Questions

1047. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement for lipoedema treatment under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive have been placed on hold, delayed or otherwise prevented from progressing pending clinical review or clinical advice; if so, the date on which this commenced; the reason for the decision; the number of applications affected; and the anticipated timefra…

1048. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health whether there has been any change since 29 August 2025 to the assessment, processing or reimbursement of applications relating to the treatment of lipoedema under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive; whether standard applications for treatment of the limbs under the Z01B code are now routinely being referred for clinical review; the date on which any such…

1051. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive are processed strictly in chronological order according to their date of receipt; if not, the circumstances in which applications may be processed out of sequence; and to explain how applications for other procedures submitted in 2026 have been processed and reimbursed while …

1054. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for reimbursement relating to lipoedema treatment under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive that are currently outstanding, broken down by month of receipt from October 2025 to date; the number currently awaiting administrative processing, clinical review or clinical advice respectively; the number processed and reimbursed durin…

1057. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement for lipoedema treatment under the cross border healthcare directive have been placed on hold, delayed or otherwise prevented from progressing pending clinical review or clinical advice; if so, the date on which this commenced; the reason for the decision; the number of applications affected; the anticipated timeframe for re…

1068. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether there has been any change since 29 August 2025 to the assessment, processing or reimbursement of applications relating to the treatment of lipoedema under the cross border healthcare directive; whether standard applications for treatment of the limbs under the Z01B code are now routinely being referred for clinical review; the date on which any such chan…

1072. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for reimbursement relating to lipoedema treatment under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive that are currently outstanding, broken down by month of receipt from October 2025 to date; the number currently awaiting administrative processing, clinical review or clinical advice respectively; the number processed and reimbursed during the…

1073. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive are processed strictly in chronological order according to their date of receipt; if not, the circumstances in which applications may be processed out of sequence; and the way in which applications for other procedures submitted in 2026 have been processed and reimbursed while som…

1076. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason any change to the processing, clinical review or eligibility requirements for lipoedema applications under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive was not communicated to patients in advance, having regard to the written commitment issued by the National Director of HSE National Services and Schemes on 29 August 2025 that advance notice and published gu…

1091. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if guidance exists regarding the provision of written discharge information to patients following hospital treatment or surgery; whether all patients are entitled to receive written discharge notes setting out their follow-up care, medication requirements and wound care instructions; and if she will outline the measures being taken to ensure that patients, parti…

173. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have presented at accident and emergency departments since 2021 for suspected spiking; the current care pathways for victims within the healthcare system; and the testing currently available; and if this will be updated. [72985/26]

694. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the backlog of lipoedema applications under the Cross Border Directive scheme. [71385/26]

695. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the current status of the National Framework for Interstitial Lung Diagnosis and Care in Ireland, submitted to the Chief Clinical Officer in June 2026; when it is expected to be approved and published; and the proposed timeline for implementation of its recommendations. [71384/26]

841. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if applications for reimbursement under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive are processed in chronological order by date of receipt; if not, the circumstances in which applications are processed out of sequence; the number of applications for procedures other than lipoedema treatment received in 2026 that have been reimbursed while lipoedema applications receive…

570. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 60035/26, when the 16 listed conditions under the LTI scheme were last reviewed; to explain the criteria used to determine which conditions qualify for inclusion; if hepatitis B has ever been formally considered; and if the list of 16 conditions will ever be reviewed again. [69897/26]

596. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether a review has been undertaken of the needs of persons living with ultra-rare genetic disorders, including okur-chung syndrome; the measures in place to ensure timely access to diagnosis, specialist care, therapies and emerging treatments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70102/26]

597. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE maintains records on the prevalence of Okur-Chung syndrome in Ireland; if so, the number of diagnosed cases; and if not, whether consideration will be given to capturing such data as part of rare disease service planning. [70103/26]

601. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the DOMINO midwife-led continuity of care scheme at Cork University Maternity Hospital has been suspended, following reports on 29 September 2026 that women were informed at routine antenatal appointments that the service would no longer be available to them for the remainder of their pregnancies; the reason for this decision; the number of women current…

603. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the suspension of the DOMINO scheme at Cork University Maternity Hospital is consistent with the supported care pathway under the National Maternity Strategy 2016–2026; and whether the successor to that strategy will commit to protecting and expanding midwife-led continuity of care schemes. [70140/26]

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]

620. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken on reports that the DOMINO midwife-led maternity service at Cork University Maternity Hospital has been significantly curtailed due to staffing shortages and restrictions on the recruitment of nursing and midwifery staff; the number of nursing and midwifery vacancies currently existing at the hospital; the steps being taken by her Dep…

674. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if she will outline if a policy document (details supplied) will be considered as part of the current decision making process of the Mid-West Health Planning Board. [70529/26]

678. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department is considering measures aimed at reducing the financial burden on coeliac sufferers who must abide by a gluten free diet. [70572/26]

695. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to protect and expand midwife led continuity of care services, including the Domino scheme and home birth service at Cork University Maternity Hospital, in line with the National Maternity Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70595/26]

713. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 65824/26, if the HSE operates a written protocol or policy on succession or continuity planning for established clinical services on the retirement of a Consultant; if so, if she will publish same; if not, if she will direct that one be developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70651/26]