Questions

460. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to ensure urgent access to the medication welireg (belzutifan) (details supplied); whether compassionate or exceptional access mechanisms are available while national reimbursement processes are ongoing; the safeguards currently in place to protect such patients from avoidable permanent harm during administrative delays; and if…

1113. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the level of funding provided by her Department and the HSE to Central Remedial Clinic services in each of the past five years and to date in 2026; the way in which this funding is allocated across clinical services and administrative costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6356/26]

550. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the marketing, packaging and prominent retail display of vapes and snuff products are designed to attract children and young people; if she will introduce legislation requiring these products to be kept out of sight in retail outlets, similar to tobacco products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5396/26]

961. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the basis on which children are scheduled for speech and language therapy assessments in CHO 9, including whether referrals are processed strictly in order of date received or subject to clinical and-or age-based prioritisation; the criteria used in such prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3938/26]

840. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on the fact that approximately 9,000 women are currently waiting up to 10 weeks or longer for a follow-up appointment after being referred by their GP for suspected breast cancer; the reason such delays are occurring; the clinical risk posed by these waiting times; the actions she is taking to ensure that urgent breast care referrals are assessed w…

841. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the clinical consequences identified by her Department and the HSE regarding prolonged delays in breast cancer follow-up appointments; the number of cases that have breached the recommended urgent referral timeframe; the measures which are being implemented to safeguard early detection and timely diagnosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69…

842. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the status of out-of-date, old or non-compliant diagnostic equipment in breast cancer assessment units; the number of machines requiring replacement or upgrade; the timeline for bringing all breast units in line with modern clinical standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69043/25]

843. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health when funding will be formally allocated to replace outdated breast diagnostic equipment; the reason for the delay in confirming this funding; and whether the 2026 capital plan includes specific ring-fenced investment for breast cancer services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69044/25]

844. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the recruitment, staffing, and capacity challenges contributing to delays in breast cancer follow-up appointments; the number of vacant consultant, radiographer, and breast care nurse posts nationally; the plan to address these gaps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69045/25]

845. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the way in which current waiting times for breast cancer follow-up appointments align with the targets set out in the National Cancer Strategy; the accountability measures which exist for persistent breaches of these targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69046/25]

846. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the immediate actions, such as extended clinic hours, outsourcing of scans, or temporary capacity expansion, which are being considered to reduce the backlog of 9,000 women awaiting follow-up appointments; the projected timeline for clearing this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69047/25]

519. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the results/rollout of ongoing the PRAISE-U (PRostate Cancer Awareness and Initiative for Screening in the European Union) study; if there will be any efforts to bring in a free prostate cancer screening service similar to the existing BreastCheck and CervicalCheck programmes for breast and cervical cancers following the results of thi…

484. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of any plans for the establishment of rapid access diagnostic clinics for pancreatic cancer, similar to those for lung, breast, and prostate cancer; if she is aware of how transformative these clinics have been for the aforementioned cancer diagnoses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66763/25]

486. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she plans to roll out a national awareness campaign for pancreatic cancer; if such a campaign would provide material for both medically trained and non-medically trained (patients, family, friends, carers) individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66766/25]

489. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the extended waiting list time for an appointment for a person (details supplied); if there are any updates available for this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66773/25]

324. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if her Department holds up-to-date figures on the number of people living with dementia in each county; if so, to provide the most recent breakdown; and if not, to state whether a national dementia register exists or is planned, and the timeline for its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66559/25]

587. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health given the increasing number of older people presenting with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, if it is mandatory for all hospital staff , including those working in emergency departments, to receive dementia-specific training; the HSE or hospital protocols for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s who present with delirium and are left sitting on a chair in…

338. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health given the long waiting times for publicly funded speech and language therapy, what supports or funding are available for families to access private therapy when a child has been diagnosed as needing said therapy but may wait up to two years for public services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64080/25]

366. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason the special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers affected by long-Covid is due to end on 31 December without a suitable replacement; if she acknowledges that directing workers who are on phased or part-time return-to-work programmes into the standard sick leave scheme will require them to go fully out sick in order to receive income, despi…

1976. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has not yet been implemented in the national newborn heelprick screening programme, despite the decision announced in November 2023 to include SMA in that programme; if she will confirm the timeline for its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59477/25]

720. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will support a Fingal-based community group providing free first aid, CPR, and defibrillator training (details supplied). [56533/25]

380. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of defibrillators currently located in public buildings (details supplied), by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56318/25]

381. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the absence of a comprehensive, up-to-date, public register of automated external defibrillators (AED); if she has plans to develop or support the creation of a national AED register and mapping system, accessible to the public and emergency services, to enable faster emergency response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

382. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to Fingal County Council to fund an initiative (details supplied) to support the provision of first responder training for members of the public and community organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56320/25]

339. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to making certain medications for the treatment of cystitis and urinary tract infections available without prescription, in recognition of the impact of recurrent infections on women’s health and in order to ease the current pressure on GP services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54420/25]