2025, over 3,600 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. 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 includes provisions which will introduce the regulation of surrogacy in Ireland. However, these provisions have not yet been commenced and there are no plans to introduce public funding of AHR treatment undertaken in pursuance of a surrogacy arrangement. My officials inform me that very few, if any, other jurisdictions provide public funding in respect of the carrying out of surrogacy arrangements.
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 the Deputy 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.
Departmental Programmes
Ceisteanna (995)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:995. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2668 of 8 September 2025, if she will clarify where responsibility lies for the potential risk to older patients from possible suboptimal medication management as well as the potential unnecessary expenditure on medications, given that both the Health Service Executive and the her Department have been made aware of these issues on a number of occasions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4096/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In September 2025 I published the new landmark Community Pharmacy Agreement (CPA) with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) which is supported by a €75m million new investment across 2025 and 2026. It will support the delivery of safe and efficient patient care, and will ensure that community pharmacists are better equipped to contribute to national health priorities through structured engagement, sustainable funding, and integrated service delivery. I am very pleased that in order to support medicines optimisation for all patients as part of the CPA, a dedicated annual funding allowance of €4,500,000 will be made available from 2026.
There are many ways to support medicines optimisation to minimise risk to older patients from possible suboptimal medication management as well as the potential unnecessary expenditure on medications. The annual funding will allow for the development of new approaches within community pharmacy in a structured and evidence-based manner, while creating a framework for ongoing collaboration between my Department, the HSE, the IPU, and other stakeholders, who are all involved in the delivery of safe medicines care to patients.
Additionally, the HSE have included a Key Performance Indicator in relation to polypharmacy in its 2026 National Service Plan. An approach to improve identified issues is to be designed in 2026 for implementation in 2027.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (996)
James Geoghegan
Ceist:996. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 252 of 3 December 2025, if a reply will be furnished from the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4161/26]
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.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (997)
Ryan O'Meara
Ceist:997. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health to consider introducing a ban on single use vapes in indoor public spaces, to coincide with proposed changes to the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4162/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A legislative prohibition on vaping in indoor workplaces is not currently being pursued. However, the Tobacco Free Ireland policy is currently under review. As part of this process we are reviewing existing policy and legislation on smokefree and aerosol free areas to determine if they require strengthening.
My Department and the HSE continue to support initiatives at local authority level, such as the 'Not Around Us' Campaigns which seek to increase the number of smoke and vape-free environments, particular in areas which may be frequented by young people. Individual businesses and organisations are also free to establish their own policy on this matter.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (998)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Ceist:998. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the exceptional delays in providing home support services, to those already approved for such services in County Donegal; the steps she proposes to take to have the committed services provided immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4169/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As these are operational matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.