Written Answers Nos. 786-806
788. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private car parking management services, by each health area, in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47476/26]
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.
789. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private HR support services, by each health area, in each of the years 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47477/26]
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.
790. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private legal services, by each health area, in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47478/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
791. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private debt collection services, by each health area, in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47479/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
792. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private public relations and communications services, by each health area, in each of the years 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47480/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
793. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to put a system in place whereby any incremental rise in the old-age pension is matched by a similar rise in the qualifying income for the medical card (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47482/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs. Details are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/over-70s/
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
In addition, where a person's sole household income is derived from a social protection payment or pension, he/she will be awarded a medical card.
I can assure the Deputy that, in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any proposals are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.
794. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health in light of the removal of the mandatory three-day waiting period, and reports that girls as young as 14 and 15 are presenting for services; the safeguarding measures that are in place to assess how these minors became pregnant [47483/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Children First Act 2015 and Children First National Guidance place specific obligations on organisations that provide relevant services to children and young people to keep children safe from harm, insofar as is possible and places a legal obligation on a range of relevant professionals to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to Tusla.
795. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether healthcare professionals are required to inquire into the circumstances leading to the pregnancies of minors, including any potential coercion, exploitation, or abuse. [47484/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have consulted with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality who advised that the protection and welfare of children is a matter of the highest priority and is underpinned by the Children First Act 2015 and the associated Children First National Guidance.
Child protection is a multi-agency responsibility, with statutory responsibility for the assessment and management of child protection concerns resting with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under the aegis of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
In the health context, where a minor presents to health services, including in relation to pregnancy, healthcare professionals are required to act in accordance with Children First. This includes having regard to safeguarding considerations, assessing for any child protection concerns and making a report to Tusla where the relevant thresholds are met.
All health services, including those providing termination of pregnancy services, operate within this established safeguarding framework. There are no separate child protection arrangements specific to any one clinical service; rather, a consistent approach applies across all care settings.
The HSE has policies and procedures in place to support staff in meeting their safeguarding obligations, including in relation to consent, capacity and vulnerability, and works closely with Tusla in this regard.
796. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health given the removal of the three-day waiting period and reports of increasing numbers of girls aged 14 and 15 presenting for services, the steps taken by medical practitioners to establish the circumstances of such pregnancies; whether practitioners are required to assess and report potential sexual abuse, exploitation, or statutory offences; the number of referrals made to Tusla or An Garda Síochána arising from such cases; and the number of prosecutions or convictions secured in cases involving minors who have presented for these services. [47486/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have been consulting with the Department of Children and the protection and welfare of children is a matter of the highest priority and is underpinned by the Children First Act 2015 and the associated Children First National Guidance.
Child protection is a multi-agency responsibility, with statutory responsibility for the assessment and management of child protection concerns resting with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under the aegis of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
In the health context, where a minor presents to health services, including in relation to pregnancy, healthcare professionals are required to act in accordance with Children First. This includes having regard to safeguarding considerations, assessing for any child protection concerns and making a report to Tusla where the relevant thresholds are met.
All health services, including those providing termination of pregnancy services, operate within this established safeguarding framework. There are no separate child protection arrangements specific to any one clinical service; rather, a consistent approach applies across all care settings.
The HSE has policies and procedures in place to support staff in meeting their safeguarding obligations, including in relation to consent, capacity and vulnerability, and works closely with Tusla in this regard.
797. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has decided to redeploy staff from the Cottage hospital in Drogheda to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital; the reason the decision was taken with no consultation or prior engagement with trade unions representing affected staff; the number and grade, group and category of the staff to be redeployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47491/26]
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.
798. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when the 14 transitional care beds at the Cottage Hospital, Drogheda that the HSE plans to take out of operation will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47492/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
799. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the average number of transitional care beds in the Cottage Hospital, Drogheda that were occupied in each week of 2025; the number of transitional care beds occupied each week in the same facility to date in 2026 up to week beginning 15 June 2026; the number of transitional care beds in use in the public/HSE system in County Louth up to week beginning 15 June 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47493/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
800. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of beds at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda that are yet to open and become operational due to insufficient staff numbers as of 15 June 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47494/26]
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.
801. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); the dental treatments that are available free of charge to medical card holders at the Dublin Dental Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47504/26]
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.
802. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the reimbursement process for skyclarys for the treatment of Friedreich's Ataxia; the meetings that have taken place to date regarding the application; when a final decision is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47506/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra805. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene to ensure that the HSE prioritises a conclusion to the skyclarys reimbursement negotiations; if she will commit to the inclusion of the drug on the agenda of the next HSE drugs group meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47509/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 805 together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The HSE is assessing the pricing and reimbursement application for omaveloxolone (Skyclarys®) in line with the criteria detailed in legislation.
The HSE received a commercial proposal on the 27th May 2026 from the company Biogen(Idec)Ireland Limited.
Following the conclusion of commercial negotiations, applications are progressed via the Drugs Group who will make a recommendation to the HSE Senior Leadership Team who have final decision making authority on whether to reimburse a medicine.
No decision has been made by the HSE Senior Leadership Team, which has final statutory decision making authority for the reimbursement of medicines in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Medicines are brought forward for consideration at Drugs Group in line with the progression of commercial engagements and the receipt of finalised proposals, ensuring an orderly and fair process for all applications. omaveloxolone (Skyclarys®) will be presented at the next meeting of the Drugs Group in July.
The HSE will continue to assess and progress the application as efficiently as possible. As this application remains under consideration with the HSE and the HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
803. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1424 of 26 May 2026 and 1735 of 9 June 2026, as the question relates to medical card coverage, which comes under the Department of Health, and not the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, if she will consider seeking the extension of the medical card scheme to cover autism assessments for adults given the cost of such assessments can be a barrier for adults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47507/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
806. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason a referral from HSE environmental health regarding wind turbine noise impacts in Stonestown, County Offaly was not assessed by HSE public health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47521/26]
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.
