Questions

2159. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of a persistent and worsening issues affecting nursing home residents in rural communities across east Galway, north Galway, and south Mayo, whereby timely access to GP assessment and intervention is often unavailable, leading to unnecessary transfers to emergency departments and acute hospitals. [43018/26]

213. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to reports that an organisation (details supplied) may be forced to cease operations due to funding difficulties; if her Department or the HSE are currently engaged with the organisation regarding funding or service continuity; the assessments made of the potential impact on access to low-cost counselling and gambling addiction sup…

214. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to support the long-term sustainability of community-based and low-cost mental health counselling services, including gambling addiction services; if additional funding supports are under consideration in light of reported financial pressures facing organisations in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40400/26]

380. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is continuing to incur rental costs for portacabins located at Galway Airport that were put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic; if so, to provide a breakdown of all expenditure associated with these units, including rent, maintenance and any related costs, for each of the past six years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matte…

1182. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the supports currently in place, aside from available tax reliefs, to assist individuals diagnosed with coeliac disease in managing the additional healthcare and dietary costs associated with the condition; whether consideration is being given to further supports, including eligibility for a GP visit card or medical card, for those living with coeliac disease; a…

767. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number and names of hospitals and healthcare facilities within the public health system that are currently using SMS messaging services for outpatient appointment reminders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36436/26]

768. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the systems or service providers used by each hospital or healthcare facility for the provision of SMS appointment reminders, including the name of the provider; whether the system is centrally procured or locally arranged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36437/26]

769. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether the SMS reminder systems in use across hospitals are configured as one-way reminder services or include two-way communication functionality allowing patients to confirm, cancel or reschedule appointments; to provide a breakdown by hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36438/26]

770. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the cost per SMS message incurred by each hospital or healthcare facility based on the provider or system in use; the total expenditure on SMS appointment reminders in the most recent twelve-month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36439/26]

771. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient appointment reminder SMS messages issued by each hospital or healthcare facility in the past three months; to provide this information on a per-hospital basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36440/26]

772. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which SMS reminder systems are actively utilised across hospitals, including a comparison of usage levels between sites; whether any hospitals with access to such systems are not making full use of them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36441/26]

838. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that current reimbursement timelines for orphan medicines align with the commitments on timely and equitable access set out in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030; the measures that are being taken to address delays in cases where EMA-approved treatments, including those for Friedreich’s ataxia, remain unavailable to patients in …

276. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons in Galway east who have been assessed and approved for home support hours but remain on waiting lists and are not receiving their approved supports due to staffing shortages; the average and longest waiting times involved; and the actions being taken to ensure approved care packages are delivered without delay. [31113/26]

1271. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the current status of the health and support services committed to on 10 November 2025 for the four Magdalene survivors who undertook a hunger strike; whether all of the agreed services have now been put in place; if not, the elements which remain outstanding; the reasons for any delay; and when she expects the full package of supports to be delivered. [30884/26…

1272. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to provide a clear timeline for the introduction and delivery of the new health card promised to Magdalene survivors; the specific healthcare services and entitlements to be attached to the card; when survivors can expect to receive it; and the steps being taken to ensure that delays do not continue to impact access to necessary healthcare supports. [30885/26]

2821. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to provide the direct web link to the Health Service Executive's published purchase order data reports; the most recent quarter for which such data has been published; the date on which that report was published; and to outline the expected publication schedule for future reports. [24408/26]

2822. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to clarify where responses provided by the Health Service Executive to Parliamentary Questions, including replies issued directly to Deputies following referral from her Department, are published or made publicly accessible; and if such responses are not centrally available, whether consideration will be given to establishing a publicly accessible repository of …

3052. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she will review the dental treatment services scheme given reports that the fees paid under the scheme often do not cover the cost of providing treatment, leading to dentists withdrawing from the scheme and reducing access for medical card patients; and if she will outline any planned reforms. [25545/26]

3053. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the measures she is taking to ensure continued access to dental care for medical card holders in light of the increasing number of dentists leaving the dental treatment services scheme due to financial unsustainability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25546/26]

3054. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the rising operational costs faced by general dental practices, estimated at approximately €170 per hour before income is earned; if she will consider supports similar to those available to GPs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25547/26]

3070. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the measures the HSE has in place to audit the substantial funding provided to section 38 and section 39 organisations; the processes used to ensure that such funding is allocated equitably in line with individual service plans; the oversight and governance systems in place to verify that public monies are being used appropriately; the mechanisms by which the HS…

3330. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to provide the web link to her Department’s Q1 2026 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; to confirm the date on which this report was published; and, if it has not yet been published, to state the planned publication date. [26911/26]

473. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number of schools currently registered under the Medicines for Listed Organisations framework to hold emergency medicines such as adrenaline auto-injectors for the treatment of severe allergic reactions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23373/26]

474. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed any barriers faced by schools in registering under the Medicines for Listed Organisations framework in order to hold emergency medicines such as adrenaline auto-injectors [23374/26]

475. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the availability of training for school staff to administer emergency medicines, including adrenaline auto-injectors, in the event of severe allergic reactions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23375/26]