Written Answers Nos. 890-910
890. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanism which exists to compare the performance of the six regional executive officers against one another, given that responsibility for regional performance rests with the REOs individually; and if no such comparative mechanism exists, the way in which regional underperformance is identified relative to other regions rather than solely against each region’s own targets. [47810/26]
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.
891. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the timeline for making trauma-informed practice training mandatory for staff working with care-experienced young adults transitioning from CAMHS to adult mental health services; which staff cohorts will be prioritised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47811/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra893. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage, by community healthcare organisation, of staff currently engaging in CAMHS-to-adult mental health transition cases who have received no trauma-informed practice training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47813/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
892. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the absence of a national reporting structure for trauma-informed practice training uptake has been recorded on any HSE risk register or audit plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47812/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
894. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will direct the HSE to establish a distinct, trackable budget line for obesity-related healthcare expenditure; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47827/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2026 provides for a significant increase in overall health funding, with an additional €1.5 billion in current expenditure and €100 million in capital investment, bringing total health funding to its highest ever level. This increased funding supports the delivery of existing services, addresses demographic and cost pressures, and provides for a targeted expansion of services and workforce across the system.
The HSE budget is not structured on a disease-by-disease basis. For 2026, the funding approach is regional and population-based - the Department sets the overall budget, priorities and targets, the HSE CEO allocates funding and workforce resources to the Regions, and Regions then prioritise resources locally within that framework to deliver integrate care. Integrated care depends on flexible, pooled budgets rather than separate condition-specific budget lines.
In that context, obesity-related expenditure is not held as a distinct budget line and cannot be separately identified as a single total. Relevant spending arises across a range of services and settings – including acute hospitals, primary care, community services, mental health, medicines and public health – so, while some related investment areas may be identified on an indicative basis, they do not represent the totality of spend because the health budget is not allocated by condition.
895. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has commissioned, or plans to commission, an updated national costing of overweight and obesity in Ireland, given that the most recent dedicated study dates from 2012 and current figures rely on academic estimates rather than HSE financial data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47828/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025).
OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and the overall aim is to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications, and reduce the impact of overweight and obesity on health outcomes for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. It recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. OPAP is well aligned with the World Health Organisation in terms of the breadth of policy measures that have been introduced or are being considered in order to address the obesity epidemic.
Under OPAP, Ireland put in place a comprehensive, cross-Government strategy to address obesity and overweight. Since 2016 significant progress has been made in delivering on the Ten Step Programme of OPAP and to drive policy initiatives and actions, ranging from health promotion and education initiatives and obesity prevention measures through to establishing services to treat and manage obesity within the health care system.
The new OPAP is currently in development and is expected to be completed and published by the end of this year. As part of the development of the new OPAP, the Department is currently exploring all avenues and options to improve the health and wellbeing of those who live with obesity.
896. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to reconcile the discrepancy between the 2012 Safefood estimate of €1.13 billion in direct and indirect obesity-related costs in the Republic of Ireland and the 2025 Irish Endocrine Society estimate of €1.1 billion in direct healthcare costs alone; the implications for the true current scale of obesity-related expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47829/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for his Parliamentary Question. As these organisations are external to the Department of Health, I would advise the Deputy to direct his queries towards these organisations.
897. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, withdrew funding within weeks of a planned orthopaedic operation date for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47832/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra898. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that a life-changing prostate cancer medication, RLT, known as Pluvicto, will be made available to medically suitable patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47846/26]
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.
899. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health to update Dáil Éireann on the 10 June 2026 statement of the Beneluxa countries on a unified approach to access to and affordability of medicines; her Department’s engagement in 2026 with Beneluxa countries on this initiative; the possible advancements in pharmaceutical procurement across the Beneluxa countries in 2026 and 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47854/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe BeNeLuxA initiative is a major collaborative step towards sustainable access to, and appropriate use of, medicines in the participating countries.
Ireland became a member of the BeNeLuxA Initiative in June 2018, alongside existing members Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Austria. BeNeLuxA Member States cooperate in the fields of horizon scanning, information sharing and policy exchange, and Health Technology Assessment. Several pilot joint pricing and reimbursement processes have also been conducted.
Ireland, by virtue of its size and market share, may not always be prioritised by a company in the first stages of marketing a new product. Collaboration with Beneluxa partners provides a larger market which may be more appealing to suppliers of medicines, encouraging more timely pricing and reimbursement applications. This has been successful and has led to the reimbursement of new and innovative orphan medicines in Ireland for patients such as Libmeldy® for metachromatic leukodystrophy and Zolgensma® for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Overall, Beneluxa enhances Ireland’s ability to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare to its patients.
