Questions

759. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical outcome measures, follow-up requirements, or post-operative monitoring arrangements are in place for patients who undergo gender affirmation surgery funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and how such outcomes are recorded and evaluated at a national level. [28046/26]

760. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason the treatment abroad scheme does not record or maintain data on the type of procedures funded under gender affirmation surgery referrals; whether there are plans to introduce such data collection; and the timeframe for implementation. [28047/26]

761. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific clinical and administrative criteria applied when approving applications under the treatment abroad scheme for gender affirmation surgery; whether any refusal thresholds or review mechanisms exist; and the role of multidisciplinary teams in this process. [28048/26]

762. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE medical secretaries posts filled as part of the ENT Department of University Hospital Limerick as of 13 April 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28055/26]

763. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant oncologist with a special interest in genetics based at University Hospital Limerick as of 13 April 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28056/26]

764. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE cardiovascular clinical nurse specialists based at University Hospital Limerick that were filled as of 13 April 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28057/26]

765. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Primary Care Reimbursement Service maintains product-specific data on rejected or unpaid pharmacy claims under the general medical services and drugs payment schemes; and if not, whether there are plans to introduce such data tracking mechanisms [28064/26]

766. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any proportion of rejected or unpaid claims for salbutamol nebules in 2024 and 2025 can be disaggregated from general rejection categories; and if so, to provide the number and percentage of such claims. [28065/26]

767. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the reasons for rejected or unpaid pharmacy claims under the general medical services scheme in 2024 and 2025, including the number of claims in each category and whether such categories are linked to specific medicines. [28066/26]

768. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the oversight mechanisms that are in place to monitor rejection rates for commonly prescribed medicines under the general medical services scheme, including respiratory medications; and whether any review of rejection patterns has been conducted in the past three years. [28067/26]

769. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audit or validation exercise has been conducted on the accuracy and consistency of claim rejections by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service in 2024 or 2025; and if so, to provide details of the findings and any actions taken. [28068/26]

770. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive assesses the patient impact of rejected or unpaid pharmacy claims under the general medical services scheme; and if so, to outline the methodology used and any findings in relation to essential medicines. [28069/26]

771. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any medicines were removed from, or had their reimbursement status altered within, the Primary Care Reimbursement Service systems in 2024 and 2025 which resulted in rejected claims; and to provide details of such medicines and the dates of change [28070/26]

772. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of rejected or unpaid pharmacy claims under the general medical services scheme in 2024 and 2025 attributable to administrative or submission errors; and the measures in place to reduce such errors. [28071/26]

773. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains any national database or registry recording clinical outcomes for patients who undergo procedures abroad under the treatment abroad scheme; if not, the reason no such system exists; and if she will outline any plans to establish one. [28074/26]

774. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms that are in place to ensure long-term follow-up care for patients undergoing procedures abroad under the treatment abroad scheme, and whether compliance with follow-up protocols is monitored or audited. [28076/26]

775. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audits have been conducted since 2020 on clinical outcomes or patient safety in respect of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, to provide details; if not, the reason none have been undertaken. [28077/26]

776. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if she will consider making versatis patches available to a wider cohort of patients as some patients, including a person (details supplied) are unable to sleep for prolonged periods, and are forced to sleep in a sitting position, due to nerve pain; if she will recognise that for some patients this is the only relief available for them and they need to be reimburs…

777. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if she will consider making versatis patches available to a wider cohort of patients as some patients, including a person (details supplied) are unable to sleep for prolonged periods, and are forced to sleep in a sitting position, due to nerve pain; if she will recognise that for some patients this is the only relief available for them and they need to be reimburs…

778. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of cases of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease that are attributable to obesity in Ireland; the annual treatment cost to the HSE for these obesity-related conditions; the estimated share of total healthcare expenditure linked to obesity-related disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28095/26]

779. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost to the HSE of treating obesity and obesity-related conditions between 2020 to date; the breakdown of this cost, across hospital care, primary care, pharmaceuticals and community services, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28096/26]

780. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE has projected the cost to the health service over the next ten years if obesity prevalence continues to rise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28097/26]

781. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the Department’s projections for future obesity prevalence in Ireland; the projected healthcare expenditure associated with obesity to 2030 and 2040; the expected impact on health service capacity, workforce demand and public expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28098/26]

782. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has assessed the potential healthcare savings from expanded obesity treatment programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28099/26]

783. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the regional prevalence of obesity in Ireland; the regions with the highest hospital admission rates for obesity-related illness; the steps being taken to address health inequalities linked to obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28100/26]