Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1180)

Naoise Ó Cearúil

Ceist:

1180. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the reason qualified behavioural psychologists are not permitted to carry out assessments of needs. [37436/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (1181)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

1181. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of cancellations in 2025 and to date in 2026 respectively, by reason for cancellation in Cork hospitals, in tabular form. [37438/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (1182)

Albert Dolan

Ceist:

1182. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the supports currently in place, aside from available tax reliefs, to assist individuals diagnosed with coeliac disease in managing the additional healthcare and dietary costs associated with the condition; whether consideration is being given to further supports, including eligibility for a GP visit card or medical card, for those living with coeliac disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37444/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal Reimbursement list. In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.

Gluten-free products were removed from the list of reimbursable items under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme, with several other products, in September 2012. The marketplace has evolved whereby such products are widely available in supermarkets at a more reasonable price than was historically costed to the State when they were available in pharmacies through the statutory schemes, and without incurring the further extra costs of a dispensing fee. There are currently no plans to reinstate these products on the list of reimbursable items under the GMS and other community drug schemes. However, possession of a medical card may assist with other medical services. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.

In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.

Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.

Departmental Staff

Ceisteanna (1183)

Malcolm Byrne

Ceist:

1183. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of additional staff employed or that will be employed by her Department directly or under contract for the purposes of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026. [37455/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Department of Health has engaged 9 additional staff directly to support preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.

Cancer Services

Ceisteanna (1184)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

1184. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if urgent medical treatment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37471/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Ceisteanna (1185)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

1185. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if she will expedite an application for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37472/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1186)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

1186. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the criteria used by the HSE to determine which posts are designated as non-frontline; if she will provide a comprehensive list of all roles currently categorised as non-frontline; and if she will clarify the operational or policy basis for these classifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37473/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1187)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

1187. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if any HSE roles would be exempt from a potential pause in the recruitment of non-frontline staff; if so, if she will provide a list of the exempted roles and the criteria used to determine such exemptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37475/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1188)

Michael Collins

Ceist:

1188. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the amount of taxpayers' money that has been spent on training of healthcare workers with regard to abortion, on training of healthcare students with regard to abortion, on values clarifications courses with regard to abortion in each of the years from 2019 to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37488/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1189)

Michael Collins

Ceist:

1189. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the total number of staff hired between 2019 and 2022 with abortion/termination of pregnancy mentioned in their contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37489/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

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.

Mental Health Services

General Practitioner Services

Ceisteanna (1193)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

1193. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the support that can be provided for out-of-hours patient care when a GP has to withdraw from arrangements such as South Doc (details supplied). [37582/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.

GPs are required under the GMS contract to make suitable arrangements to enable their patients to contact them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement. Such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision. However, it is a matter for GMS GPs to determine how they meet this requirement.

For GPs that do not hold a GMS contract, provision of out of hours services for their patients it is a matter for the GP themselves. Equally, the provision of out of hours GP services to private patients is a matter of private contract between the GP concerned and their patients.

Nonetheless, given the particular nature of the query presented in this question, I have asked the HSE for further briefing on the situation.

Ministerial Communications

Ceisteanna (1194)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

1194. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if she has sent, or intends to send, a letter to the Department of Finance in advance of Budget 2027 on correspondence (details supplied) as is customary by the Minister for Health; if this was done by her, or her Department, for Budget 2026; and if not, the reason for same. [37601/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I will give consideration to issuing a letter to my colleague the Minister for Finance in relation to tobacco and alcohol excise duties as has been done in past years.

Ceisteanna (1200, 1201, 1202)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1200. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that there are currently only 63 dedicated mental health beds for older people in Ireland, and that 454 beds will be required to meet recommended levels by 2030; the specific plan in place to increase acute mental health bed capacity for older adults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37619/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1201. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the current implementation status of the 2019 Model of Care for Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People; the specific actions taken to date toward full implementation; to provide a definitive timeline for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37620/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1202. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that as of 2020 only 66% of recommended older adult mental health teams existed and were staffed at just 54% capacity; the current figures for team numbers and staffing levels; the recruitment targets that have been set; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37621/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1200 to 1202, inclusive, together.

Improving and expanding access to specialist mental health services including mental health services for older people is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government, and the HSE.

Mental health policy is guided by Sharing the Vision the national mental health policy , which promotes tailored, community-based services for older adults and better integration between primary care and specialist mental health teams. Over 30 Psychiatry Later Life Teams are currently in operation in the community, and the Model of Care for Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People (2019) is being implemented, with five demonstration sites delivering liaison psychiatry services have established. Expansion of these services is ongoing, with additional teams planned based on identified needs and staffing gaps. Under Budget 2026, I have funded two additional teams for this Programme.

With reference to the specific information requested, as this relates to a operational matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to you.

Questions Nos. 1201 and 1202 answered with Question No. 1200.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (1203)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1203. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that almost one fifth of medical cardholders on the public counselling waiting list waited six months or more in 2024; the measures being taken to reduce these waiting times for older people specifically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37622/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

As part of HSE Mental Health Services, the National Counselling Service provides free counselling therapy to adults who experienced childhood abuse or neglect, or are former residents of a mother and baby home. They also provide counselling to those with medical cards, through the Counselling in Primary Care service (CiPC). Outside of this, the HSE also funds many community partners to provide counselling and related services on its behalf.

As Minister I announced €2 million in funding in 2025 to provide access to a suite of new talk therapies and counselling supports specifically tailored for men. Access to the services began from September 2025.

This initiative is embedded within Ireland’s approach to mental health policy implementation. Sharing the Vision – A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, and Connecting for Life, Ireland’s national strategy for suicide prevention, clearly state that talk therapies should be considered a first-line treatment option for most people who experience mental health difficulties.

The funding is targeted at assisting with stigma reduction and to actively encourage men who otherwise would not usually otherwise avail of counselling to seek help with their mental health, to assist men in accessing mental health services, and to provide much-needed support for men experiencing a mental health crisis.

Uptake data from the HSE from the period October 2025 to March 2026 indicate that 2,766 men were referred for counselling with the HSE CIPC service, the majority through their GP. 1,435 new counselling places were made available to men at this time.

This is an area I have prioritised in recent Budgets, including €1m in Budget 2026 for a new talking therapies fund for providing Community Therapy Services.

Outside of mental health services, HSE Primary Care services also provide key mental health supports, including psychology services.

As you have raised operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to you as soon as possible.