Parliamentary questions

1958. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the timeline for extending the National Genomic Test Directory, which was launched in January 2025 initially covering rare and inherited diseases, to include oncology testing, as recommended in the cancer dashboard for Ireland published by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics in January 2026; and if she will …

1959. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that according to the cancer dashboard for Ireland published by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics in January 2026, drawing on Cancer Trials Ireland data, only approximately 1.5% of cancer patients in Ireland were enrolled in interventional clinical trials in 2023, well below the National Cancer Strategy 2017-202…

1960. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that according to the cancer dashboard for Ireland published by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics in January 2026, drawing on National Doctors Training and Planning data, approvals for new consultant posts fell sharply from 305 in 2022 to 266 in 2023 and to 148 in 2024; what action is being taken to reverse this…

1961. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the steps being taken to address the €180 million estimated funding gap in the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 between 2017 and 2024, as identified by the Irish Cancer Society and referenced in the cancer dashboard for Ireland published by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics in Janua…

1962. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid out in compensation by the HSE in each year since 2015; and if a breakdown can be provided per CHO area or hospital group, in tabular form. [41970/26]

1963. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the total number of children on the spinal surgery waiting list in the State; the number who have been on the waiting list six months, 12 months, two years, five years and ten years, in tabular form. [41971/26]

1964. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of children on a waiting list for spinal surgery in the State; and if a breakdown can be provided on the number of children from each county. [41972/26]

1965. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health to outline the wait times for dermatology services in Naas general hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41980/26]

1966. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health to outline the wait times for dermatology services; when patients are triaged as urgent cases in Naas general hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41981/26]

1967. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the new Killarney Community Hospital is expected to open; when the new dementia beds are expected to open (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41983/26]

1968. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the approval process for skyclarys as a treatment for friedrich's ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41992/26]

1969. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on if delays in the approval of skyclarys as a treatment for friedrich's ataxia aligns with the "equitable access" as outlined in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41993/26]

1970. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the commercial proposal in relation to the approval process for skyclarys as a treatment for friedrich's ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41994/26]

1971. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a timeline for the approval of skyclarys as a treatment for friedrich's ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41995/26]

1972. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding meetings held between HSE or Department of Health officials with the manufacturers of skyclarys in relation to its' approval process for the treatment for friedrich's ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41996/26]

1973. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the treatment for friedrich's ataxia falls under an 'unmet need' as set out in the National Rare Diseases Strategy 2025-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41997/26]

1974. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health given the online gambling epidemic that we are currently experiencing in Ireland, to set out in detail the resources allocated within her Department on this policy area, in particular to set out the number of staff working in this policy area, in tabular form; the steps her Department has taken for policy initiatives to combat this growing ment…

1975. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the new initiatives her Department are taking to protect vulnerable people, especially young men, in view that the growing gambling epidemic is now a major national mental health challenge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42001/26]

1976. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the research her Department has undertaken into the rise of online gambling in rural areas and the associated mental health issues, especially amongst young adults; the policy initiatives planned to help deal with this growing crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42002/26]

1977. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE health regions that have a fully operational, fully staffed community neuro-rehabilitation team in place; the specific operational status of the team allocated to the HSE Dublin and north east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42026/26]

1978. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE Dublin and north east region lacks a fully functioning, population-based multidisciplinary team for neurological disabilities despite successive funding commitments in national strategies; the steps being taken to rectify this geographic inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42027/26]

1979. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to review the practice where individuals with complex neurological disabilities age out of statutory rehabilitation and disability systems at 65 years of age; the alternative specialized community neuro-care structures available to these individuals past this age bracket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42029/26]

1980. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the localised clinical governance framework in place to monitor the quality, accuracy, and manufacturing standards of specialized orthoses prescribed to community patients with complex neuro-disabilities; the specific person or role at local community level who is responsible for ensuring outsourced orthotics contracts operate within safe,…

1981. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the clinical framework used to oversee HSE home support services to ensure staff are trained to manage specialized neurological presentations, including behavioural, cognitive, and psychological deficits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42032/26]

1982. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the specific community and multi-disciplinary medical supports available to community-dwelling patients managing complex, associated epilepsy stemming from severe brain trauma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42033/26]