Questions

117. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the model that the Sláintecare programme board will operate on following the appointment of a new HSE CEO and a new Secretary General at her Department; the reason her Sláintecare implementation plan for 2025-plus does not have year-to-year measurable actions for 2026 onwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28518/26]

140. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the finalisation of the National Hearing Care Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28206/26]

194. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development and implementation of the updated National Breastfeeding Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27965/26]

196. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details with respect to a review by HIQA into new studies related to the potential secondary benefits of shingles vaccination (details supplied); the status of this work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28363/26]

222. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason the Model of Care for Women with Endometriosis has not yet been fully implemented nationwide; the funding and staffing commitments her Department will make in 2026 to ensure equitable access to advanced endometriosis services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28224/26]

757. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average cost per individual procedure funded under the treatment abroad scheme in respect of gender affirmation surgeries in each year from 2020 to 2025; the methodology used to calculate or monitor such costs; and the financial control or value-for-money mechanisms in place to assess these expenditures. [28044/26]

758. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal or external audits have been conducted on the funding of gender affirmation surgeries under the treatment abroad scheme since 2020; if so, to provide details of the findings, dates, and recommendations; and if not, the reason no such audit has been undertaken. [28045/26]

759. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical outcome measures, follow-up requirements, or post-operative monitoring arrangements are in place for patients who undergo gender affirmation surgery funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and how such outcomes are recorded and evaluated at a national level. [28046/26]

760. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason the treatment abroad scheme does not record or maintain data on the type of procedures funded under gender affirmation surgery referrals; whether there are plans to introduce such data collection; and the timeframe for implementation. [28047/26]

761. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific clinical and administrative criteria applied when approving applications under the treatment abroad scheme for gender affirmation surgery; whether any refusal thresholds or review mechanisms exist; and the role of multidisciplinary teams in this process. [28048/26]

788. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national clinical guidelines or standardised protocols are in place governing follow-up care for patients returning to the State after receiving procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, whether such guidelines will be developed. [28105/26]

791. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to clarify the apparent discrepancy whereby expenditure was recorded under the treatment abroad scheme for paediatric gender services in 2024 despite no referrals being recorded in that year; and to outline the accounting and reporting methodology used to link expenditure to individual patient referral years. [28108/26]

792. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme records total cost per patient episode, including multi-year treatment costs; and if she will provide the average and total cost per minor referred for gender-related treatment abroad since 2020. [28109/26]

793. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether clinical outcomes, complications, or follow-up care requirements are recorded for minors referred abroad for gender-related treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, the mechanisms used to monitor and evaluate these outcomes. [28110/26]

794. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the arrangements are in place within the HSE to provide ongoing clinical care, including psychological and medical follow-up, to minors who have received gender-related treatment abroad under the treatment abroad scheme. [28111/26]

795. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy basis upon which referrals of minors for gender-related treatment abroad continue to be authorised in light of changes to paediatric gender services in the United Kingdom following the Cass Review; and whether any review of Irish referral practices has been undertaken. [28112/26]

796. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal review, audit, or risk assessment has been conducted in relation to the referral of minors abroad for gender-related treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, to provide details of the findings and dates of such reviews. [28113/26]

797. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to identify the public healthcare providers abroad to which minors from Ireland have been referred for gender-related services under the treatment abroad scheme since 2020. [28114/26]

798. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance or oversight arrangements are in place between the HSE and foreign healthcare providers in respect of treatment delivered to minors under the treatment abroad scheme. [28115/26]

799. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal expenditure ceiling, cap, or upper limit applies to funding approvals under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the value of such limits; and if no such ceiling exists, the rationale for the absence of expenditure controls in a publicly funded scheme. [28118/26]

800. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether there is a maximum cost threshold per patient under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the level at which additional approvals are required; and the approval process triggered when such thresholds are exceeded. [28119/26]

801. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the approval hierarchy in place for treatment abroad scheme funding decisions, including the grade or role of officials authorised to approve standard applications and high-cost or complex cases; and whether Ministerial or Departmental sanction is required above specified thresholds. [28120/26]

802. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal written policy, circular, or governance framework governs approvals under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, to provide the title and date of such policy; and if not, the basis upon which consistent decision-making is ensured. [28121/26]

803. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether value-for-money or cost-effectiveness assessments are conducted in respect of treatments funded under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the methodology used; and if not, the reason no such assessments are required. [28122/26]

804. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of internal audits, external audits, or Comptroller and Auditor General reviews conducted in respect of the treatment abroad scheme since 2020; the dates of such audits; and whether any findings or recommendations were made regarding expenditure controls or governance. [28123/26]