Written Answers Nos. 423-444
423. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting an appointment with CAMHS in counties Roscommon and Galway, broken down by community healthcare network area and by length of wait in tabular form. [52433/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
424. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received from general practitioners to paediatric outpatient services at Portiuncula University Hospital during the period 1 January 2026 to 1 July 2026; the number of appointments issued; and the average waiting time from receipt of a GP referral to first appointment. [52434/26]
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.
425. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received from general practitioners to orthopaedic services at Portiuncula University Hospital during the period 1 January 2026 to date; the number of patients currently awaiting an appointment; and the average waiting time from GP referral to first outpatient appointment. [52435/26]
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.
426. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting time for a hip replacement and a knee replacement at Portiuncula University Hospital; and the number of patients awaiting each procedure, respectively in tabular form. [52436/26]
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.
427. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of GP-referred MRI scans requested under the HSE community diagnostic imaging scheme in counties Roscommon and Galway between 1 January 2026 and 1 July 2026; the number completed; and the average waiting time from acceptance of referral to scan. [52437/26]
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.
428. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting a dermatology appointment in counties Roscommon and Galway, broken down by hospital and by length of wait, in tabular form. [52438/26]
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.
429. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting an appointment with respiratory services in counties Roscommon and Galway; and the number of patients awaiting assessment by the sleep clinic, together with the average waiting time for both services, in tabular form. [52439/26]
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.
430. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of autism diagnoses made in Counties Roscommon and Galway in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by service provider and age category. [52440/26]
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.
431. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of industrial hemp processing or decortication facilities currently operating in the State; and their locations. [52442/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Health is responsible for licencing the cultivation of hemp with a licence issued pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Applications for a licence must specify the exact location and size of the cultivation. The Department of Health does not keep records of the number of industrial hemp processing or decortication facilities. However under a condition of the licence the cultivator must record the name and address of the person to whom the plant is sent for processing or disposal.
432. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to give a progress report in regard to the new Cahersiveen primary care centre; when this project will be delivered for the people of Cahersiveen, Iveragh and south Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52452/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
433. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to give consideration to acquiring locations (details supplied) for urgently required respite for adults and children with profound disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52453/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra434. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will consider expanding the list of medicines available under the medical card and community drugs schemes to include saxenda for the treatment of obesity and weight management; if she is aware of the financial burden placed on patients who require this medication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52457/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. To commence this process, a pharmaceutical company must submit an application for a new medicine or a new use of an existing medicine, which has been granted European Medicines Agency (EMA) or Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) authorisation, to the HSE’s Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit.
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 Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to restrict reimbursement support to the HSE approved indication of Diabetes. This includes Victoza® (liraglutide), Ozempic® (semaglutide) and Trulicity® (Dulaglutide).
In line with the HSE reimbursement approval above, the HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) developed a Managed Access Protocol (MAP for liraglutide (Saxenda®) as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adult patients, with an initial BMI of 35 kg/m2 with prediabetes and high-risk for cardiovascular disease.
This MAP outlines the criteria that must be satisfied in order for a patient to be recommended for reimbursement of liraglutide (Saxenda®); further information is available on the MMP website [https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/ncps/medicines-management/managed-access-protocols/liraglutide-saxenda-/liraglutide-saxenda.html]
Clinicians are required to submit an application for reimbursement support of liraglutide (Saxenda®) for their patients through an online application system.
Where there is a negative reimbursement decision, the outcome of the application can be appealed by the prescriber. Appeals can be sent directly to the HSE Medicines Management Programme at mmp@hse.ie. Appeals must be made by the patient’s clinician and should include any additional information to support the unmet clinical need for liraglutide (Saxenda®) based on failure of other treatment options.
Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis reviewing the information provided in the initial online application and the information in the appeal submission to the MMP. A letter outlining the final reimbursement recommendation is communicated back to the clinician.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the DPS threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
435. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of approved consultant psychiatrist posts serving counties Roscommon and Galway; the number currently filled; the number vacant; and the duration of each vacancy, in tabular form. [52459/26]
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.
436. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an autism assessment in counties Roscommon and Galway; and the number waiting less than six months, six to twelve months and more than twelve months, in tabular form. [52460/26]
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.
437. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a first appointment for speech and language therapy in counties Roscommon and Galway; and the average waiting time; and the number waiting more than twelve months for an appointment. [52462/26]
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.
438. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a first appointment for occupational therapy in counties Roscommon and Galway; the average waiting time; and the number waiting more than twelve months for an appointment. [52463/26]
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.
439. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting access to children’s disability network team services in counties Roscommon and Galway; the average waiting time, in tabular form. [52464/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis PQ is not for the Department of Health. We respectfully request that this Parliamentary Question be redirected to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality as the matters raised fall under their remit.
440. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who waited more than twelve hours for admission through the emergency department of Portiuncula University Hospital during each month of 2026. [52465/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
441. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting home support services in counties Roscommon and Galway; the number of approved home support hours currently undelivered, in tabular form. [52466/26]
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.
442. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting approval under the nursing home support scheme (fair deal) in Counties Roscommon; and Galway and the average waiting time for approval, in tabular form. [52467/26]
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.
443. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children from counties Roscommon and Galway admitted to approved inpatient CAMHS units in each of the past three years and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [52471/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond direct to the Deputy as soon as possible.
444. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children presenting with mental health difficulties to emergency departments in counties Roscommon and Galway during each of the past three years and to date in 2026. [52472/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
