Questions

851. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the way in which inherited capital is assessed for medical card purposes in the case of an adult with a lifelong disability; if the HSE has discretion to retain a medical card where loss of eligibility would cause undue hardship given the person's ongoing medical needs; the number of such discretionary cards granted in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the…

852. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to granting medical card eligibility to persons with a lifelong disability on the basis of medical need rather than means; the number of persons with a lifelong disability who lost a medical card in each of the years 2020 to 2025 following the assessment of inherited capital, if this data is recorded; if not, the reason; and if she …

853. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons aged 70 and over who lost eligibility for a full medical card on review in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of these cases where an increase in social welfare or occupational pension income was the reason for loss of eligibility; the number estimated to lose eligibility in 2027 following the pension increases ann…

854. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason the gross weekly income limits for the over 70s medical card, which have remained at €550 for a single person and €1,050 for a couple since 1 November 2020, were not increased in budget 2027; the estimated cost of increasing the limits in line with the cumulative increase in the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory) since 2020; and if she wil…

855. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent speech and language therapist posts approved, filled and vacant in primary care in HSE south-west as of the latest date for which figures are available, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72298/26]

856. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether it is HSE policy to return children to a speech and language therapy waiting list following a single block of intervention where ongoing need has been identified at review; the average wait for a second block of therapy in the Cork North Lee primary care area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72297/26]

857. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting speech and language therapy in HSE south-west, broken down by those awaiting initial assessment, initial therapy and further therapy, and by waiting time bands of 0 to 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12, 12 to 24 and over 24 months, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72296/26]

874. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented for treatment with gambling as their main problem in each of the years 2021 to 2025, by HSE region; the average waiting time for gambling addiction treatment in the HSE south-west area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72371/26]

876. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 70766 of 2026, if she will confirm whether the home support authorisation scheme contains any requirement for approved providers to reimburse workers for mileage, as distinct from travel time; if so, the minimum rate per kilometre specified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72411/26]

877. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted or commissioned any review of the mileage rates paid by approved home support providers to staff using their own vehicles since 2023; the findings of any such review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72414/26]

878. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the core hourly rate of €32.73 paid to approved home support providers applies uniformly in all areas, including Cork north central; whether any change to that rate has taken effect in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72417/26]

881. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE monitors or collects data on the hourly pay received by frontline home support workers employed by approved providers; if the HSE has set minimum expectation for the share of the €32.73 hourly rate that goes to worker pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72419/26]

577. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 41214/26, to list each HSE internal audit report relating to the treatment abroad scheme or the Cross-Border Directive scheme issued since 1 January 2020, setting out in each case the title, date of issue, assurance rating, number of recommendations made and number of recommendations fully implemented to date. [69986/26]

619. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reasons the DOMINO midwife-led service at Cork University Maternity Hospital is being suspended from October to December 2026; who took the decision; the date the decision was taken; if the suspension is linked to midwifery vacancies or the absence of HSE approval to fill posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70278/26]

621. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to list each public hospital or facility currently providing mole mapping, total body photography or dermatoscopic surveillance for patients with a previous melanoma diagnosis; the current waiting time at each; whether patients from the Cork and Kerry region may be referred to each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70291/26]

622. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the waiting list for the mole mapping service at Cork University Hospital when it ceased; the length of time each had been waiting; the date on which letters issued to their referring GPs, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70289/26]

623. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the name and location of the specialist service to which Cork University Hospital melanoma surveillance patients have been transferred; whether those patients will continue to receive surveillance at the same frequency and with the same dermatoscopic or total body photography assessment as before; the date of their next scheduled review; and if she will make a sta…

624. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 65821/26, 65822/26 and 65823/26, the number of patients enrolled in the mole mapping and melanoma surveillance service at Cork University Hospital on the date the service ceased; the number transferred to specialist follow up; the number discharged to their GP; the clinical criteria applied in deciding which patients were tra…

625. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of midwifery posts currently vacant at Cork University Maternity Hospital; the number of those posts awaiting HSE approval to fill; the number of DOMINO midwives being redeployed and the areas to which they are being redeployed; if her Department will guarantee the full resumption of the DOMINO service in January 2027; the current status of the home bir…

635. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 39785/26, if she will provide the number of agency staff converted to permanent employment under the July 2025 framework, by staff grade, for the HSE South West, Mid West, West and North West, and Dublin and Midlands regions; the total number converted nationally; and the proportion of conversions in administrative and clerica…

636. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the supports available to former Cork University Hospital melanoma surveillance patients who were not transferred to specialist follow up and who cannot afford private mole screening; whether the HSE will fund private surveillance for such patients pending restoration of a public service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70295/26]

637. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of approved consultant dermatologist posts at Cork University Hospital; the number currently vacant; the current waiting list and longest wait for a dermatology outpatient appointment at the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70293/26]

638. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the consultant who provided the mole mapping service at Cork University Hospital retired; the date on which the HSE was notified of the retirement; whether a replacement post has been approved, advertised or filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70292/26]

639. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the postnatal and continuity of care arrangements being put in place for women displaced from the DOMINO service at Cork University Maternity Hospital; the current staffing and capacity of the Early Transfer Home Team; whether that team will provide an equivalent level of care and home visits to the DOMINO service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

640. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a clinical risk assessment or patient impact assessment was carried out before the decision to suspend the DOMINO service at Cork University Maternity Hospital, specifically in respect of women already booked onto the service and due to give birth during the suspension period; if so, whether the assessment will be published; if not, the reason; and if she …