Written Answers Nos. 921-936
921. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the date on which a person (details supplied) is scheduled to receive surgery in Mayo University Hospital; the reason for any delay in their case; the current average waiting time for such procedures in their hospital group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5437/26]
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.
922. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid to date under the south Kerry CAMHS compensation scheme administered by the State Claims Agency; the number of claimants paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5458/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury and third-party property damage claims on behalf of State authorities, including the Health Service Executive (HSE). The SCA has provided me with the information set out below.
The information contained within this response was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
As of 20/01/2026, the State Claims Agency has received 231 applications to the Kerry CAMHS Scheme. Payments on account are ongoing and have been made to 227 applicants, following a verification process.
The SCA does not disclose any payment amounts, whether in respect of individual claims or overall, relating to on-going compensation schemes, for reasons pertaining to commercial sensitivity.
923. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the neurorehabilitation unit in Blarney. [5468/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
924. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health her plans to replace the proposed 50-bed nursing unit in Blarney that will now be a neurorehabilitation unit given that there is an outstanding need for nursing home beds in Cork. [5469/26]
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.
925. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for surgery for a person will be expedited (details supplied). [5470/26]
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.
926. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the HSCP deficits in each of South-West Hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5490/26]
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.
927. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the funding for the development of two new endoscopy rooms for Cork University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5491/26]
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.
928. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for health the number of HDU beds available in Cork University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5492/26]
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.
929. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the opening of the unit and employing of staff for neuro rehabilitation unit in Blarney; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5493/26]
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.
930. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the situation whereby patients referred to a private operator for an MRI by their general practitioner are told that they can have same-week availability if they pay as a private patient, but have to wait several weeks and possibly months if they decide to avail of the procedure publicly through their medical card; the provision made by her Department for those who need to avail of such an MRI urgently but cannot afford to pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5501/26]
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.
931. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the redevelopment of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5506/26]
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.
932. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a timeline for the completion of the detailed design stage of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5508/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra933. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health if she will address delays in access to occupational therapy for students whose sensory and regulation needs affect their participation in post-primary education; whether privately commissioned occupational therapy reports may be accepted for education-planning purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5519/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious of the vital role that Primary Care therapies play for children and adults. I am also acutely aware of the central role that these services play in offering the opportunity for early and cost-effective interventions for children and young people.
While it is important to recognise that overall activity within the eight Primary Care therapies is significant, with over 1.24 million therapy service users were seen across the eight Primary Care therapies nationally from January to November 2025, I fully acknowledge that waiting lists for Primary Care therapies have increased significantly in recent years.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the increased pressure and demand on primary care therapy services is related to an increase in referrals, the increasing complexity of presentations (leading to longer interventions), and challenges related to recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in general and specialist services in the community.
To address the long waiting times for Primary Care therapy services, the Department of Health is currently engaging with the HSE on a focused Programmatic Approach to Primary Care Therapy Waiting List Management, to put in place considerable standardised infrastructure to support systematic responses to Primary Care waiting lists.
Under this programme of work, in September last year the I asked the CEO of the HSE to put measures in place to address Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy waiting lists in the first instance. Beginning in Q4 2025 and continuing throughout 2026 the aim of this initiative is to reduce waiting times across these three therapy services to less than 10 months. This will lead to a significant improvement in numbers waiting, removing over 60,000 people, including children, from these waiting lists across these three therapies.
This initiative is being supported by the joint programmatic approach between the Department and the HSE, which aims to make an immediate impact, while also progressing sustainable reform across these therapies.
Regarding the requirements for assessments for schools and other educational institutions, my colleague, the Minister for Education would be best placed to address these matters and I would direct the Deputy to request that information from the Department of Education.
934. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding initiatives being worked on by her Department to encourage an uptake in gym membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5522/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra935. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding initiatives being worked on by her Department to encourage an uptake in the number of people participating in frequency physical exercise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5523/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra938. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Programme for Government commitment to encourage gym membership and active participation in sport and exercise; the way this is being approached by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5526/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 934, 935 and 938 together.
Ireland has adopted a cross-sectoral approach to the promotion of physical activity under the Healthy Ireland Framework. My Department co-chairs action under the National Physical Activity Framework 2024 – 2040 aimed at increasing opportunities for people to be active in ways that fit into everyday lives and which suit individual needs, circumstances and interests.
