Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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545. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children travelling to Britain for paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplant surgery, by year, from 2015 to date in 2055. [67495/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy is seeking information by year, from 2015 to date in 2025.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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546. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to the State of sending a child to a British hospital for paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplant surgery. [67496/25]

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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547. To ask the Minister for Health the supports which are available to families from the HSE having to travel to Britain for paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplant surgery. [67497/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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548. To ask the Minister for Health the actions her Department has taken to encourage CHI to adopt the findings and advice of the repatriation of paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplant services to Ireland: a Health Technology Assessment – February 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67498/25]

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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549. To ask the Minister for Health to publish all correspondence between her Department and CHI relating to the implementation of the findings and advice of the repatriation of paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplant services to Ireland: a Health Technology Assessment – February 2023. [67499/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to correspondence between the Department of Health and Children's Health Ireland. Records such as this are not routinely retrieved and compiled for publication by my Department.

The Deputy may request access to these records under the Freedom of Information Act. The FOI process ensures that proper consideration is given to the public interest and the right of the public to access information, before a determination is made as to whether a record should be released.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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550. To ask the Minister for Health the financial supports and logistical supports which are available to families upon the death of a child family member at a health facility abroad, for whom that child had been referred to treatment by health services in Ireland. [67500/25]

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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551. To ask the Minister for Health the financial supports and logistical supports which are available to families upon the death of an adult family member at a health facility abroad, for whom that adult had been referred to treatment by health services in Ireland. [67501/25]

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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552. To ask the Minister for Health the precise process following the publication of a HIQA health technology assessment report that makes specific findings and advice to the HSE and her Department, relating to the consideration and implementation or otherwise, of those findings and advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67502/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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An HTA systematically gathers evidence to assist a decision-maker, generally the Department of Health, or a body such as the HSE, in informing policy choices on adopting, funding, or disinvesting in a health technology. The report provides evidence-based recommendations on the clinical effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of the assessed technology. In general, once HIQA completes and publishes an HTA report, it is formally submitted to the Department of Health or the relevant commissioning body, for example, the HSE, as decision maker.

The process following the publication of a HIQA health technology assessment (HTA) report will be dependent on the specific technology being assessed. The conclusions and information in an HTA are advisory and form just one element informing the decision making. An HTA cannot, for example, determine if there is adequate budget available to fund a new technology. However, by including the budget impact and cost effectiveness in the HTA, the decision-maker can then assess funding options.

When the Department receives an HTA report, the advice it provides is considered in the context of a range of metrics including budget, clinical need, outcomes for patients, alternative technologies and impact of displacement of funding for existing technologies, amongst others. Decisions on policies relating to specific technologies are only made after all relevant advice and information is fully considered, including that provided by HIQA in an HTA.