Written Answers Nos. 1081-1099
1081. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to reduce waiting times for dermatology outpatient appointments; the number of patients seen on average at outpatient clinics per week; if dermatology treatment is eligible for coverage under the NTPF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15035/26]
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.
1082. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason access to the interpretation service for GPs has been cut and to set out the size of the funding reduction for each IHA. [15057/26]
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.
1083. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health to clarify how the cuts to the interpretation service are consistent with the HSE good practise guidelines entitled on speaking terms. [15058/26]
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.
1084. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with a campaign group following publication of their survey and findings in relation to the future of healthcare services in the Mid West and the recommendations published by HIQA in September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15082/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1085. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1072 of 9 December 2025, to provide an update on her consideration of option C from HIQA’s review urgent and emergency care in the Mid West; the timeline she is working towards in outlining her position with respect to developing an additional Model 3 hospital in the Midwest region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15083/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1084 and 1085 together.
This Government fully accepts and recognises the need to expand acute capacity in the Mid West and we are working to address the challenges facing acute care in the region.
Approval from the Government was granted on December 16th 2025, to progress with a blend of the proposed HIQA options necessary to respond to the challenges in the Mid West, to inform investment and to provide a short, medium and long term view to how we plan for and deliver healthcare services for the people of the region.
I will progress all three options contained in the HIQA report for action and investment to address current risks to patient safety in the shortest timeframe and safest way possible.
Option C represents a significant and long-term service and capital development. To progress Option C, alongside with Options A and B we are establishing a mechanism to appropriately and strategically assess this option and to develop a comprehensive and strategic plan for the incremental reconfiguration and investment in healthcare services in the Mid West region.
Given the scale of this plan, timescales will rely on available capital and revenue investment funding in the context of the needs and requirements of the rest of the country. These steps will inform plans for service and infrastructure capacity in the region that will be outlined in a subsequent Memorandum for Government to be brought later this year.
We have listened to the advocacy of the people of the Mid West region and have engaged with representatives for their health services. I will continue to report back to the people of the Mid West and their representatives on progress of the delivery of the additional capacity that is needed for the region.
1086. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the total spend by each public hospital on private ambulances and taxis respectively, in each of the years from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [15084/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1087. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for home support in each month of 2025, by RHA and IHA, by whether the person is waiting for a new package or additional hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15085/26]
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.
1088. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of hours of home support delivered in each month of 2025, by RHA and IHA, by direct vs non direct delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15086/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1089. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further detail on the funding allocated towards developing standardised national tumour specific clinical pathways to optimise early access, diagnosis, staging and treatment for breast, liver, pancreas, prostate, and skin as outlined in the 2026 HSE Service Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15090/26]
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.
1090. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the date on which both the liver and pancreas dedicated pathways will be up and running in each of the regions across Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15091/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1091. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the work done to date to consider further reductions in the drugs payment scheme as per the Programme for Government 2025 commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15092/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State is committed to making healthcare more affordable and will build on the significant work done to achieve this.
The Programme for Government contains several commitments to make healthcare more affordable, which the Government will aim to progress over its lifetime.
The Department is continuing to assess options in the context of broader health budget planning that will take time to develop and will require significant reform to ensure effectiveness and sustainability with particular emphasis on the rising costs across the Health system.
It is also important to note that any costings made cannot account for possible demographic changes, variations in eligibility or behavioural changes that may arise.
1092. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the work done to date to progress the 2025 Programme for Government commitment to increase medical card income limits; the timelines on such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15093/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs. Details are available at: [Medical card for over 70s].
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to “seek to further increase medical card income limits”. There is a programme of work currently underway in my Department which is reviewing the existing eligibility framework, to clearly assess what is working well and to inform future policy proposals regarding the eligibility framework based on robust evidence. This is an important step towards delivering on universal healthcare in Ireland.
1093. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made towards implementing the model of care for psycho-oncology for patients up to 24 years-of-age as per the Programme for Government 2025 commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15094/26]
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.
1094. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the planned activities for the children, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivorship pathway in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15095/26]
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.
1095. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the projected number of children, adolescent and young adults who will access psycho-oncology services by the end of 2026. [15096/26]
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.
1096. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the progress the Government is making in expanding the acute haematology oncology nursing service as per the Programme for Government 2025 commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15097/26]
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.
1097. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the dedicated nursing acute haematology oncology service for patients on active treatment, reducing emergency department attendance and inpatient admissions as outlined in the 2026 HSE Service Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15098/26]
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.
1098. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to increase the number of clinical trials as per the Programme for Government 2025 commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15099/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this opportunity to update on progress being made towards our Programme for Government commitment to expand the number of clinical trials taking place in Ireland. In November 2025 I launched the Final Report of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group which contains 20 key recommendations across six priority areas. Implementing these recommendations will help create a more agile and streamlined regulatory system for clinical trials whilst maintaining the highest standards of data and patient protection, in addition to supporting the expert workforce needed to administer growing numbers of clinical trials. The resulting reduction in start-up time for clinical trials, and standardisation of the processes, will enhance Ireland's attractiveness as a host for high-quality clinical trials. As a result, more clinical trials will be conducted in Ireland, helping strengthen Irish participation in multinational trials, and increasing Irish patients' access to innovative life-saving treatments.
My Department officials will shortly begin the process of establishing the Clinical Trials Advisory Council (CTAC) with expert membership drawn from across the sector. The first objective of the CTAC will be to develop the detailed implementation plan for the NCTOG's other recommendations. Streamlining the clinical trials environment is aligned with measures proposed in the European Commission's new Biotech Act Part 1, with the net result of greatly expanded and diversified clinical trials taking place in the State. This is aligned with European moves to ensure that the wider biotech sector is competitive and fosters innovation and will also align with the upcoming National Life Science Strategy which is currently being developed by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment.
1099. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants that have signed up to the POCC across each speciality and the numbers that have not signed up across each speciality [15102/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
