Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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574. To ask the Minister for Health the steps his Department has taken to provide support to Palestinian children in need of medical treatment to access treatment in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4807/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her query in relation to the medical evacuation to Ireland of Palestinians.

I can advise the Deputy that as an EU Member State, Ireland responded to a request from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assist in addressing the current health needs in Gaza.

Government approval was secured in September 2024 for Ireland to evacuate up to 30 sick children from Gaza for treatment and care. The potential health needs were categorised under cancer, haemodialysis and patients with other severe medical conditions. Orthopaedic treatment is not included, and patients are selected on a case by case basis subject to confirmation of available capacity in the HSE to treat.

Ireland has a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance including through the Department of Foreign Affairs 'Irish Aid' humanitarian and development assistance programme and the HSE Global Health Programme.

The first group of Palestinian children to receive healthcare treatment in Ireland arrived in Dublin on 19 December 2024. This group consisted of eight children, eight carers and eleven siblings. The group travelled from Cairo to Dublin Airport on a medical transport plane provided by the Slovakian Government and were accompanied by three medical doctors from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and a translator.

My Department engaged with a number of Departments and Agencies for the successful evacuation including the HSE; Department of Justice; Department of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Irish Embassy in Egypt; Department of Social Protection; Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and Dublin Airport Authority.

HSE are leading on the selection of patients and provision of healthcare treatment services, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office in Egypt, and the Ministry for Health in Egypt.

Since the focus of the Government decision was on paediatric patients, Children’s Health Ireland have taken a lead role in the planning and delivery of treatment. On arrival in December, the 8 arriving paediatric patients, along with their 8 carers and 11 accompanying siblings were provided with full medical assessment. The paediatric patients were provided with a treatment schedule. Some of the carers and accompanying siblings also presented with treatment needs and these were also scheduled.

The Irish Red Cross had been contracted by the Department of Health to provide accommodation and ongoing case work support including translation services. The Irish Red Cross Case Workers coordinate the treatment schedule and child care arrangements for all those receiving treatment in collaboration with the lead medics in CHI.

It is anticipated that the remaining capacity for 22 patients, as approved by Government for treatment, will be evacuated to Ireland during 2025. Discussions are ongoing with the HSE in relation to planning for the next medical evacuation operation, and that is currently is proposed for early March.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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575. To ask the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the fact that those suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy are currently not able to get treatment in the State and are forced to travel to the United States; if she will ensure that these people receive treatment in Ireland and if in the interim her Department will cover this procedure under the treatment abroad scheme. [3952/25]