Parliamentary questions

522. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health whether, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including local drug and alcohol task forces, will be pooled at HSE health region level; the safeguards that will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation; and if …

523. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to provide the actual live birth outcomes for the State-funded IVF scheme to date; the number of women who commenced a treatment cycle; the number of live births resulting from those cycles; the average cost to the State per live birth achieved; and to outline why only estimated clinical pregnancy rates per embryo transfer, rather than verifi…

524. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) as a treatment for infertility; and whether consideration will be given to supporting or funding RRM as an alternative or complementary option to IVF, particularly for couples who cannot access IVF for religious or …

525. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the specific steps being taken to ensure the HSE considers the time-critical nature of Friedreich’s ataxia during the current price negotiations for Skyclarys, the only drug approved for treatment of this condition, given the 570 days since the application for use was lodged and the rapid progression of the disease in sufferers; and if she wi…

526. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the commitments in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025 – 2030 are being applied to the approval process for the drug Skyclarys used to treat Friedrich's ataxia to prevent further delays in addressing the unmet need of sufferers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17918/26]

527. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the 2026 IPHA Framework Agreement on access to new and innovative medicines which aims for a 180-day decision timeline is being applied to the drug Skyclarys used to treat Friedrich's ataxia to prevent further delays in addressing the unmet need of sufferers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17919/26]

528. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who cannot be discharged from a hospital on delayed discharge of care due to the fact they do not have a fixed abode, by name of hospital, in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17929/26]

529. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health whether statistics are held by her Department regarding the number of residents in Ireland diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome; and the number of adults and minors respectively. [17933/26]

530. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the case of a child whose application for placement (details supplied) was refused solely on jurisdictional grounds despite the absence of any equivalent specialised preschool provision in their own catchment area; whether CHO boundary rules override clinical recommendations in such circumstances; the mechanism which exist…

531. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will address concerns raised by LGBTQ+ families around the assisted human reproduction legislation, particularly around the lack of recognition for families formed through regulated and safeguarded international surrogacy, if they reside abroad; the exclusion of same-sex female couples who conceived without clinical assistance, post …

532. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will address concerns from the assisted human reproduction legislation particularly around parental recognition made contingent on the surrogate’s post birth consent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17941/26]

533. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the assisted human reproduction legislation fully support the rights of children and parents and comply with Ireland’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17942/26]

534. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE health regions; whether Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delivered prog…

535. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the way in which funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; and if she will publish the criteria to …

536. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the specific measures which will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17950/26]

537. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health whether, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, will be pooled at HSE Health region level; the safeguards which will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation…

538. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene to ensure that the HSE prioritises a conclusion to the Skyclarys reimbursement negotiations, given that it is the only available treatment for this progressive disease, which currently can be classed as having an ‘unmet need’ as outlined in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025 – 2030; and if she will make a statement on …

539. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the current delay regarding the Skyclarys reimbursement negotiations aligns with the "equitable access" promised in the newly launched National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17959/26]

540. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to provide further clarification and reasoning behind the changes within the HSE to the employment opportunities for paramedics; if she will ensure that the 80 paramedics who have recently qualified will be guaranteed permanent contracts, given they had been informed that would happen at the beginning of their contracts; if she has consider…

541. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing full State funding for the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine for all adults aged 60 and over, in light of the current out-of-pocket cost of approximately €500, which places it beyond the reach of many older people; and to outline her Department's assessment of international models, including the United Kingdom…

542. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, to outline the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE Health Regions; whether Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally deli…

543. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health the way in which funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; and if she will publish the criteria to b…

544. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health the specific measures which will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17966/26]

545. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health whether, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, will be pooled at HSE Health Region level; the safeguards which will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation;…

546. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, to outline the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE Health Regions; whether Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delivered p…