1701. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider measures to ensure that any future review of minimum unit pricing includes consultation with addiction service providers and public health experts, with a view to determining the way in which the policy will better support frontline addiction and prevention services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58088/25]
1702. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will address the growing backlog in access to audiology services, with more than 26,000 people now waiting for treatment and reports of delays of up to three years for hearing assessments and hearing aids, including for children; the urgent actions being taken to expand capacity and reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […
1703. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the introduction of a cross-border care arrangement to allow patients waiting excessive length of times for audiology treatment or hearing aids to access timely services abroad, in recognition of the serious communication, developmental, and social impacts prolonged hearing loss can have on both children and adults; and if she will make a s…
1705. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding concerns over CORUs proposed changes to psychotherapy training standards, including the reduction of clinical hours, removal of personal therapy requirements, and elimination of mandatory supervision; if she will use her powers under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to ensure…
1806. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of the National Men’s Health Action Plan 2024–2028; if she will consider allocating an initial €10 million to support its delivery in line with recommendations from a foundation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58658/25]
1807. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider commissioning a full cost analysis of the National Men’s Health Action Plan 2024–2028 to ensure that the plan is adequately resourced and implemented across all relevant sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58659/25]
1808. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will work with colleagues across Government to develop a cross-Government Policy Statement on Men’s Health, in order to co-ordinate action and ensure a whole-of-Government approach to improving men’s well-being; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58660/25]
1809. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will adopt an outreach-based approach to engage men, boys and carers in adopting healthy lifestyles, self-management and timely access to healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58661/25]
1810. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider developing tailored supports and resources for fathers, including those who are parenting alone or co-parenting, to promote positive health, communication, and wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58662/25]
1811. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will review and expand investment in comprehensive training programmes such as (details supplied) to strengthen the healthcare workforce’s capacity to effectively engage with men, including those experiencing suicidal behaviour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58664/25]
1812. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will advance and support research to better understand how men engage with their health and healthcare services, to ensure that health promotion initiatives are evidence-based and effective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58665/25]
1832. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will review the current HSE policy that prevents carers from administering PEG (gastrostomy) feeds to children with disabilities, even where families have trained carers who are competent to safely carry out this routine task; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58772/25]
1833. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify the way in which families are expected to utilise allocated homecare hours when no HSE-approved provider can supply staff qualified to perform PEG feeding; the steps she will take to ensure that home support and respite services for such families are practical and meaningful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58773/25]
1835. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will establish a ring-fenced fund of €600,000 to support home care packages for people living with more severe forms of epidermolysis bullosa, to ensure access to secure, flexible, and coordinated care that adapts to their complex and changing needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58784/25]
1836. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide annual funding of €20,000 to enable access to complex care coordination in regional centres for individuals living with severe forms of epidermolysis bullosa, ensuring a central point of contact to coordinate multidisciplinary care and reduce the administrative burden currently placed on patients and families; and if she will make a stateme…
1837. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will increase funding for psychological support for people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) by €30,000 per annum, to expand the clinical psychologist post at St. James’s Hospital from 0.25 to 0.5 WTE, thereby providing dedicated EB-specific psychological care integrated into the dermatology multidisciplinary team; and if she will make a statement …
1838. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide annual funding of €45,000 to extend the existing epidermolysis bullosa outreach nurse service to adults in the community, to ensure integrated continuity of care across acute and community settings, reduce hospitalisations, and improve quality of life for those living with epidermolysis bullosa; and if she will make a statement on the matte…
1878. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the timeframe, scope, and public reporting arrangements for the inquiry into delays in children's urology and spinal surgeries, in view of reports of possible infertility and irreversible harm; the immediate support measures in place for affected families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58942/25]
1879. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the date and implementation plan for the dissolution of Children's Health Ireland; to provide assurances regarding continuity of paediatric specialist services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58943/25]
1880. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the implementation of the planned "root and branch" reforms to address paediatric spinal surgery waiting lists; to confirm that these reforms will not disrupt ongoing services; to publish the timeline and resource allocation for their delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58945/25]
1930. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries postponed at Beaumont Hospital in each of the past three months due to overcrowding; the contingency plans in place to protect patient care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59296/25]
1931. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the current GP-to-population ratios nationally, in each county, and specifically in Dublin bay north; the steps being taken to recruit, retain and support GPs, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59297/25]
1936. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health when spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) will be included as part of the national newborn screening programme heelprick test, following the Government’s decision in November 2023 to include SMA in the programme, the reasons for the delay in implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59303/25]
1937. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an updated timeline for the commencement of routine screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) under the national newborn screening programme; if dedicated staffing, laboratory capacity and logistical resources are now in place to deliver this screening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59304/25]
1938. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that all babies born in Ireland are tested for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as soon as possible, in view of the impact early diagnosis has on long-term outcomes for affected children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59305/25]