Written Answers Nos. 655-677
655. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private rehabilitation services, by service type, in each health area in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47098/26]
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.
656. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private radiography services, by service type in each health area in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47099/26]
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.
657. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private radiology services, by service type in each health area in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47100/26]
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.
658. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health if her Department or agencies funded by it undertake any research on the impact of elevated heat levels in Ireland, caused by climate change, on public health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47161/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra659. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health to commit to providing a national brain injury case management service to reach every person with a brain injury regardless of location; the specific provision that will be made to care for children with a brain injury; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47213/26]
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.
660. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the details of the way in which acute hospitals will be integrated in the HSE/Tusla joint protocol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46823/26]
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.
661. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of WTE consultants based at the National Maternity Hospital that are currently on public only contracts, in tabular form. [46834/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
662. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants applicants, interviewees and appointees arising from advertisements placed in a journal (details supplied) in each of the years 2023 to 2025, and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [46835/26]
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.
663. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE perfusionists based at CHI Temple Street as of 15 June 2026, in tabular form. [46836/26]
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.
664. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will review the decision to grant a GP visit card rather than a full medical card given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46845/26]
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.
665. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the taxi contracts in place for Letterkenny University Hospital; the contractors currently in place; and the cost of the contracts. [46846/26]
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.
666. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health for a list of all dentists accepting medical card holders, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46848/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
667. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health whether HIQA was notified, in accordance with Regulation 31 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013, following the safeguarding incident known publicly as the "Emily" case; if so, the date and category of such notification; and whether HIQA considered or exercised its powers under Section 9 of the Health Act 2007 to investigate the circumstances surrounding that incident. [46852/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra668. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the independent governance safeguards which have been put in place in relation to the HSE's current retrospective file examination process arising from the 'Emily' case; the manner by which potential conflicts of interest within internal governance structures are managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46853/26]
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.
669. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health whether consideration has been given to introducing a statutory mechanism within the professional regulatory framework for health and social care professionals to report systemic or organisational ethical governance breaches affecting safeguarding practice. [46854/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory regulation forms part of a system of assurances to mitigate risk posed to the public by the practice of health and social care professions. The mandate of the professional regulators is public protection through regulating individuals; it cannot enforce organisational governance standards or compel system-level changes. However, there are existing processes in place for health and social care professionals to raise concerns in relation to health and social care services.
Regarding adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector, there are currently various structures and processes in place within the health and social care sector, to protect against abuse and ensure prompt action.
The HSE’s National Policy and Procedures for Adult Safeguarding sets out detailed processes and pathways for health and social care staff to raise concerns about abuse or neglect of at-risk adults and Safeguarding and Protection Teams are in place in each Health Region to receive and respond to concerns and to provide advice to services. If it is believed that someone is in immediate danger or that criminal activity has occurred, An Garda Síochána should be contacted.
In order to expand and strengthen the existing supports and protections for adults at risk of abuse in the health and social care sector, on 9 December 2025, Cabinet approved Ireland’s first ever National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care sector. Publication of the policy is a commitment in the Programme for Government. The policy framework will apply across all public, private and voluntary health and social care services.
Included are a range of both legislative and non-legislative commitments that will significantly expand and strengthen existing supports and protections for adults at risk of harm across the health and social care sector.
The Government has also approved the development of legislation to underpin these commitments. This legislation will provide:
• that HSE adult safeguarding structures will operate independently and with full authority in the performance of their statutory adult safeguarding functions,
• for the introduction of mandatory reporting where specified persons and/or bodies in the health and social care sector will be required to report concerns or allegations of abuse that meet a defined reportable harm threshold to the HSE’s adult safeguarding structures, and
• for the introduction of mandatory adult safeguarding learning reviews for serious safeguarding incidents, strengthening the current process for independent reviews by the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) and placing it on a statutory footing.
A number of actions have been progressed to support implementation of the Policy Framework:
• The Department is actively working on preparing a General Scheme of an Adult Safeguarding Bill and it is expected to be published this year.
• The Health Service Executive's (HSE’s) Chief Social Worker is leading the development of an implementation plan for the policy framework to be approved by the Department of Health, which will set out how commitments in the policy will be actioned and delivered.
• An Implementation Oversight Group has been established by the Chief Social Worker to support the development of the implementation plan and to coordinate, monitor and drive delivery of the implementation plan.
• The Department of Health has established a Stakeholder Forum to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss and engage on the implementation of the Policy Framework. The first meeting of the Stakeholder Forum took place on 3 June.
670. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health if her Department is considering the inclusion of Crohn's disease under eligibility criteria for the long-term illness scheme; the rationale for its current exclusion given that Crohn's disease is a chronic, incurable condition requiring lifelong medication and management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46857/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra671. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to adding Crohn's disease, which is life-changing and life-long, to the long-term illness scheme; if not, if this will this be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46859/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra804. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Health the policy rationale for the continued exclusion of sarcoidosis from the HSE long-term illness scheme; if she will acknowledge that Ireland has one of the highest global prevalence rates of sarcoidosis, yet patients face an annual out-of-pocket cost of up to €960 under the drugs payment scheme for essential medications; and if her Department will update the statutory list of 16 conditions under the Health Act 1970 to include sarcoidosis. [47508/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 670, 671 and 804 together.
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions to be covered by the Scheme. Further information, including the list of conditions, can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/lti/about/.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
Individuals and families in Ireland may be entitled to the following schemes:
• General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme (medical card). Eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, in accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). 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.
• In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
• Under the Drugs 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 issue of granting medical card eligibility based on having a particular disability or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
672. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be urgently examined; if chemotherapy appointments will be expedited given the urgency of the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46861/26]
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.
673. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the time limits in place for counselling services for survivors and former residents of mother and baby institutions via the National Counselling Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46876/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Counselling Service (NCS) provides free counselling therapy to adults who experienced childhood abuse or neglect, are former residents of a mother and baby home.
Former residents of mother and baby homes are seen within the framework of the service which offers long term counselling contracts where clinically indicated. The number of sessions offered depends on assessed needs and whether counselling is a clinically appropriate intervention for the client.
The NCS carries out an initial assessment with each client to consider whether counselling is appropriate for the clients presenting needs. Following assessment if counselling is deemed appropriate and if the client wishes to progress, a counselling contract will be offered.
The HSE service model is to contract with the client for an initial period of 6 sessions with a planned review. This allows an opportunity to see if counsellor and client can work together, to see if counselling is the right intervention, is helpful and appropriate for the client at this time.
Following review at 6 sessions, if it is agreed between client and counsellor that counselling is helpful, counselling will continue with regular reviews of progress. In general clients are offered up to 25 sessions however this can be extended where clinically indicated (e.g. the client is actively engaged in the therapeutic process, is making progress, and there are significant/complex clinical issues that require further intervention).
It is also possible that following a review it is decided that counselling is not helpful, for instance if counselling is not progressing, or if another intervention or service is identified as more appropriate to a person’s needs. This may happen if the person requires more intensive multi-disciplinary support such as that provided by community mental health services, or a need to attend addiction treatment for example.
In these situations a decision may be made to conclude the counselling contract with the NCS. This is generally a collaborative decision with the client.
It is also the case that some clients choose not to avail of the counselling sessions being offered for a variety of reasons (such as a lack of availability to attend, reluctance to open up painful emotional issues) and they may terminate counselling after a few sessions. These clients are always offered the opportunity to re-attend in the future should they change their mind.
In summary, the service is tailored to individual client needs, and decisions regarding the number of counselling sessions offered can vary between clients based on their individual circumstances and their capacity to engage in counselling at the time they are referred. The majority of former residents of mother and baby homes who are referred attend for at least 25 sessions with extended contracts offered to a significant number.
674. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health the Government funding available to support clinicians undertaking doctoral studies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46899/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, this PQ is referred to the HSE for direct response to the deputy.
675. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the current state of Ireland's preparedness for utilising the EU's Joint Clinical Assessments (JCA) on clinical trial data in evaluations by the HSE and the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE); when she expects such JCA's to be applied to such evaluations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46925/26]
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.
676. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the guidance that has been issued to Irish marketing authorisation holders regarding the process, timelines, and expectations for considering the EU's Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) by the HSE and the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE); the way in which JCA reports will be factored into the reimbursement recommendations for treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46927/26]
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.
677. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the update on the recommendations relating to her Department arising from the National Climate Change Risk Assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46957/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's first National Climate Change Risk Assessment, published in June 2025, was prepared on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with a broad range of Government Departments and agencies, including my Department and the HSE. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the nature of climate-related risks faced by Ireland and the manner in which they are predicted to impact on a range of sectors.
The Assessment highlights a number of urgent cross-sectoral risks associated with extreme wind, coastal erosion and flooding, as well as providing welcome detail on a total of 115 risks which will be faced by Ireland over the coming years and decades. These challenges require both cross-sectoral collaboration and action within the health sector in order to improve Ireland's resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The findings and recommendations of the National Climate Change Risk Assessment informed the development of the Health Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan 2025-2030, which was published as one of a suite of Sectoral Adaptation Plans by Government in November 2025.
My Department continues to collaborate both across the health sector and with other relevant Departments and Agencies to progress the implementation of the Sectoral Adaptation Plan, and to improve the sector's resilience to climate impacts. My Department also collaborates with the EPA as work on a successor to the National Climate Change Risk Assessment commences.
