Questions

960. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if her Department plans to review the operation of private health insurers in relation to coverage for medically indicated liposuction procedures for lipoedema patients, in view of concerns regarding inconsistent decision-making, the use of criteria designed for lymphoedema rather than lipoedema and practices that may result in patients being forced to rely on t…

963. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action her Department is taking in view of the barriers currently faced by patients in Ireland living with lipoedema (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22057/26]

964. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE working group established in 2023 to develop a national care pathway for lipoedema has completed its work; when the pathway is expected to be published; whether patient advocacy organisations (details supplied) will be included in the development and implementation of this pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22058/26]

965. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department has engaged with private health insurers to review the operation of the coverage for medically indicated liposuction procedures for lipoedema patients (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22059/26]

977. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the barriers currently faced by patients in Ireland living with lipoedema, including the absence of a published national HSE care pathway, limited access to conservative management such as compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage, and delays or difficulties accessing treatment through the cross-Border healthcare directive; the steps her D…

978. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE working group established in 2023 to develop a national care pathway for lipoedema has completed its work; when the pathway is expected to be published; and whether patient advocacy organisations, including an organisation (details supplied) will be included in the development and implementation of this pathway. [22198/26]

979. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if her Department intends to review the operation of private health insurers in relation to coverage for medically indicated liposuction procedures for lipoedema patients, in light of concerns regarding inconsistent decision-making, the use of criteria designed for lymphoedema rather than lipoedema, and practices that may result in patients being forced to rely on t…

980. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the barriers currently faced by patients in Ireland living with lipoedema, including the absence of a published national HSE care pathway, limited access to conservative management such as compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage, and delays or difficulties accessing treatment through the cross-Border healthcare directi…

981. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE working group established in 2023 to develop a national care pathway for lipoedema has completed its work; when the pathway is expected to be published; whether patient advocacy organisations (details supplied) will be included in the development and implementation of this pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22221/26]

982. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if her Department intends to review the operation of private health insurers in relation to coverage for medically indicated liposuction procedures for lipoedema patients, in light of concerns regarding inconsistent decision-making, the use of criteria designed for lymphoedema rather than lipoedema, and practices that may result in patients being forced to rely o…

985. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to adding asthma to the long-term illness scheme for those who require the use of preventive inhalers; if there is a plan to review the list of illnesses on the long term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22235/26]

1034. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to address the barriers currently faced by patients in Ireland living with lipoedema, including the absence of a published national HSE care pathway, limited access to conservative management such as compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage; the difficulties in accessing treatment through the Cross-Border Healthcare Di…

1035. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if the HSE working group established in 2023 to develop a national care pathway for lipoedema has completed its work; when this care pathway is expected to be published, if she will confirm whether patient advocacy organisations (details supplied) will be included in both the development and implementation of the pathway; and if she will make a statement on the …

425. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the membership of the expert advisory group established by HIQA to inform an update of the national low-risk alcohol guidelines by her Department; its terms of reference; how often it has met; and when it is due to provide her with recommendations. [20982/26]

508. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department considers it satisfactory from a governance and accountability perspective that the HSE DIME Work Practice Plan system records only planned consultant schedules rather than actual attendance or hours worked; whether any policy direction has been issued to introduce a time-and-attendance or equivalent verification system for consultant workin…

1924. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if she will add PMDD to the newly launched HSE Education Programme for Endometriosis given that they affect the same cohort of women and girls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19533/26]

1930. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health given her decision to alter the policy of co-location in respect of the Rotunda hospital, if she will clarify her Department's position is in respect of the co-location of University Maternity Hospital Limerick with University Hospital Limerick; the position regarding the co-location, including an indicative timeline of each stage of the process; and if she wil…

1998. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health to consider including stiff person syndrome on the long term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19903/26]

2028. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the work of the Implementation Oversight Group established under the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030, including its current priorities and expected timelines for publishing the full implementation plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20001/26]

2077. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive maintains any national system for monitoring clinical outcomes, complications, or long-term follow-up in respect of children and adolescents from Ireland who receive gender-related medical treatment abroad under the treatment abroad scheme or any related referral pathway; if so, the governance arrangements fo…

2220. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if she would consider introducing mechanisms to measure gross national happiness, and how national wellbeing can be assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20807/26]

2233. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if an impact study has been carried out on the effects that wind turbines have on vulnerable groups including children with neurodiversity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21008/26]

9. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any analysis or action plan currently being considered in terms of additional healthcare capacity in the midlands, in particular elective care capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17322/26]

14. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the strategies in place to tackle the high levels of osteoporosis and fracture falls in Ireland. [17293/26]

15. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of women who have applied for and who have travelled abroad under the endometriosis surgery abroad interim scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17509/26]