Questions

226. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health where a person can contact for support with applying for a GMS contract. [28909/26]

227. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for civil servants in her Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28922/26]

228. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for staff that work for any agencies under the remit of her Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; if this policy is under the control of the agency itself or if it is directed by the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28…

229. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if any review is ongoing in relation her Department’s policy on flexible working and remote working for civil servants in her Department, particularly in the context of increased fuel prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28958/26]

230. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred annually by University Hospital Galway to have Pet scans completed over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28966/26]

231. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred annually by University Hospital Galway to have Pet scans completed externally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28967/26]

232. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of cases of ENT surgeries being cancelled or placed on standby at short notice by Beaumont Hospital due to lack of bed availability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28970/26]

233. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of cases of ENT surgeries being cancelled or placed on standby in error in Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28971/26]

234. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the timelines for the development and publication of a national allergy action plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28986/26]

235. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the metrics, data, assessments or policy considerations that are required by her Department in order to develop and publish a national allergy action plan, given that no such plan is currently in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28987/26]

236. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing accessible online training for schools to deal with medical emergencies such as anaphylaxis, so as to ensure that all school staff can access appropriate guidance and to support a safer environment for children, teachers and school communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28988/26]

237. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to address a backlog for ultrasound injections at Connolly Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29024/26]

238. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to monitor and regulate the sale of high-caffeine fortified beverages which contain significant stimulant levels and an alcohol content of 15% ABV; if her attention has been drawn to the specific health risks these products pose to young people; the impact the Government’s decision to defer the implementation of Section 12 a…

239. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether an application has been received for the reimbursement of the drug skyclarys for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia; if so, the current status of that application; the date on which it was submitted to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics; and the expected timeline for a final reimbursement decision. [29078/26]

240. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average and median time taken for reimbursement decisions for orphan or rare disease medicines over the past five years; the specific timelines applicable in the case of treatments for Friedreich’s ataxia; and whether any delays have arisen in the assessment process for this category of medicines. [29079/26]

241. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any interim access schemes, compassionate use programmes, or early access pathways are currently available in the State for patients with Friedreich’s ataxia; and whether consideration is being given to enabling access to skyclarys pending a full reimbursement decision. [29080/26]

242. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether standard cost-effectiveness thresholds applied by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics are adjusted in the case of rare diseases; if not, whether the Minister will consider reforming these thresholds to reflect the unique clinical and ethical context of low-prevalence conditions. [29081/26]

243. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of patients diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia in the State; the number currently under active neurological care; and whether a national clinical pathway or specialised service model exists for this condition. [29082/26]

244. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether skyclarys has been approved or reimbursed in other EU Member States or comparable jurisdictions; and whether such decisions are considered in Ireland’s reimbursement process. [29083/26]

245. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the current national rare disease strategy provides for expedited access pathways to disease-modifying therapies; and whether any review of this policy framework is underway. [29084/26]

246. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health whether consideration is being given to the reopening or replacement of the motorised transport grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29121/26]

247. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a permanent location and additional days will be supported for the HSE's day services in Carndonagh, County Donegal. [29141/26]

248. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children eligible for the HSE school dental screening service and the number actually screened in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by CHO, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29209/26]

249. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting a first appointment under the HSE school dental screening service; the number of those who have progressed to secondary school without ever being seen; the longest current waiting time for a first appointment, by CHO area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29210/26]

250. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the current number of whole-time equivalent public dentists, dental nurses and dental hygienists employed by the HSE, broken down by CHO area, with the corresponding figures for each year since 2019; the number of current vacancies in each grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29211/26]