Questions

1020. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has undertaken, commissioned, or reviewed any health economic or cost-benefit analysis on the use of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines, including tirzepatide and semaglutide, for obesity treatment and the prevention of type 2 diabetes; if so, the details and outcomes of any such analysis; and if not, whether she intends to commiss…

1021. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current policy position of her Department regarding the reimbursement of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines under the Drugs Payment Scheme; whether any review is under way to consider broader eligibility criteria; and the expected timeline for any decision on changes to reimbursement policy. [7677/26]

1022. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines on reducing the future incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and associated complications; whether such preventative outcomes are factored into medicines reimbursement decisions; and if she will outline how prevention-based savings are weighted in funding …

1023. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what consideration has been given to the equity implications of high out-of-pocket costs for GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines; whether the Department has examined the risk of access being determined by ability to pay rather than clinical need; and if she will outline any measures under consideration to address this issue. [7679/26]

1024. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of approved occupational therapy posts, per population, in psychiatry of later life services across each health region; if there are integrated health areas that currently do not have approved occupational therapy posts, in tabular form [7685/26]

1025. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of approved social work posts, per population, in psychiatry of later life services across each health region; if there are integrated health areas that currently do not have approved social work posts, in tabular form [7686/26]

1026. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of approved community mental health nurse posts, per population, in psychiatry of later life services across each health region; if there are integrated health areas that currently do not have approved community mental health nurse posts, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7687/26]

1027. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the proposed establishment of regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; the governance, funding and accountability arrangements for these structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7701/26]

1028. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which population-based planning, that will be used for new National Drugs Strategy structures, will address deprivation and local need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7702/26]

1029. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the consultation which has taken place with local drug and alcohol task forces and communities ahead of the proposed regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7703/26]

1030. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the independent, community-led nature, and preventative role, of task forces will be protected in the new proposed regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7704/26]

1031. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that there is currently no head child psychologist currently working in Wexford Primary Care Psychology Service for Children and Adolescents; that the current waitlist for this service is three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7705/26]

1032. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to outline the rationale for the proposed establishment of regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; and to clarify the governance, funding and accountability arrangements for these structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7707/26]

1033. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the way in which population-based planning, that will be used for new National Drugs Strategy structures, will address deprivation and local need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7708/26]

1034. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the consultation that has taken place with local drug and alcohol task forces and communities ahead of the proposed regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7709/26]

1035. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the way in which the independent, community-led nature, and preventative role, of task forces will be protected in the new proposed regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7710/26]

1036. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) who has been awaiting a total knee replacement for over five years at Beaumont Hospital; the reason, despite the length of time on the waiting list and the clinical complexity of the case, surgery has still not being scheduled; the steps which are being taken to prioritise long-waiting patients whose qual…

1037. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene to support the case of a person (details supplied) in urgent need of life-saving medication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7717/26]

1038. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the lack of dental services for persons with disabilities due to overcrowding in Galway University Hospital; the number of patients that have been seen in Galway University Hospital for this service in each of the years, 2023, 2024, and 2025; the number of patients currently on the waiting list for this service as of January…

1039. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the timeline for the recall of baby formula (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7728/26]

1040. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the way in which the initial confirmation from the FSAI that the baby formula involved in the mass recall (details supplied) was established to be incorrect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7729/26]

1041. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the engagement she is having with the FSAI in relation to the mass recall of baby formula (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7730/26]

1042. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the procedure whereby the recall of baby formula was communicated to parents, media outlets and other relevant organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7731/26]

1043. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the engagement she has had with the Irish suppliers of baby formula (details supplied) involved in the mass recall to ensure a minimal impact of families and infants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7732/26]

1044. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any communication campaign she is planning to offer reassurance to families in the wake of the mass recall of baby formula (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7733/26]