Notwithstanding Ireland’s engagement with its BeNeLuxA partners, ultimately decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines is a national competence. The legislation detailing how these decisions are made in Ireland is the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, which includes nine factors which much be considered in reaching a decision. National legislation governing this process, including in our BeNeLuxa partners, varies by country.
The BeNeLuxA Initiative provides a valuable forum for discussion of and collaboration on contemporary policy issues faced by European countries seeking to safeguard access to medicines for their patients. It is important to reflect that BeNeLuxA collaboration is not just in respect of pricing and reimbursement but across a broader range of medicine policies and processes, all of which support domestic reimbursement. This includes for example:
• Horizon Scanning - where we work together to find out which innovative – often extremely expensive – medicines are about to become available in the near future.
• Information sharing and policy exchange - where we exchange information on our medicine policies. We believe that sharing information and collaboration between countries, over an extended period of time, will benefit policy initiatives on pricing and reimbursement of medicines.
• Health Technology Assessment - where we cooperate on Health Technology Assessments. By using expertise acquired domestically and across European networks, we have a strong base for performing joint assessments.
As in the Initiative’s statement of the 10th June 2026, Ireland appreciates the value of collaboration and encourages European partners to jointly seek solutions to the challenges with which the Union is now faced. The BeNeLuxA Initiative will continue to contribute to this discussion.
900. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health when her Department and the HSE will commence work on developing a successor ten-year national cancer strategy given the imminent completion of the term of the 2017-26 national cancer strategy; her plans for developing the new policy, including the timeline for appointment of a chairperson to lead the creation of the strategy; the timeframe for a consultative process in relation to the strategy; if she will provide an outline of her key policy priorities for the 2027-36 national cancer strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47855/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy, supported by the reforms and investment delivered under Sláintecare. We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past nine years.
My Department has invested heavily in the National Cancer Strategy and associated initiatives in recent years, enabling the further development of our national cancer services, and leading to improved outcomes for cancer patients.
National Cancer Registry of Ireland data shows substantial progress being made to control the four major cancers (prostate, breast, lung and colorectal), with mortality rates falling or stabilising for each. These comprise over half of all invasive tumours (not including rarely fatal non-melanoma skin cancers).
It is essential that we continue to build on our investment and progress. As the current National Cancer Strategy comes to its conclusion, an evaluation on the current National Cancer Strategy will be carried out later this year. The evaluation will be carried out by my Department working closely with key stakeholders such as the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland. Stakeholders also include patients and their families, healthcare professionals, government agencies, research institutions and advocacy groups among others.
The evaluation will be informed by The National Cancer Strategy Implementation Reports which annually track the overall progress of the Strategy. The latest Implementation Reports are currently being prepared and finalised prior to publication shortly.
The conclusion of this evaluation process will inform next steps to be taken.
I will continue to work with the National Cancer Control Programme and other stakeholders to progress the actions contained in the strategy. Until satisfactory work has been completed on actions contained in the current strategy, and because the evaluation has not concluded, it would not be appropriate to set deadlines on development or completion of any new strategy.
901. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health her plans to improve accessibility of neurology services and accessibility to beneficial therapies for migraine patients in Ireland; her views on a study (details supplied) on the impact of migraine in Ireland; her views on the plausibility, safety and impact for patients of transferring the management of chronic migraine patients in Ireland from secondary care to primary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47856/26]
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.
903. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to address staffing resource shortages in diabetes services in HSE Dublin and south east; whether extra funding will be made available for the new posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47863/26]
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.
904. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health whether GPs can refer directly for gynaecological pelvic MRI under the GP access to community diagnostics scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47879/26]
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.
905. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason gynaecological pelvic MRI is not available through GP referral where other MRI indications, including orthopaedic pelvic indications, are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47880/26]
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.
906. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE plans to review GP access to gynaecological pelvic MRI as part of the national endometriosis framework and wider women’s health policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47881/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra908. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if direct GP access to gynaecological pelvic MRI is not proposed, whether the HSE will create a direct GP referral pathway to specialist gynaecological imaging for suspected endometriosis or complex pelvic disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47883/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 906 and 908 together.
As these questions relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
907. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health whether gynaecological pelvic MRI will be added to GP access pathways under appropriate clinical criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47882/26]
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.
909. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has reviewed the cost and patient impact of funding endometriosis-related care abroad compared with investing in improved diagnostic and treatment pathways in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47884/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to expanding specialist endometriosis services, improving support services for women with endometriosis and promoting awareness of endometriosis, both among the public and crucially within our own health services.
On 18 October 2025, I launched the National Framework for the Management of Endometriosis. The Framework sets out for the first time in Ireland a defined clinical pathway for women with endometriosis, which spans primary to secondary care to specialist complex care in tertiary settings.
Developed by the HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme, the Framework marks the first step in developing a more holistic and comprehensive approach to care for women with endometriosis in Ireland.
Funding of over €5 million was invested in endometriosis services between 2021 and 2025.
Two supra-regional specialist centres, in Tallaght University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital, have been established for the management of complex endometriosis cases.
Regional Specialist Centres for moderate cases have been established in the Rotunda, the Coombe, and Limerick, with clinics under further development in Galway and the National Maternity Hospital. All endometriosis sites are operational and taking referrals.
In addition to the implementation of the Framework, I also mandated several actions to expedite access to care for women impacted by endometriosis. Significant progress has already been made, including:
• The HSE carried out over 140 additional surgeries in Q4 2025 for women waiting for surgery.
• An additional colorectal surgeon has been successfully recruited by the HSE in Cork and Tallaght, strengthening our complex care capacity.
• Q1 2026 showed substantial increases in referrals, clinics and new patient throughput across the network of specialist endometriosis services.
• An additional 65 whole-time-equivalent healthcare professionals have been prioritised through the HSE National Service Plan 2026 to expand and fully implement the framework.
• The HSE Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme (ESAIS) was opened on 18 October 2025. ESAIS has facilitated women to access surgery abroad in five different countries across Europe to date.
• €2 million in funding has been ringfenced for research into all aspects of women’s health, including endometriosis. This is the first time Irish research funding has been dedicated specifically to women’s health
• Two education officers are working across the country to deliver the comprehensive Menstrual Information Specialising in Endometriosis (MISE) programme which aims to educate people, particularly in schools, sports clubs and workplaces, on menstrual health, with a focus on endometriosis.
• Two permanent two-year endometriosis fellowships have been funded, with the first two candidates due to complete their fellowship in July of this year. Both fellowship positions will be recruited for on a recurring basis, ensuring a pipeline of expertise into public endometriosis services.
In relation to treatment abroad, ESAIS was established by the HSE as a temporary measure to support patients requiring surgery for endometriosis who are on a waiting list for the surgery in Ireland but do not have a date for surgery. It aims to allow these patients access the surgery they need in a timely manner, by facilitating their attendance at a specialist centre abroad, with costs covered by the HSE. This is planned to be operational while Irish services for endometriosis are being scaled up in accordance with the National Endometriosis Framework.
910. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the engagement she has had, or that her Department has had, with people who report persistent adverse symptoms following Covid-19 vaccination; whether she or her officials have met individuals, families, clinicians or representative groups on this issue; the dates of any such meetings; the main issues raised; the actions arising; and if her Department plans on further engagement. [47885/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra911. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that, while Covid-19 vaccination has played an important role in public health, a small number of people may experience serious or persistent adverse reactions following vaccination, as has been recognised historically in relation to other vaccines, including the experience of narcolepsy following H1N1 swine flu vaccination; the policy position her Department has adopted in relation to people reporting such symptoms after Covid-19 vaccination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47886/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra912. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the clinical pathway available for people who report persistent adverse symptoms following Covid-19 vaccination, including where symptoms are complex, multi-system or disabling; whether general practitioners have been given clear guidance on referral, assessment and management; whether any specialist assessment pathway exists nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47887/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra913. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of reports of suspected adverse reactions following Covid-19 vaccination received by the Health Products Regulatory Authority to date; the number classified as serious; the number involving persistent, disabling or medically significant symptoms where such information is available; the way in which such reports are followed up; and the arrangements in place to ensure that pharmacovigilance data informs clinical services and patient support. [47888/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra914. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the supports available to people who report ongoing disabling symptoms following Covid-19 vaccination, including access to specialist assessment, rehabilitation, neurology, cardiology, immunology, long Covid or post-viral clinics where clinically appropriate; whether her Department has assessed whether current services are meeting this need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47889/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra915. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the lessons her Department has drawn from the experience of narcolepsy following H1N1 swine flu vaccination (details supplied); whether those lessons have been applied to the State’s response to people reporting persistent adverse symptoms following Covid-19 vaccination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47890/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 910, 911, 912, 913, 914 and 915 together.
As this is a operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
