Written Answers Nos. 512-532
512. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the timeline and specific milestones for the introduction of a national data collection system, audit and monitoring mechanisms, and a formal governance framework for gender-related healthcare services for minors. [33664/26]
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.
513. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any interim safeguards or escalation mechanisms are currently in place where concerns arise in relation to clinical decision-making, patient outcomes, or safeguarding in gender-related healthcare services for minors; and if so, to provide details. [33665/26]
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.
514. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the modular building being erected outside LUH ED for boarding patients waiting to be admitted to the hospital will be used permanently instead of the construction of a purpose built injuries unit for LUH; if so, if the necessary resources be given to staff this area if it is to become the injuries unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33666/26]
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.
515. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including hospital, primary care centre and other health infrastructure works delivered by her Department or the HSE, which have been completed on time and within budget in Louth in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33668/26]
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.
516. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive has issued any written policy, circular, guidance, or directive since 2018 concerning the reporting, recording, or measurement of activity on a sessional basis in respect of publicly funded health services; if so, to outline the nature, scope, and status of such guidance, including the dates of issuance and the bodies to which it applies; and to provide copies of any such documents. [33669/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
517. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out any work to determine the number of people in Ireland living with myelodysplastic syndrome; if this data is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33679/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) operates under the Department of Health and is responsible for collecting, analysing, and disseminating comprehensive data on cancer in Ireland.
According to the NCRI, cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are identified using standard classification codes. The NCRI have advised that in accordance with their latest available data, 947 patients were diagnosed with MDS from 1994 to 2023. As of 31 December 2023, there were 947 patients living with that condition.
518. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health she will provide a list of all capital projects, including hospital, primary care centre and other health infrastructure works delivered by her Department or the HSE, which have been completed on time and within budget in Dublin West in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33681/26]
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.
519. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 887 of 21 April 2026, if the external expert panel will aim to establish certain matters (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33686/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
520. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health to intervene to ensure that a person with diabetes (details supplied) is given access to appropriate tools to manage glucose levels. [33698/26]
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.
521. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the percentage of home care provision is being allocated to private home care agencies; and the percentage of home care provision that is being provided by HSE home support workers. [33699/26]
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.
522. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the amount the HSE pay private agencies per hour, for home support services in 2026 (details supplied). [33700/26]
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.
523. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to provide the shingles vaccine for persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33735/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is informed by 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 for 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.
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. 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.
While the vaccine is considered safe and effective, its protective effect diminishes over time. HIQA also noted the substantial budget impact associated with vaccination. If made available to everyone aged 65 and older, vaccination would cost €218 million over five years.
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 in 2024 and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable.
I can confirm that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individuals, in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost effectiveness of market pricing and available funding.
524. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has established, or intends to establish, a specific national clinical governance framework governing referrals by multidisciplinary teams for gender-related interventions funded through the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the timeline for its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33736/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra528. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what policy provisions exist to ensure the monitoring of clinical outcomes, complications, and follow-up care for patients who undergo gender-related interventions funded through the treatment abroad scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33740/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 528 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
525. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health who holds ultimate policy and governance responsibility within her Department or the HSE for oversight of multidisciplinary team recommendations underpinning applications to the treatment abroad scheme for gender-related interventions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33737/26]
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.
529. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what interim governance, safeguarding, and risk management measures are currently in place pending the completion of the HSE’s updated model of care for gender healthcare services expected in Q4 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33741/26]
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.
530. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department conducted any formal policy review following publication of the final Cass Review into gender identity services in the United Kingdom; if not, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33742/26]
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.
531. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the extent to which current gender healthcare referral pathways, including those involving the treatment abroad scheme, are aligned with emerging international clinical evidence and standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33743/26]
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.
532. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the forthcoming HSE model of care for gender healthcare services will include provisions for audit, data collection, clinical governance, and outcome monitoring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33744/26]
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.
