Erin McGreehan

1944. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the exact date in April 2026 on which newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) will commence, and whether this will be a full national roll out or a phased introduction [19687/26]

1945. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if the laboratory verification and validation processes for SMA and SCID screening have been fully completed; and if not, when they will be finalised. [19688/26]

1946. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether all newly recruited staff for the expanded newborn screening programme have completed training; and when the finalised screening and treatment pathways for SMA and SCID will be published. [19689/26]

1947. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the way in which the €1.4 million allocated in Budget 2024 for SMA/SCID implementation has been spent to date; and whether any additional funding will be required to ensure timely commencement. [19690/26]

1948. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the expected timelines and criteria for considering further conditions for inclusion in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to ongoing expansion. [19691/26]

1950. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the age profile of the national linear accelerator (Linac) fleet. [19698/26]

1951. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the assessment which has been made of the impact on patient access and treatment delays arising from older Linacs, noting that machines over ten years break down much more often and that this leads to downtime & delays. [19699/26]

1952. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on outsourced radiotherapy services in 2025; and whether this cost could be reduced through timely equipment replacement. [19700/26]

1953. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address the strain on medical physics staff caused by large scale simultaneous Linac replacements, given the statement that such an approach puts an enormous strain on medical physics staff colleagues. [19701/26]

1954. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will establish a National Radiotherapy Equipment Replacement Programme to provide predictable, coordinated investment and ensure equitable access to modern radiotherapy regardless of location. [19702/26]

1955. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the immediate actions that are being taken to address the fact that 6,175 people breached the recommended 28-day wait time for an urgent colonoscopy between January and November 2025, given that these are symptomatic patients for whom delayed diagnosis increases the risk of later stage cancer. [19703/26]

1956. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the practice whereby endoscopy units are temporarily shut and repurposed for other hospital pressures, including emergency department overflow, as highlighted by clinicians who note that this practice reduces diagnostic capacity at times of high demand. [19704/26]

1957. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the assessment her Department has made of the impact on cancer outcomes arising from delays in accessing urgent colonoscopy. [19705/26]

1958. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the long term strategy to expand endoscopy services in line with rising demand driven by an ageing population and increased public awareness of the need for diagnostic testing. [19706/26]

2004. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of graduate audiologists recruited into HSE-funded posts in each of the years from 2021 to 2025; the geographic breakdown of those appointments by CHO area and hospital group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19936/26]

2005. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of audiologists recruited into HSE-funded posts in each of the years from 2021 to 2025; the number of audiology vacancies recorded in each of these years; the current geographic distribution of audiology workforce capacity across CHO areas and hospital groups; the measures in place to support workforce planning and ensure adequate audiology service provision nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19937/26]

2006. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the clinical placement capacity available across HSE services for each Health and Social Care Profession (HSCP) discipline including but not limited to audiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics, medical science, radiography, and other therapy/HSCP programmes for each of the years from 2021 to 2025. [19938/26]

2016. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the recent changes to the practice of issuing permanent contracts to newly qualified paramedics in the National Ambulance Service; the reason for this change; when the change was brought to the attention of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19970/26]

2017. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of newly qualified paramedics that have recently completed training with the National Ambulance Service but have not been issued permanent contracts. [19971/26]

2018. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of training a paramedic within the National Ambulance Service. [19972/26]

2019. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the current staffing shortfall within the National Ambulance Service. [19973/26]

2177. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the specific steps the HSE is taking to ensure that the time critical and progressive nature of Friedreich's Ataxia is fully recognised and acted upon during the ongoing price and reimbursement negotiations for skyclarys, given the significant risk of irreversible decline for patients during prolonged delays. [20488/26]

2178. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the commitments outlined in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 particularly those relating to timely access to innovative therapies are being applied in the case of skyclarys. [20489/26]

2179. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the 180 day decision timeline set out in the 2026 IPHA Framework Agreement is being implemented in practice for rare disease medicines; and the reason this timeline has not been met in the case of skyclarys for Friedreich's Ataxia patients. [20490/26]

2180. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has considered establishing an Early Access Programme for skyclarys, in light of the progressive and time sensitive nature of Friedreich's Ataxia, so that patients can access the treatment while reimbursement negotiations are ongoing. [20491/26]