645. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal Departmental policy documents, circulars, or guidance notes exist concerning the incorporation of long-term prevention outcomes in medicines reimbursement decisions under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; and whether she will arrange for any such documents to be published. [13789/26]
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
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Showing questions asked by Ken O'Flynn .
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646. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives annual or quarterly statistical reports from the Health Service Executive on discretionary medical card approvals and refusals granted under the General Medical Services scheme in respect of persons aged over 70; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13798/26]
647. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the data provided to her Department by the Health Service Executive on discretionary medical card decisions is disaggregated by age cohort, geographic region, and outcome; and if she will outline the categories of data routinely received. [13799/26]
648. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards granted to persons aged over 70 following a means assessment in each of the years 2020 to 2025, inclusive; and the number of applications in that age cohort refused following discretionary assessment in each year. [13800/26]
649. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any review, audit, or policy assessment since 2020 of trends in the exercise of discretion in medical card eligibility decisions affecting persons aged over 70; and if she will provide details of any such review. [13801/26]
650. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national guidance or policy directives are issued by her Department to ensure consistency in the exercise of discretion under the medical card scheme; and if she will outline the governance arrangements in place to monitor consistency and equity of outcomes for older persons. [13802/26]
651. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the financial impact on older persons who are refused discretionary medical card eligibility but granted a GP Visit Card; and if she will outline any policy considerations arising from such assessment. [13803/26]
653. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of whole-time equivalent GPs practising in the State in each year from 2020 to 2025; the estimated population per GP ratio in each year; and whether demographic change, including inward migration, is factored into primary care workforce planning models. [13869/26]
654. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total amount of funding allocated in 2025 and to date in 2026 to commission external private providers under Service Level Agreements or Grant Aid Agreements for the provision of primary care level child and adolescent psychological interventions in HSE South West; and the breakdown of that funding by provider and agreement type. [13870/26]
655. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescents referred to external commissioned providers under Service Level Agreements or Grant Aid Agreements in HSE South West in 2025 and to date in 2026; the average cost per intervention episode; and the average number of sessions delivered per child. [13871/26]
656. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the impact of the commissioning of external psychological service providers in HSE South West on primary care child psychology waiting lists; the reduction achieved in average waiting time in months; and the performance metrics used by the HSE to evaluate value for money and clinical outcomes under these agreements. [13872/26]
657. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether it is Government policy to continue the commissioning of external private providers for primary care level child and adolescent psychological interventions beyond 2025; and how this commissioning model aligns with national workforce planning for publicly employed psychologists. [13873/26]
658. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether all Service Level Agreements and Grant Aid Agreements entered into in 2025 in HSE South West for the provision of primary care child psychology services are subject to formal clinical audit; and if so, the dates of audits conducted and whether any compliance or performance issues were identified. [13874/26]
659. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives, holds, or reviews aggregated data from the Health Service Executive or the Primary Care Reimbursement Service on the exercise of discretion in medical card eligibility decisions following a means assessment; the total number of applications in which discretion was considered in each of the years 2020 to 2025; the number granted on …
660. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal reporting framework exists between the Health Service Executive and her Department in respect of discretionary medical card decisions; the frequency of any such reporting; whether performance indicators, audit reviews, or internal compliance checks are conducted in relation to discretionary refusals; and if she will outline the Department’s role…
1114. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if as of 1 January 2026, the HSE has identified any binding constraints on laboratory surge testing capacity in the event of a declared public health emergency; and if so, to specify each constraint by category (staffing, reagents, equipment, logistics). [12077/26]
1115. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the maximum daily PCR and sequencing surge capacity currently available within the public health laboratory system; the peak surge capacity achieved during Covid-19; and the variance between the two. [12078/26]
1116. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any tabletop exercises, stress tests, or simulations of laboratory surge capacity have been conducted since 2022; to provide the dates; and to summarise the findings. [12079/26]
1117. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific actions, funding approvals, or implementation milestones have been approved by her Department arising from the ESG report published in October 2024. [12080/26]
1121. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 874 of 9 December 2026, the governance and data-collection arrangements in place to monitor the impact of the public only consultant contract since its introduction in March 2023 (details supplied). [12102/26]
1138. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has carried out any clinical risk assessment of patients with disabilities, cognitive impairment, or home-care dependency who rely on pharmacist-prepared monitored dosage systems to safely self-administer prescribed medicines; if so, the date of such assessment; the persons that conducted it; and if she will publish the findings.…
1139. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any equality or disability impact assessment has been undertaken in respect of the exclusion of pharmacist-prepared monitored dosage systems from State funding under the long-term illness scheme, having regard to obligations to provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities; and if not, when such an assessment will be initiated. [12153/26]
1140. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical or professional guidance her Department relies upon when stating that monitored dosage systems should be used only as a last resort; the source of that guidance; whether it has been formally adopted in Ireland; and if she will confirm whether any Irish clinical standard governs access to medication compliance supports for vulnerable patients living i…
1141. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the examination currently being undertaken by her Department into the use of monitored dosage systems will conclude; whether it will consider funding options where such systems are clinically indicated; and if she will commit to publishing a clear policy position with defined eligibility criteria and timelines. [12155/26]
1142. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that requiring patients with disabilities to privately fund essential medication compliance supports may undermine safe administration of prescribed medicines in home-care settings; and if she will outline the alternative State-funded supports are available to such patients where phased dispensing is clinically inappropriate. [12156/26]