Written Answers Nos. 722-741
722. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private health care assistant services, by each health area, in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47093/26]
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.
723. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private nursing services, by each health area, in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47094/26]
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.
724. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private medical services, by speciality, by each health area in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47095/26]
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.
725. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if Action 7 of the 2022 HSE Position Paper on FASD Prevention, which was due to be completed within three years of publication, has now been completed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47101/26]
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.
726. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on fixing phone coverage issues in Portiuncula Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47104/26]
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.
727. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when a drug treatment for neurofibromatosis (details supplied) will be made available for patients by the HSE. [47109/26]
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 HSE has been asked to provide an update in this matter.
The HSE has advised that Selumetinib (Koselugo®) for the treatment of symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PN) in paediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) aged 3 years and above is reimbursed via the High Tech Scheme since the 1st June 2026.
728. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when a drug treatment for neurofibromatosis (details supplied) will be made available for patients by the HSE. [47110/26]
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 HSE has been asked to provide an update in this matter.
The HSE has advised that there is a National Application, Assessment & Decision Process for new medicines which is underpinned by Primary Legislation (Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013) put in place by the Oireachtas. The HSE must comply with the relevant legislation when considering investment decisions around new medicines.
The HSE must robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed.
Pharmaceutical companies are required to submit formal applications to the HSE if they wish for their medicines to be added to the list of reimbursable items / funded via hospitals. The decision of pharmaceutical companies to market licensed medicines i.e. whether or not to submit a formal application, is outside the control of the HSE.
In terms of the specific details of an application for pricing and reimbursement of mirdametinib (Ezmekly®):
Mirdametinib (Ezmekly®), marketed by Merck Europe B.V., was granted conditional marketing authorisation in the EU in July 2025.
As of the 18th June 2026, a pricing and reimbursement application has not been received by the HSE for mirdametinib (Ezmekly®).
As outlined above, the national assessment and decision process cannot commence in the absence of a pricing and reimbursement application submission to the HSE.
729. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if she plans to broaden the reimbursement criteria for GLP-1 medications, such as ozempic, under the drugs payment scheme or long-term illness scheme to include patients diagnosed with metabolic disorders, including polycystic metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome, where insulin resistance is a core clinical symptom; her views on whether she intends to expand funding beyond restricting it exclusively to those with established Type 2 diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47128/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister recognises the importance of providing the best care possible to patients with this condition. Women’s Health has been and will continue to be a focus of the Department. The Government has made real progress in improving the healthcare available to women in Ireland.
Under 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, I have asked the HSE for an update in this matter.
The HSE has advised that it follows statutory processes around the addition of medicines to the reimbursement list/schemes. Under those statutory processes, the HSE is legally required to consider a range of criteria which include unmet need, clinical evidence, economic evidence, budget impact and the resources available when making reimbursement decisions (i.e. add a medicine to the reimbursement list). The reimbursement decisions have to be in line with the relevant legislation, namely the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 (the legislation the HSE operates under for pricing and reimbursement of medicines).
In accordance with the legislation, a medicine must have a marketing authorisation (licence) to be included in the formal list of reimbursable items. A pharmaceutical company can apply to the HSE for reimbursement for a specific indication (use) of a specific licensed medicine. Medicines can have more than one licensed (market authorised) indication and each indication represents a separate application.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a centralised agency of the European Union (EU) responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU. The EMA plays an integral role in the authorisation of medicines in the EU via the centralised procedure. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority responsible for the regulation of human medicines in Ireland. A company can submit an application for a marketing authorisation directly to the HPRA if the product in question is not required to be approved through the centralised procedure.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists licensed in Ireland do not currently have an EU marketing authorisation for the treatment of Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) or similar endocrine conditions.
Controls are in place within PCRS on claiming processes to ensure that only HSE approved indications are reimbursed across a range of medicines. Controls are currently in place for the GLP-1 agonists to restrict reimbursement support to the HSE approved indications. Off-label prescribing of GLP-1 agonists are not supported for reimbursement under Community Drug Schemes.
