Written answers
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
- Mental Health Services
666. To ask the Minister for Health the overall percentage of the health budget currently allocated to mental health; and the increase in funding (as a percentage of GDP or GNI) that would result... - Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
667. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 754 of 24 June 2025, the position regarding frontline workers who are suffering from long-Covid; if he proposes to extend... - Middle East
668. To ask the Minister for Health since Government approval was secured in September 2024 for Ireland to evacuate a number of sick children from Gaza for treatment and care, following an appeal... - Departmental Schemes
669. To ask the Minister for Health when the community mothers scheme will be reintroduced.. [36165/25] - General Practitioner Services
670. To ask the Minister for Health the actions her Department is taking to increase the availability of GPs in the Dublin 13 area. [35192/25] - Eating Disorders
671. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans to increase facilities for adults suffering with eating disorders; if she is aware that there are only three adult beds in Ireland and... - Departmental Reports
672. To ask the Minister for Health the details and dates of correspondence received from the HSE or Children’s Health Ireland regarding a report (details supplied); and if she will... - Health Services
674. To ask the Minister for Health if the funding for podiatry services has been discontinued for people with type 2 diabetes (details supplied); if so, the date this was discontinued; and if... - Home Help Service
675. To ask the Minister for Health the number of home help agencies registered in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35218/25] - Health Services
676. To ask the Minister for Health when urgent care and procedures will be conducted for a person (details supplied). [35219/25] - Hospital Staff
677. To ask the Minister for Health the number of pain management specialists currently employed in University Hospital Waterford; the number of hours they are contracted to work; and if she will... - Legislative Programme
678. To ask the Minister for Health the status of her plans to replace the Dentists Act 1985 with modern and fit-for-purpose legislation; the timeline she is working towards; if she will commit... - Medicinal Products
679. To ask the Minister for Health if the anti-sickness drug akynzeo can be made available on the GMS as it is the only effective anti-sickness medication for many cancer patients, including... - Hospital Appointments Status
680. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35270/25] - Health Services
681. To ask the Minister for Health the measures that can be taken to ensure a person (details supplied) receives the medical test results she requires promptly; and if she will make a statement... - Hospital Complaints Procedures
682. To ask the Minister for Health to request that the HSE revisits the way in which a complaint was addressed at a hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.... - Hospital Procedures
683. To ask the Minister for Health for an urgent update on a referral (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35280/25] - Health Services Staff
684. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the process in relation to the section 39 funding process; to outline the process if an application is refused; the means by which an organisation... - Tobacco Control Measures
685. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration would be given by her Department for the inclusion of vape devices (details supplied) in the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine... - Product Labelling
688. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on any engagements her Department has had at an EU level concerning cancer warning labelling on alcohol products in Ireland; and if she... - Health Strategies
689. To ask the Minister for Health if she will ensure that alcohol is included and made a priority in the new national drugs strategy; if she will arrange to meet a coalition group that made... - Hospital Staff
690. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35326/25] - Health Service Executive
691. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35330/25] - Departmental Schemes
692. To ask the Minister for Health if she will clarify the monthly quantity limits for each hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product covered under the free HRT scheme (details supplied);... - General Practitioner Services
693. To ask the Minister for Health the supports she has put in place for the hundreds of patients who were negatively impacted by the closure of a practice (details supplied); if she has ensured... - Hospital Services
694. To ask the Minister for Health if, in light of the severe struggles outlined (details supplied), she will allow for a hospital bed, as respite is no longer an option due to high support... - Home Help Service
695. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of 1 million home support hours. [35355/25] - Community Care
696. To ask the Minister for Health the capital and current cost of 10 community nursing unit beds. [35356/25] - Medical Cards
697. To ask the Minister for Health is she will review the qualifying income limits for a medical card to ensure that they align with social protection payments (details supplied). [35358/25] - Social Welfare Eligibility
698. To ask the Minister for Health to provide details of the framework for the blind welfare allowance means assessment; and the guidelines on how savings affect the assessment. [35361/25] - Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
699. To ask the Minister for Health if all regions have timely, equitable access to sexual assault treatment units; if she will provide a list of these units per County, in tabular form; and if... - Departmental Data
702. To ask the Minister for Health with regard to data collected on cases involving multiple perpetrators, the trends that have emerged in relation to age, location, and reporting outcomes in... - Hospital Services
703. To ask the Minister for Health the services currently provided for adult patients with epilepsy at a hospital (details supplied); the number and grade of staff that are currently attached to... - Mental Health Services
704. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting and retaining 1,000 additional mental health professionals, by profession, for example, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses,... - Eating Disorders
706. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing 20 additional eating disorder inpatient beds and community based services. [35428/25] - Mental Health Services
707. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully staffed emergency mental health services and regional crisis response teams. [35429/25] - Health Services Staff
708. To ask the Minister for Health the current average salary and total annual cost, including PRSI, pension, of a full-time consultant psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, mental health nurse... - Mental Health Services
709. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mental health vacancies across HSE community and inpatient services, disaggregated by health region and by profession. [35431/25] - Departmental Contracts
729. To ask the Minister for Health to list all the public services contracts worth €10 million or more, which have been granted by herself or the forerunner for her Department, or other... - Pharmacy Services
730. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of discrepancies in the application of prescriptions by pharmacies (details supplied); and her plans to ensure that all pharmacies adhere to... - Health Services Staff
731. To ask the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists based at Donabate health centre in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [35497/25] - Hospital Staff
732. To ask the Minister for Health the number of consultant paediatric plastic surgeons based at CHI Temple Street in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [35498/25] - Health Services Staff
733. To ask the Minister for Health the number of paediatric psychologists based at Portmarnock primary care centre in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [35499/25] - Dental Services
734. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists based at Swords health centre in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [35500/25] - Health Services Staff
735. To ask the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists based at Malahide health centre in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [35501/25] - Mental Health Services
736. To ask the Minister for Health the number of mental health programmes are currently subject to output based budgeting and key performance indicators; and the estimated administrative cost of... - Medicinal Products
740. To ask the Minister for Health the protocols in place to review and adjust thyroid medication dosages for women following childbirth, particularly where the dosage was increased during... - Mental Health Services
743. To ask the Minister for Health whether postnatal mental health services and screening procedures include evaluation for physiological causes such as thyroid hormone imbalance; and if he will... - Healthcare Policy
744. To ask the Minister for Health the measures being taken to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and the public about the connection between thyroid hormone imbalance and severe... - Mental Health Services
745. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering 47 additional community teams, 17 CAMHS ID teams, 41 inpatient CAMHS beds and 20 early intervention in psychosis teams, in... - Addiction Treatment Services
746. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reopening Keltoi. [35531/25] - Mental Health Services
747. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of developing an all island mother and baby perinatal mental health unit. [35532/25] - Medical Research and Training
748. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of funding all trainee counselling and educational psychology positions in line with their clinical counterparts. [35533/25] - Hospital Procedures
749. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients receiving injections for macular degeneration at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital each month for the period January 2024 to end... - Legislative Measures
750. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 771 of 24 June 2025, if she will clarify that “human application” does not mean the application of such... - Ambulance Service
751. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a policy (details supplied) has been in place for Ennis and Nenagh since 17 August 2023 to protect the rapid response vehicle (RRV) and ensure where... - Hospital Facilities
752. To ask the Minister for Health to clarify the category of patients that will be provided for under the fit-out of the existing first floor shell and cores space of Mallow General Hospital to... - Hospital Procedures
753. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of full and partial lower limb amputations that were carried out in 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of these patients, by county, who had... - Health Services Staff
761. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior podiatrists and WTE basic grade podiatrists employed by the Health Service Executive, in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of... - Medical Research and Training
762. To ask the Minister for Health if she plans to introduce a second Level 8 University Degree programme for podiatric medicine to effectively address the shortage of qualified podiatrists... - Legislative Programme
763. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the drafting of underpinning legislation for the non-statutory inquiry into sodium valproate; when this is expected to be completed;... - Hospital Appointments Status
764. To ask the Minister for Health the number of outpatient podiatry appointments delivered, by hospital group, in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of outpatient podiatry appointments... - Health Services Staff
766. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical podiatry specialists, WTE senior podiatrists, WTE staff-grade podiatrists that have been recruited to date to staff the HSE enhanced... - Hospital Waiting Lists
767. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people with diabetes on a waiting list by hospital group, in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of those waiting less than six months,... - General Practitioner Services
770. To ask the Minister for Health the number of GPs registered in east Cork. [35591/25] - Medicinal Products
772. To ask the Minister for Health if a full HTA application for the drug Veoza has been submitted, and when it is anticipated the HTA will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the... - Medical Aids and Appliances
773. To ask the Minister for Health if she will assess the current allocation of funds for aids and appliances for vision impairment; if she is aware of the inequity of the current arrangement... - Departmental Meetings
774. To ask the Minister for Health if she and her officials will meet with an organisation to discuss their policy concerns (details supplied). [35621/25] - Hospital Facilities
775. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing and staffing 1,000 additional acute beds in a public hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35667/25] - Health Services Staff
777. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of hiring an additional 100 speech and language therapists, 100 psychologists, 100 occupational therapists and 100... - General Practitioner Services
779. To ask the Minister for Health how many GP visits were there in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the average cost of visiting a GP in each year, and the total revenue from GP visits in each year; and if... - Hospital Charges
780. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of abolishing all inpatient and emergency department charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35672/25] - Primary Care Services
781. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing universal free primary care, including GP care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35673/25] - Departmental Schemes
782. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the drug payment scheme threshold to €10 per month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35674/25] - Prescriptions Charges
783. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of scraping prescription charges for medical card holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35675/25] - Hospital Charges
784. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated revenue from all parking charges at public hospitals in 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35676/25] - Medicinal Products
785. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of introducing a fully funded universal contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35677/25] - Dental Services
787. To ask the Minister for Health to confirm the number of registered dentists in the Cork East constituency. [35694/25] - Product Labelling
789. To ask the Minister for Health whether alcohol warning labels will be introduced in May 2026 as planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35726/25] - General Practitioner Services
790. To ask the Minister for Health when the GP contract for Ballymore Eustace Health Centre is next due for tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35730/25] - Hospital Appointments Status
791. To ask the Minister for Health if she will expedite an appointment for surgery for a person (details supplied). [35735/25] - Hospital Procedures
792. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children who have undergone bone marrow transplants, on an annual basis, since 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/25] - Medical Inquiries
793. To ask the Minister for Health the redress for families in circumstances in which parents of children have been informed by CHI that their child or children have been operated on... - Primary Care Centres
794. To ask the Minister for Health if the board of the HSE has provided the final approval and sign-off for the development of the Galway city west primary care centre [35749/25] - Hospital Facilities
795. To ask the Minister for Health the expected start and completion dates of the St. James's Hospital annexe planned for the new children's hospital's works depot on Davitt Road, Dublin 12; to... - Primary Care Centres
796. To ask the Minister for Health the progress and expected completion date of the planned Curlew Road primary health care centre in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter.... - Healthcare Policy
797. To ask the Minister for Health her plans for a premises (details supplied) on Davitt Road in Dublin 12; the expected commencement date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35758/25] - Hospital Appointments Status
798. To ask the Minister for Health if it can be ensured that an urgent appointment for surgery is scheduled for a person (details supplied). [35762/25] - Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
799. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider extending special leave with pay for those who worked on the front line during the pandemic, contracted long-Covid and as a result are... - Health Services Staff
800. To ask the Minister for Health at the time of the overview, the WTE number and grade of CR staff employed in each hub site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35842/25] - Hospital Procedures
801. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients who participated in a phase 3 cardiac rehab programme in each site (hospital and hub) in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the... - Health Services Staff
802. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria used to deliver funding to support 13 permanent cardiac rehab posts to integrated health authority regions (IHA) 1 and 2 (Galway, Mayo,... - Health Services Waiting Lists
803. To ask the Minister for Health the national average wait times for audiology appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35855/25] - Health Services Staff
805. To ask the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to recruit additional staff to alleviate lengthy wait times for audiology appointments nationally in Dublin north west; and... - Care Services
808. To ask the Minister for Health if she or her Department are engaging with, or will engage, a company (details supplied) concerning the termination of a contract of care for a resident.... - Hospital Inspections
809. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the safety-care measures put in place at a hospital (details supplied) following the HSA inspection at the hospital in June 2022; if there has since... - Dental Services
810. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the measures being taken to address the backlog in HSE dental check-ups for primary school children; whether a catch-up programme is planned for... - Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
811. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans in place to extend-replace the temporary special scheme for HSE staff unfit for work due to long Covid; and if she will make a statement... - Healthcare Policy
812. To ask the Minister for Health further to Government approval in September 2024 for Ireland to evacuate a number of sick children from Gaza for treatment and care, following an appeal from... - Departmental Correspondence
813. To ask the Minister for Health to respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35944/25] - Hospital Appointments Status
814. To ask the Minister for Health when an appointment will be offered to a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35945/25] - Health Services Staff
815. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place to get sufficient number of healthcare assistants working in areas throughout the country (details supplied); and if she will make a... - Community Care
816. To ask the Minister for Health when the new wing of Midleton Community Hospital will be officially open; the date for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35960/25] - Health Services
817. To ask the Minister for Health if the old Midleton Community Hospital will be used for any specific alternative community services once the new hospital in Midleton is completed and open;... - Community Care
818. To ask the Minister for Health if it is possible to give the kitchen area in the old Midleton Community Hospital to the local meals and wheels in Midleton (details supplied); and if she will... - Mental Health Services
819. To ask the Minister for Health when works will begin on the existing site of the Owenacurra mental health respite centre in Midleton, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the... - Health Services Staff
821. To ask the Minister for Health the number of WTE public health nurses based at Carrick on Shannon primary care centre in 2023, 2024 and to date 2025. [35976/25] - Traveller Community
824. To ask the Minister for Health the funding allocated to the National Traveller Health Action Plan in 2024; the mechanisms in place to ensure that this funding reaches Traveller-led and... - Hospital Investigations
828. To ask the Minister for Health if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the audit carried out by CHI. [35992/25] - Vaccination Programme
829. To ask the Minister for Health to outline details of the recent move of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee from the Royal College of Physicians to the Health Information and... - Traveller Community
832. To ask the Minister for Health if she will outline the means by which her Department is monitoring progress on the National Traveller Health Action Plan, particularly regarding Traveller... - Hospital Appointments Status
835. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a surgery appointment for a 21-year-old woman suffering from scoliosis, who was first told in the summer of 2022, almost three years... - Departmental Data
836. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children shortlisted for evacuation to Ireland for medical reasons who have died while awaiting evacuation; the reason there is a significant... - Hospital Procedures
837. To ask the Minister for Health the number of procedures for idiopathic scoliosis on public patients in a private hospital (details supplied) that have been conducted in each of the past... - Primary Care Services
838. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the provision of primary healthcare services and infrastructure in the Saggart, Rathcoole and Citywest areas, specifically... - General Practitioner Services
839. To ask the Minister for Health to provide the current GP-to-patient ratio in the Saggart area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36089/25] - Health Services Staff
840. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the recruitment of public health nurses, specifically in the Dublin mid-west region; and if she will outline the measures are... - General Practitioner Services
841. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide routine blood tests free of charge for all, as currently, the fee, ranging from €25 to €55, is causing a lot of... - Community Care
842. To ask the Minister for Health the number of long-stay and short-stay beds that remain unused in Kenmare Community Hospital County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter.... - Nursing Homes
847. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of vacant beds at a nursing home (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36110/25] - Community Care
848. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the opening of the community hospital Killarney; if this opening will be expedited; the current expected date for opening; and if... - Dental Services
849. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children under 13 awaiting dental screening; the length of time they are waiting, by CHO, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on... - Hospital Staff
850. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people employed at the University Limerick Hospitals Group on career break, by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement... - Ambulance Service
851. To ask the Minister for Health the number of calls responded to by paramedic crews from Tuam ambulance base in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a... - Health Services
853. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be admitted to a centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36169/25] - Health Services Staff
854. To ask the Minister for Health when 2025 jobs for radiography and radiation therapy graduates in Ireland will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36170/25] - Vaccination Programme
855. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans to make the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine available free of charge to older citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter.... - National Children's Hospital
856. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware of section 9D of the Official Languages Act 2003; and if the new name proposed for the national children’s hospital complies with this... - Care Services
857. To ask the Minister for Health her response to the request by an organisation (details supplied) for a €9 million investment in dementia-specific supports in budget 2026, including... - Health Services Waiting Lists
858. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide updated figures on the number of people currently waiting for dementia-specific daycare or home care services in each CHO area; and if she... - Medical Research and Training
861. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider increasing investment in dementia research, given that it currently accounts for less than 1.5% of total health research output; and if... - Medical Cards
862. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider awarding discretionary medical cards to women who underwent pelvic mesh implant surgery and were left with crippling, life-changing... - Medical Inquiries
863. To ask the Minister for Health if she will carry out an independent inquiry into mesh implants, to establish the facts, the extent of harm, and develop a registry of the individuals... - Health Services
864. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has not reinstated a podiatry clinic in Barrack View Health Centre, Edward Street, Limerick, which has not been held since March 2025; when...
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