Questions

503. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15781/26]

504. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was refused approval for cover under their medical card; if she will review the case which has been appealed by the GP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15782/26]

505. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review correspondence in respect of a person (details supplied) who has been informed that the night-time rate payable to their personal assistants is to be reduced; the reason this decision has been made in this case; whether the matter will be reconsidered in light of the person’s care need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15785/26]

506. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when she expects screening for spinal muscular atrophy will commence; the progress being made by the Beneluxa initiative in treating these patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15793/26]

507. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the next round of grant supports will be made available to the National Cancer Control Programme through the National Alliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15800/26]

508. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the current plans for the proposed elective hospital at the Merlin Park site in Galway city; the number and type of beds to be delivered as part of the current plans; the number of operating theatres, endoscopy suites and minor operation rooms to be delivered as part of the current plans; the proposed phases of delivering this project along with a timeline for ea…

509. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on ICT improvements for patient files across hospitals to ensure patient files are up to date, especially for review case appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15808/26]

510. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, cost per QALY gained, time horizon applied, and discount rate used in the full health technology assessments conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics in respect of tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes mellitus and weight management; and whether lifetime modelling assumptions were applied in either assessment. [158…

511. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the health technology assessments conducted in respect of tirzepatide included modelling of downstream healthcare cost offsets arising from reductions in incidence of type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular events; hospital admissions; and obesity-related complications; and to provide the percentage reductions assumed in each case within the base-case analysis. [1…

512. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the projected gross and net annual budget impact, and five-year cumulative budget impact, of reimbursement of tirzepatide for weight management under the current eligibility criteria outlined by the HSE; and the estimated eligible patient population used in the budget impact model. [15813/26]

513. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether one-way or probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted as part of the pharmacoeconomic evaluations of tirzepatide and semaglutide; and if so, the key variables identified as having the greatest impact on cost-effectiveness outcomes. [15814/26]

514. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the duration between commissioning and completion of the full health technology assessment of tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes; and whether her Department has conducted any review of timelines in the medicines assessment process since 2023. [15815/26]

515. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline how often the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme meet; for an update on the application of a specific centre under the Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme (detailed supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15828/26]

516. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health in addition to staff being transferred from Killarney District Hospital, how many new jobs will be created in the new Killarney Community Hospital, when will they be advertised; and will the Minister give a breakdown of how many under each category will be advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15829/26]

517. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health when the new development in St. Columba's Hospital will be open and operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15831/26]

518. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the provision of direct Exchequer funding by her Department to any non-statutory body is conditional upon the recipient maintaining a formally adopted safeguarding policy; a designated safeguarding officer; written mandatory reporting procedures in respect of safeguarding concerns; compliance with obligations under the Children First Act 2015 where applica…

519. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains a central register or consolidated oversight framework identifying all non-statutory bodies in receipt of direct Exchequer funding; whether that register records safeguarding compliance status, including the existence of safeguarding policies, designated safeguarding officers and reporting procedures; whether her Department require…

520. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has received the completed report of the expert clinical group examining the implications for Ireland of the Cass Review; on what date it was received by her Department or the HSE CEO; whether she has requested a copy; whether she intends to publish the report in full; if not, the statutory or policy basis for withholding publication; and if she will m…

521. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal interim clinical governance framework, written safeguards, or ministerial policy directions are currently in force governing the provision of gender-related healthcare services to children and adolescents pending completion of the updated National Model of Care; whether any elements of clinical practice have been paused, amended or restricted during thi…

522. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has approved or mandated a national data collection framework, minimum dataset, or outcome monitoring system for gender identity services for children and young people; if not, when such a framework will be introduced; and how clinical outcomes, adverse events and long-term follow-up are currently monitored at national level. [158…

523. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal methodological review, evidence appraisal, or structured policy evaluation of international clinical guidance, including the WPATH Standards of Care, was undertaken between 2018 and 2023 prior to adoption or application within Irish healthcare services; if so, to provide the title and date of such review; and if not, to explain the basis upon whic…

524. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the expert clinical group report examining the implications for Ireland of the Cass review was submitted to the HSE chief executive officer; whether the report has been furnished to her Department; whether she has received or reviewed the report; whether she intends to publish the report in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1…

525. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal interim clinical governance arrangements, safeguards, or policy instructions currently apply to gender healthcare services for children and adolescents pending completion of the updated national Model of Care; whether any written direction, circular, or instruction has issued since publication of the Cass review; and if she will make a statement on the …

526. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to specify the statutory authority, national clinical guideline, or formally approved policy framework under which gender healthcare services for minors are currently delivered within the public health system; the date on which that framework was approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15854/26]

527. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has approved a national dataset, reporting framework, or outcome measurement standard for gender identity services provided to children and adolescents; if not, when such a framework is expected to be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15855/26]