It is incumbent on a company to apply to the appropriate regulatory body for a marketing authorisation to extend the licence for a GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of PMOS and then to submit a new pricing and reimbursement application for any new indication approved by the EMA to the HSE.
The HSE will process and assess any pricing and reimbursement application ,if received from a company, as efficiently as possible.
730. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a residential placement for a person (details supplied); and if the HSE will meet with me to discuss this specific matter and the broader issue of residential places for adults with intellectual disabilities. [47171/26]
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.
731. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a residential placement for an adult (details supplied); and if the HSE will meet with me to discuss this specific matter and the broader issue of residential places for adults with intellectual disabilities. [47172/26]
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.
732. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a residential placement for an adult (details supplied); and if the HSE will meet with me to discuss this specific matter and the broader issue of residential places for adults with intellectual disabilities. [47173/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
733. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47179/26]
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.
734. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Galway University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47193/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
735. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the new target completion date for the National Children's Hospital; the number of rooms completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47206/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOpening the National Children’s Hospital Ireland (NCHI) is a Government priority. Everything possible is being done to ensure this world-class hospital will open as quickly as possible, on behalf of children, young people, and their families.
I have been clear that the responsibility for committing to, resourcing, and delivering this project sits squarely with the project’s main contractor, BAM Ireland. The State will not reduce the pressure or dilute that accountability.
Ultimately, realising substantial completion is dependent on BAM’s execution and delivery of its own programme. On 6 May, BAM issued an updated programme to the Employer’s Representative (ER - the independent third party responsible for administering the contract). This programme had been requested by the ER on 27 March. The ER is reviewing the programme to assess if it is compliant with the Contract and represents a meaningful and realistic pathway to completing the building. The ER subsequently wrote to BAM for further detail to inform that review.
The review remains ongoing; it would be inappropriate to comment on the content of the programme submitted until it has been fully assessed and verified. This review process takes a number of weeks and is understood to be nearing completion.
The main cause of delay on the project has been BAM’s continuous failure to adequately manage and resource the project, and maintain effective quality assurance processes in the delivery of the works.
Achieving Substantial Completion is essentially a ‘volume exercise' to complete the 5,728 rooms. To date, 4,053 rooms have reached the contract standard (c.71%). While progress is being made, it is not to the pace or standard we should expect. BAM continually misses its room completion targets making it obvious that it needs to increase resources to turn that slippage around.
In recent months there has been enhanced engagement between Senior BAM officials and myself. I initiated this engagement to secure clarity on project progress and when Substantial Completion will be achieved. During my engagements with BAM, I have reiterated the State’s position and repeatedly set out the need for increased resourcing and clarity on when early access to specific areas of the building would be provided. Despite multiple commitments from BAM concerning resourcing, early access and timely completion, I have yet to receive a satisfactory response or see those commitments fully realised.
The project is close to completion and CHI recently gained early access to Level 1 where the critical care beds are, and this is welcome. However, access to Level 2, where the theatres are, is long overdue. What is needed now from BAM is certainty, adequate resourcing, and real productivity to complete the job.
736. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the pre-hospital emergency care council intends to re-instate the pre-pandemic minimum care standard that required ambulance crews to be composed of at least two qualified paramedics, instead of a paramedic and an EMT; the reason a lessening of care standards in a pre-hospital context, post-pandemic, has been permitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47210/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPHECC have advised my Department that the current PHECC minimum crewing model for an emergency ambulance is two PHECC-registered practitioners, one of whom must be at the level of Paramedic or higher.
Whilst a temporary crewing model was in place to respond to the particular circumstances of COVID-19, the minimum crewing model in place today is unchanged from that which pertained prior to COVID-19.
737. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if respite care will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47211/26]
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.
738. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reasons there is no information contained on epilepsy or seizures under the Health A-Z on the HSE website (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47248/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
739. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations regarding belzutifan, noting that the HSE is currently engaged in pricing discussions with a company (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47251/26]
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.
740. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health if a proposal for the reimbursement of vamorolone (Agamree) under the HSE drug reimbursement scheme has been submitted to the HSE Drugs Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47252/26]
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.
741. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health for an update on the approval of a drug for Von Hippel Lindau syndrome [47257/26]
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.
