Questions

404. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will facilitate a meeting (details supplied) to address concerns regarding alleged inaccuracies and omissions in records held by University Hospital Galway; when a formal response to the complaint can be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74980/26]

405. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will request the HSE and University Hospital Galway to confirm that all medical records relating to a patient (details supplied) have been released under data protection legislation; whether outstanding documentation, including records relating to neurology treatment on 30 September 2025, has been identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…

406. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by a patient (details supplied) and their family regarding alleged inaccuracies in medical records provided by University Hospital Galway following treatment for serious injuries sustained in August 2025; whether a review of the accuracy of those records will be undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74978/…

455. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the withdrawal of employment offers made to approximately 20 newly qualified nurses who studied nursing in Castlebar and were highly placed on recruitment panels; the reason these positions in Mayo University Hospital have now been withdrawn due to funding constraints; whether additional Department of Health approval is required b…

456. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that employment offers made to approximately 20 newly qualified nurses, many of whom completed their nursing degrees in Castlebar and were placed highly on recruitment panels, for positions at Mayo University Hospital have been withdrawn; the reason for the withdrawal of these offers; whether the withdrawal is due to funding constraints and a requ…

196. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is concerned that workers entering the public health service with substantial relevant experience in the private healthcare sector can be required to commence employment at or close to the first point of the HSE pay scale despite having many years of experience performing comparable duties; whether she accepts that such arrangements may be viewed as inequi…

197. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of requests received by the HSE in each of the past three years seeking recognition of prior private sector healthcare experience for incremental credit purposes; the number approved and refused; whether there is an appeals mechanism available to employees who believe their previous experience has not been properly recognised; and if she will make a st…

198. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify the policy applied by the HSE regarding the recognition of previous service in private healthcare settings for the purpose of salary placement on HSE pay scales; specifically, whether experience gained as a healthcare assistant in a private healthcare facility is taken into account when determining the incremental point on appointment to an eq…

209. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health her views on workers entering the public health service with substantial relevant experience in the private healthcare sector that can be required to commence employment at or close to the first point of the HSE pay scale despite having many years of experience performing comparable duties; whether she accepts that such arrangements may be viewed as inequitable a…

981. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether the national cancer control programme has examined the introduction of a dedicated support pathway for patients diagnosed with brain tumours, including information resources, rehabilitation supports, family supports and signposting to relevant patient organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73960/26]

984. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether patients diagnosed with a brain tumour are routinely provided with a named healthcare professional or support contact to assist them with information, referrals and follow-up care; if not, whether consideration will be given to introducing such a service nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73959/26]

991. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the psychological, psycho-oncology and counselling supports available to individuals diagnosed with brain tumours and their families; the measures being taken to improve access to such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73957/26]

993. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the information and support currently provided to patients at the point of diagnosis of a brain tumour in acute hospitals; whether national guidance exists in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73956/26]

996. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing a standardised national information and support pack for all patients diagnosed with a brain tumour, which contains information on diagnosis, treatment pathways, counselling services, patient advocacy organisations, financial supports, rehabilitation services and family supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73…

1057. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement for lipoedema treatment under the cross border healthcare directive have been placed on hold, delayed or otherwise prevented from progressing pending clinical review or clinical advice; if so, the date on which this commenced; the reason for the decision; the number of applications affected; the anticipated timeframe for re…

1068. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether there has been any change since 29 August 2025 to the assessment, processing or reimbursement of applications relating to the treatment of lipoedema under the cross border healthcare directive; whether standard applications for treatment of the limbs under the Z01B code are now routinely being referred for clinical review; the date on which any such chan…

1072. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for reimbursement relating to lipoedema treatment under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive that are currently outstanding, broken down by month of receipt from October 2025 to date; the number currently awaiting administrative processing, clinical review or clinical advice respectively; the number processed and reimbursed during the…

1073. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive are processed strictly in chronological order according to their date of receipt; if not, the circumstances in which applications may be processed out of sequence; and the way in which applications for other procedures submitted in 2026 have been processed and reimbursed while som…

1076. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason any change to the processing, clinical review or eligibility requirements for lipoedema applications under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive was not communicated to patients in advance, having regard to the written commitment issued by the National Director of HSE National Services and Schemes on 29 August 2025 that advance notice and published gu…

1082. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the use of stem cell therapies for orthopaedic conditions, including knee injuries and degenerative joint conditions; the hospitals, clinics or healthcare facilities, whether public or private, that currently provide stem cell-based orthopaedic procedures; whether such treatments are available through the HSE or publicly funded hos…

1091. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if guidance exists regarding the provision of written discharge information to patients following hospital treatment or surgery; whether all patients are entitled to receive written discharge notes setting out their follow-up care, medication requirements and wound care instructions; and if she will outline the measures being taken to ensure that patients, parti…

697. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of retailers identified by the HSE as selling tobacco or nicotine inhaling products without a licence since the deadline of 2 August 2026 for existing retailers to apply; the enforcement action taken in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71428/26]

699. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received by the HSE for licences to sell nicotine inhaling products since the commencement of retail licensing on 2 February 2026; the number granted, refused and pending; and the number of licensed premises in each county; the breakdown for County Mayo and the town of Claremorris; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71426/…

704. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections carried out by the HSE of importers, distributors and manufacturers of nicotine inhaling products in each of the years 2022 to 2026 to date; the number found non-compliant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71442/26]

706. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of test purchase operations for nicotine inhaling products carried out by the HSE in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number and percentage that resulted in a sale to a person under 18 years, by county, including County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71438/26]