Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Written Answers Nos. 1026-1045

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Health Services

Ceisteanna (1029)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1029. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out in detail the accounting methodology applied by the HSE under the Treatment Abroad Scheme for attributing expenditure to a given financial year, including whether expenditure is recorded on a cash, accrual, or episode-of-care basis; the point at which expenditure is recognised in the accounts; and the mechanisms in place to link each payment to an individual patient approval and referral year. [32598/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 1030 answered with Question No. 1009.

Question No. 1031 answered with Question No. 1009.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (1032)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1032. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total value of expenditure recorded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme in 2024 that relates to approvals granted in previous years; and the proportion of 2024 expenditure not attributable to approvals issued in that same year. [32601/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1033)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1033. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she will establish a national policy framework to define and classify elective procedures based on clinical necessity, including low-value or non-essential interventions; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32606/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Information and Communications Technology

Ceisteanna (1034)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1034. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive will introduce mandatory structured data fields within health information systems to record the clinical rationale for elective procedures; the estimated cost, implementation timeline, and governance oversight arrangements for such a measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32607/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1035)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1035. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health how the Health Service Executive currently assesses value for money in respect of elective procedures in circumstances where no standardised definition of clinical necessity exists and where the clinical rationale for procedures is not captured in centralised datasets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32608/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1036)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1036. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, external audit, or examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General has assessed the appropriateness, clinical necessity, or value for money of elective procedures funded by the State in the absence of standardised definitions and centralised data capture; if so, to provide details and findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32609/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1037)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1037. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has undertaken any benchmarking or comparative analysis of international models used to identify, classify, and reduce low-value or clinically unnecessary procedures; whether there are plans to adopt or adapt such models within the public health system [32610/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1038)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1038. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the absence of standardised definitions, national policy, and centralised data collection in respect of elective procedures has been formally recorded as a governance or financial oversight risk within her Department or the Health Service Executive risk registers [32611/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1039)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1039. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure consistency in clinical decision-making across hospitals and regions in respect of elective procedures where no national definition of clinical necessity exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32612/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1040)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1040. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any review has been undertaken to assess the potential scale of elective procedures carried out without clear medical indication within the public health system; if so, to provide details; and if not, whether such a review will be commissioned [32613/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (1041)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1041. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive collects any data, formally or informally, on patient-requested procedures or procedures undertaken primarily for quality-of-life rather than clinical necessity reasons; and if so, to provide details of how such data is used for governance and planning purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32614/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, 1047, 1048, 1049, 1050, 1051)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1042. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 953 of 24 March 2026, whether the national guideline for the diagnosis and management of lipoedema referenced will include provision for surgical intervention; if not, the policy basis for excluding surgical treatment from the national care pathway; and whether patients will be supported to access surgical care where clinically indicated. [32620/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1043. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of persons living with lipoedema in the State; the projected demand for services under the proposed national care pathway; and the current and planned service capacity within the public health system to meet this demand. [32621/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1044. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocation assigned to the development and implementation of the national lipoedema care pathway; the costings associated with clinical services, education programmes and patient supports; and whether dedicated funding has been ring-fenced for this purpose. [32622/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1045. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance framework underpinning the national lipoedema care pathway, including the identity and role of the clinical lead, reporting arrangements to the Department, and whether a formal audit, evaluation, or outcomes monitoring mechanism will be established. [32623/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1047. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 953 of 24 March 2026, the exact publication date for the national lipoedema guideline referenced in; the reasons for any delay beyond the second quarter of 2026; and whether a full implementation plan will be published alongside the guideline [32625/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1048. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the national lipoedema care pathway will include defined referral criteria, multidisciplinary team structures, and standardised diagnostic protocols across all regions; and if she will outline these components. [32626/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1049. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the expected waiting times for assessment and treatment under the proposed lipoedema care pathway; and whether waiting list data will be collected and published on a regular basis. [32627/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1050. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the lipoedema care pathway will be delivered on a national basis with equal access across all Community Healthcare Organisation areas; and if she will provide a breakdown of planned service locations. [32628/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

1051. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical evidence and policy analysis used to inform the scope of the national lipoedema guideline; and whether international best practice, including surgical treatment options, was considered in its development. [32629/26]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, 1047, 1048, 1049, 1050 and 1051 together.

As the matter(s) raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Question No. 1043 answered with Question No. 1042.

Question No. 1044 answered with Question No. 1042.

Question No. 1045 answered with Question No. 1042.

• Written Answers Nos. 1006-1025
• Written Answers Nos. 1046-1067