1042. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 953 of 24 March 2026, whether the national guideline for the diagnosis and management of lipoedema referenced will include provision for surgical intervention; if not, the policy basis for excluding surgical treatment from the national care pathway; and whether patients will be supported to access surgical care where clinical…
1043. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of persons living with lipoedema in the State; the projected demand for services under the proposed national care pathway; and the current and planned service capacity within the public health system to meet this demand. [32621/26]
1044. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocation assigned to the development and implementation of the national lipoedema care pathway; the costings associated with clinical services, education programmes and patient supports; and whether dedicated funding has been ring-fenced for this purpose. [32622/26]
1045. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance framework underpinning the national lipoedema care pathway, including the identity and role of the clinical lead, reporting arrangements to the Department, and whether a formal audit, evaluation, or outcomes monitoring mechanism will be established. [32623/26]
1046. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether patients requiring surgical treatment for lipoedema are currently being referred abroad under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; the number of such referrals and associated expenditure in each of the past five years; and whether this pathway is subject to review. [32624/26]
1047. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 953 of 24 March 2026, the exact publication date for the national lipoedema guideline referenced in; the reasons for any delay beyond the second quarter of 2026; and whether a full implementation plan will be published alongside the guideline [32625/26]
1048. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the national lipoedema care pathway will include defined referral criteria, multidisciplinary team structures, and standardised diagnostic protocols across all regions; and if she will outline these components. [32626/26]
1049. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the expected waiting times for assessment and treatment under the proposed lipoedema care pathway; and whether waiting list data will be collected and published on a regular basis. [32627/26]
1050. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the lipoedema care pathway will be delivered on a national basis with equal access across all Community Healthcare Organisation areas; and if she will provide a breakdown of planned service locations. [32628/26]
1051. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical evidence and policy analysis used to inform the scope of the national lipoedema guideline; and whether international best practice, including surgical treatment options, was considered in its development. [32629/26]
1052. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to identify the specific grade, title, and role of the individual or body within the HSE that has final authority to approve or refuse applications under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; and whether this authority is exercised by a single decision-maker or a panel-based process. [32631/26]
1053. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the formal governance structure underpinning decision-making under the Treatment Abroad Scheme, including any documented approval hierarchy, escalation pathways, or oversight committees. [32632/26]
1054. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether decisions to approve funding under the Treatment Abroad Scheme are subject to any form of independent clinical review, secondary validation, or administrative appeal prior to authorisation of expenditure. [32633/26]
1055. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to detail the process by which independent medical advisors engaged by the HSE in respect of Treatment Abroad Scheme applications are selected, governed, and assessed for independence; and whether their advice is binding or advisory. [32634/26]
1056. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, external audit, or examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General has been conducted on the decision-making and approval processes under the Treatment Abroad Scheme since 2020; and if so, to provide details and findings. [32635/26]
1057. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or the HSE maintains any formal risk register entry relating to governance, financial control, or clinical oversight risks associated with the Treatment Abroad Scheme. [32636/26]
1058. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a standardised cost range or expected cost per patient is applied when approving applications under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; if not, how value for money is assessed at approval stage. [32650/26]
1059. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE conducts any ex post review of costs incurred under the Treatment Abroad Scheme to assess variance between estimated and actual expenditure per patient. [32651/26]
1060. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any benchmarking is carried out comparing the cost of procedures funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme across different jurisdictions. [32652/26]
1061. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what internal financial controls are applied to ensure that costs claimed under the Treatment Abroad Scheme are reasonable, necessary, and proportionate. [32653/26]
1062. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal or external audit has been carried out specifically on expenditure under the Treatment Abroad Scheme for gender affirmation procedures. [32654/26]
1063. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent clinical validation, separate from the referring consultant and MDT, is carried out by the HSE prior to approval of applications under the Treatment Abroad Scheme for surgical procedures not provided in the State. [32655/26]
1064. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE applies any procedure-specific clinical criteria, risk thresholds, or suitability assessments for gender-related surgical procedures funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme, beyond the general eligibility criteria outlined. [32656/26]
1065. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audit or review has been conducted on approvals granted under the Treatment Abroad Scheme for gender-related surgical procedures since 2020. [32657/26]
1066. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether post-operative outcomes, complications, or follow-up care requirements are tracked for patients funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; if not, the rationale for the absence of such data. [32658/26]