Questions

2853. Deputy Sinéad Gibney 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…

2858. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether there are plans to improve the lack of reimbursed biologic treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE, in Ireland given that unlike most other EU countries, patients here have no reimbursed biologic treatment for SLE and that lupus disproportionately affects women; when access will be aligned with EU comparators so eligible patients can receive timel…

2977. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of providing State subsidised food for people with a diagnosis of coeliac disease to reflect the significant financial burden placed on them due to the cost of purchasing specialist food; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25084/26]

2978. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if any review has been carried out into the financial burden placed on people with a diagnosis of coeliac disease due to the cost of purchasing specialist food; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25085/26]

2979. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the high cost of purchasing specialist food for people with a diagnosis of this disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25086/26]

3010. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of issues persons and families with children suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) not being able to access medical cards due to i not being on the HSE's long-term illness list; the rationale for not including IBD on the long-term illness list; and if she will consider including IBD on the long-term illness list. [25312/26]

3061. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to adding Crohn's disease, which is life-changing and life-long, to the long-term illness scheme; if not, if this will this be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25599/26]

3188. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a dedicated Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment facility will be set up, staffed and funded at University Hospital Kerry, close to the world renowned Killarney National Park, home of Ireland’s largest numbers of deer, largely responsible for the spread of this debilitating disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26367/26]

353. Deputy Eoghan Kenny 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…

354. Deputy Eoghan Kenny 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 (details supplied) will be included in the development and implementation of this pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22625/26]

355. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department and the HSE are taking to address issues relating to 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 thro…

356. Deputy Grace Boland 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 participate in the development and implementation of this pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22642/26]

438. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the way in which the commitments in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 and 2026 IPHA Framework Agreement which aims for 180-day decision timeline are being applied to this specific case, to prevent further delay in addressing the unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23057/26]

891. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the protocol and clinical criteria used for assessing a patient’s eligibility for a continuous glucose monitoring device; the specific procedures in place for evaluating individuals who receive a late diagnosis of type 1 diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21670/26]

495. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the protocols that are in place for the diagnosis of Lyme’s disease in the health system. [21236/26]

1764. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health for an update in relation to the decision to include familial hypercholesterolaemia to the list of cardiovascular risk factors screened for in GP settings in 2026 as part of the GP Chronic Disease Management Programme; whether a guideline-directed approach to lipid management will be embedded to enable GPs to assess goal attainment and individualise treatment …

11. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the Government strategy to raise awareness of haemochromatosis. [17294/26]

863. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if she has engaged with Epilepsy Ireland regarding their call to expand the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16643/26]

864. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16644/26]

888. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if she will consider expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16850/26]

919. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the Oversight Implementation Group for the National Rare Disease Strategy has been established, given that the strategy was published in August 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16945/26]

922. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if the Oversight Implementation Group for the National Rare Disease Strategy has been established, given that the Strategy was published in August 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16950/26]

939. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the plans for a renewed declaration within our upcoming Presidency of the EU to combat the rise in HIV transmission in EU member States to ensure that there is eradication of HIV in the EU by 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17033/26]

940. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress of eradicating HIV transmission as a public health threat in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17034/26]

1029. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed whether the absence of programme-level expenditure analysis for high-prevalence chronic conditions, including chronic pain, is consistent with public financial management standards and performance-based budgeting principles; whether any review of this matter has been undertaken since 2020; and if she will make a statement on th…