This Framework seeks to achieve a vision for Ireland to have the most physically active population in Europe by 2040, across all age groups and sectors of society. Achieving this vision relies on:
- Removing the barriers which people face to being active and encouraging people to recognise how to overcome these barriers;
- Enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration at national, local and community level to encourage physical activity across all population cohorts;
- Encouraging a supportive environment where physical activity becomes the norm; and
- Promoting good practice and finding new models of participation which get more people active.
Addressing these challenges requires tailored approaches for a breadth of population cohorts, recognising that the most appropriate avenues to physical activity will vary across a range of factors including age, gender, location, physical health etc.
The achievement of the objectives of this Framework will be driven by a series of National Physical Activity Action Plans, the first of which covers the period to 2029. This Action Plan builds on progress made under its predecessor, the 2016 National Physical Activity Plan, through greater alignment with a range of broader national policies and strategies, along with 59 actions to continue to further enhance the governance and delivery of measures to promote physically active lifestyles.
936. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding engagement she has had with the Department of Finance in relation to the creation of a tax credit for those who join gyms to encourage an uptake in gym membership and use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5524/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra937. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to calls to include gyms under tax relievable medical expenses; the steps she has taken to work towards that position with the Department of Finance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5525/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 936 and 937 together.
I am advised by my colleagues in the Minister for Finance that Income tax relief in respect of health expenses is provided for in section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997. This legislation provides for tax relief at the standard rate (currently 20%) on certain health expenses incurred in the provision of health care. Health care is defined for the purposes of that legislation as the prevention, diagnosis, alleviation or treatment of an ailment, injury, infirmity, defect or disability and includes care received by a woman in respect of pregnancy. To qualify for tax relief, the health care must be carried out, or advised, by a registered practitioner, such as a doctor or a dentist.
Qualifying health expenses may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• the services of a practitioner,
• diagnostic procedures carried out on the advice of a practitioner,
• maintenance or treatment necessarily incurred in connection with the services of a practitioner or diagnostic procedures carried out on the advice of a practitioner, and
• drugs or medicines supplied on the prescription of a practitioner.
This is currently a broadly availed of tax relief and is significant in terms of tax foregone. In the most recent year that data is available, 2021, there were 567,900 claims at a cost of €172 million (excluding nursing home expenses).
While, broadly, the rationale behind the income tax relief for health expenses is that it is intended to provide assistance for expenses of a significant or exceptional nature, the range of health related expenses provided within the scope of the relief is extensive.
Expanding the scope of qualifying expenses inevitably leads to calls for further items to be included. It is important to ensure the relief is sufficiently calibrated and is the most appropriate use of fiscal resources. Tax reliefs, no matter how worthwhile in themselves, lead to a narrowing of the tax base.
In relation to fitness based measures more generally, the Cycle To Work scheme, specifies that bicycles and associated safety equipment provided by employers to employees will be treated as a tax exempt benefit-in-kind subject to certain conditions being met. One of the benefits envisaged from the scheme was indeed that more people cycling to and from work would improve health and fitness levels. In addition, the Finance Act 2018 commenced the Accelerated Capital Allowances scheme for Childcare facilities and Fitness Centres. The scheme was introduced to encourage employers to develop childcare facilities and fitness centres onsite for their employees. The scheme provides accelerated allowances for qualifying buildings or structures over a seven-year period and accelerated allowances for related equipment at 100% in year 1.
It should be noted that there are a multitude of ways in which individuals engage in physical activity, including walking, involvement in sports teams or the purchase and use of personal equipment, all of which come with costs for individuals.
The Department of Finance's Tax Expenditure Guidelines set out best practice for evaluating new tax expenditure measures. These guidelines make clear that any policy proposal which involves tax expenditures should only occur in circumstances where there is a demonstrable market failure and in particular, should only be considered where it would be more efficient than a direct expenditure intervention.
It is the case that all tax measures are kept under review and proposals for new measures or adjustments to existing measures are normally considered by the Minister for Finance in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process, having due regard to available resources and the equitable treatment of all taxpayers.
The Department of Health continues to engage with a broad range of stakeholders on the development and implementation of mechanisms aimed at supporting population levels of physical activity through our co-chairing of an Implementation Group under Ireland's National Physical Activity Framework.
