Questions

650. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place for the HSE to procure ADHD assessments from suitably qualified independent providers to reduce national waiting lists; the number of providers contracted for child and adult ADHD assessments; the ways providers can apply to participate; whether further panels or procurement competitions are planned; and the professional and multidi…

214. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify whether a GP practice may charge a medical card or doctor visit card holder a “New Patient Appointment Fee” (details supplied) when registering with the practice; whether such a fee is permissible under the GMS scheme where the appointment is solely for registration; if the HSE has issued guidance to GPs on such charges; and if the HSE is…

3371. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will review the case of a child (details supplied) who is eligible for the under 8 GP visit card scheme and has been accepted by a GP practice in Skerries, County Dublin, but remains unable to access the scheme due to administrative or contractual issues between the HSE and the GP practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56048/2…

480. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if an assessment has been carried out on the impact that the cost of the shingles vaccine has on older people in receipt of the State pension; if discussions have taken place with the Department of Health regarding supports for vulnerable pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54330/26]

487. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she acknowledges that the cost of the shingles vaccine, currently estimated at approximately €450–€600 for the full course, represents a significant financial burden for many older people, particularly those reliant on the State pension; the measures being considered to improve affordability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54325/26]

488. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if her Department has modelled a phased rollout of a publicly funded shingles vaccination programme, beginning with those aged 75 years and older or those most at risk of serious complications; if she will provide details of any such analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54326/26]

489. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she accepts that many pensioners are effectively being asked to spend the equivalent of up to two weeks of their State pension to access the recommended shingles vaccine; the measures that are being considered to reduce this financial burden; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54327/26]

544. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether she is aware that patients presenting to hospitals requiring urgent gynaecological ultrasound investigations are, in some cases, being discharged or referred elsewhere because ultrasound services are unavailable at weekends; the number of hospitals affected by this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54537/26]

545. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted a review of weekend diagnostic imaging services for gynaecology patients; if so, the findings of that review; and if she'll publish the review. [54538/26]

546. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether she will provide increased, ring-fenced investment for women’s healthcare in budget 2027 to address longstanding gaps in the provision of services across the health system, including preventative care, diagnostics, gynaecology, reproductive health, menopause care, chronic pain services, and community-based supports; the level of additional funding be…

556. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts across her Department, in Ireland and abroad; if these individuals can apply to internal civil service competitions for these temporary contracts; the plans being developed to retain these individuals once their contracts cease, given they will have extensive a…

926. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether the inclusion of porters in the HSE Nursing and Midwifery Sponsorship Programme in 2025 was intended as a once-off or pilot initiative; whether porters are eligible to apply for the 2026 intake of the programme; if not, the reason for their exclusion; whether consideration is being given to reopening the programme to porters in future years, particul…

880. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels for diabetes services in the Dublin Fingal West area; the extent of staffing shortages across the multidisciplinary diabetes team, including consultant, nursing, dietetic and podiatry posts; the impact these vacancies are having on patient access to care and waiting times; if additional funding has been allocated to address these …

2272. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to an urgent symptomatic breast disease clinic attended within ten days, between 11-20 days, 21 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43519/26]

2273. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to a lung rapid access clinic attended within ten days, between 11-20 days, 21 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43520/26]

2274. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of people referred to a prostate rapid access clinic attended within 20 days, between 21-25 days, 25 days or longer by hospital for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43521/26]

1005. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE general dental surgeons based at Balbriggan Primary Care Centre as of 8 May 2026; If she will provide the same figures as of 1 June 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36610/26]

1006. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric physiotherapist posts filled at Skerries Health Centre as of 8 May 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36611/26]

1007. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE social worker posts filled at Rush Health Centre as of 8 May 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36612/26]

536. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the pathway available for access to the medication Miglustat for a child diagnosed with Juvenile Batten Disease (CLN3), where the medication is already approved and reimbursed in Ireland for other rare conditions, including Gaucher Disease and Niemann-Pick Type C; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35902/26]

537. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has considered the use of compassionate access, exceptional reimbursement mechanisms, or off-label prescribing supports in cases involving ultra-rare conditions such as Juvenile Batten Disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35903/26]

538. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will review the case for access to Miglustat for children diagnosed with Juvenile Batten Disease, particularly where there is significant unmet clinical need and no alternative treatment currently available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35904/26]

1175. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of ongoing concerns regarding overcrowding and inadequate postnatal facilities in a hospital (details supplied); the measures being taken to improve conditions for mothers and newborn babies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32950/26]

1176. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the impact that overcrowded postnatal wards and sleep deprivation may have on the recovery and wellbeing of new mothers in maternity hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32951/26]

1177. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to increase postnatal capacity and improve accommodation standards for mothers in maternity hospitals nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32952/26]