John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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417. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 986 of 28 April 2021, the reason funding was refused under the treatment abroad scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) given a previous application was approved on 20 September 2019; if the procedures are available in hospitals here; if so, the hospital that carries out same; if there is a waiting list; if so, the timeframe involved; if he will examine the case of the person as a matter of urgency with a view to ensuring that the two procedures recommended by their consultants are expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32853/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services.

Nevertheless, the HSE has advised that a response on this matter, as raised in Parliamentary Question 986 of 20th April 2021, was issued to the Deputy on 13th May 2021. The HSE indicated that as the procedure is available in Ireland it does not fall under the qualifying criteria for the Treatment Abroad Scheme. A multidisciplinary National Specialist Centre has been developed over two sites, at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Dublin, and these sites have received specific funding from the HSE for the provision of these services. Full details of MESH removal services and contact information for relevant hospitals are available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/vaginal-mesh-implants/. The National Women and Infants Health Programme can also be contacted for general queries at smi.nwihp@hse.ie.