Parliamentary questions

497. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to expand training places and HSE employment for optometrists, orthoptists, and ophthalmologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15741/26]

498. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if she will immediately reassess the safety and clinical appropriateness of telemedicine abortion services in light of rising concerns regarding coercive control; if she will establish a taskforce to investigate the ease with which controlling partners can obtain such medications; her views on the immediate steps being taken to ensure in-pers…

499. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total State funding allocated specifically to post-abortion counselling services in each of the years 2023, 2024, and 2025; the number of women who accessed these specific supports in that period; if she is satisfied that the current 'MyOptions' model provides sufficient face-to-face long-term psychological support; and if she will make a…

500. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the data-sharing protocols between GPs and community pharmacists regarding the distribution of abortion medication; if there is a centralised tracking system to monitor if multiple requests for such medication are made by or for the same individual across different providers; and if she has engaged with the Department of Just…

501. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the health and social care professional training or degree programmes which are reviewed, validated, recognised or otherwise regulated, standardised, or certified by the HSE; the date on which the HSE assumed such roles relative to each profession and each course; the professions covered by this; the reason the HSE has assumed the role in e…

502. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department intends to take to support healthcare workers who continue to suffer ongoing health complications as a result of contracting Covid-19 in the workplace during the pandemic; if she will consider recognising long-term post-Covid illness among affected healthcare staff as an occupational illness; and if she will reins…

503. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15781/26]

504. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was refused approval for cover under their medical card; if she will review the case which has been appealed by the GP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15782/26]

505. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review correspondence in respect of a person (details supplied) who has been informed that the night-time rate payable to their personal assistants is to be reduced; the reason this decision has been made in this case; whether the matter will be reconsidered in light of the person’s care need; and if she will make a statement on the…

506. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when she expects screening for spinal muscular atrophy will commence; the progress being made by the Beneluxa initiative in treating these patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15793/26]

507. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the next round of grant supports will be made available to the National Cancer Control Programme through the National Alliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15800/26]

508. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the current plans for the proposed elective hospital at the Merlin Park site in Galway city; the number and type of beds to be delivered as part of the current plans; the number of operating theatres, endoscopy suites and minor operation rooms to be delivered as part of the current plans; the proposed phases of delivering this project along wi…

509. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on ICT improvements for patient files across hospitals to ensure patient files are up to date, especially for review case appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15808/26]

510. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, cost per QALY gained, time horizon applied, and discount rate used in the full health technology assessments conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics in respect of tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes mellitus and weight management; and whether lifetime modelling assumptions were applied in eit…

511. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the health technology assessments conducted in respect of tirzepatide included modelling of downstream healthcare cost offsets arising from reductions in incidence of type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular events; hospital admissions; and obesity-related complications; and to provide the percentage reductions assumed in each case within the ba…

512. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the projected gross and net annual budget impact, and five-year cumulative budget impact, of reimbursement of tirzepatide for weight management under the current eligibility criteria outlined by the HSE; and the estimated eligible patient population used in the budget impact model. [15813/26]

513. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether one-way or probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted as part of the pharmacoeconomic evaluations of tirzepatide and semaglutide; and if so, the key variables identified as having the greatest impact on cost-effectiveness outcomes. [15814/26]

514. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the duration between commissioning and completion of the full health technology assessment of tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes; and whether her Department has conducted any review of timelines in the medicines assessment process since 2023. [15815/26]

515. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to outline how often the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme meet; for an update on the application of a specific centre under the Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme (detailed supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15828/26]

516. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health in addition to staff being transferred from Killarney District Hospital, how many new jobs will be created in the new Killarney Community Hospital, when will they be advertised; and will the Minister give a breakdown of how many under each category will be advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15829/26]

517. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health when the new development in St. Columba's Hospital will be open and operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15831/26]

518. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the provision of direct Exchequer funding by her Department to any non-statutory body is conditional upon the recipient maintaining a formally adopted safeguarding policy; a designated safeguarding officer; written mandatory reporting procedures in respect of safeguarding concerns; compliance with obligations under the Children First Ac…

519. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains a central register or consolidated oversight framework identifying all non-statutory bodies in receipt of direct Exchequer funding; whether that register records safeguarding compliance status, including the existence of safeguarding policies, designated safeguarding officers and reporting procedures; whether he…

520. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has received the completed report of the expert clinical group examining the implications for Ireland of the Cass Review; on what date it was received by her Department or the HSE CEO; whether she has requested a copy; whether she intends to publish the report in full; if not, the statutory or policy basis for withholding publicatio…

521. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal interim clinical governance framework, written safeguards, or ministerial policy directions are currently in force governing the provision of gender-related healthcare services to children and adolescents pending completion of the updated National Model of Care; whether any elements of clinical practice have been paused, amended or r…