Parliamentary questions

1004. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the Department’s policy framework, internal guidance or decision-support documents that informed the assessment of clinical safety, safeguarding and public-expenditure implications when minors were referred abroad for gender-related treatment; and if no such framework existed, to state the reason. [71977/25]

1005. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps taken by her Department to assess the implications of the Cass Review for Irish policy on gender-related healthcare for minors; and to specify any policy changes, clinical standards or risk-mitigation measures introduced as a result. [71978/25]

1006. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the expenditure-control arrangements, budget ceilings, approval processes and value-for-money mechanisms applied by her Department to overseas gender-related referrals for minors since 2020; and to confirm whether these arrangements have been audited. [71979/25]

1007. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department will establish a single national reporting structure for all gender-related referrals of minors, including approvals, outcomes and costs, to ensure transparent governance and accountability; and to provide the expected timeline. [71980/25]

1008. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason her Department issued no updated circulars, guidance or interpretative instructions for the assessment of discretionary medical card applications for people aged over 70 since 2020, despite sustained medical inflation and rising household costs; and to outline the process used by the Department to ensure fairness and consistency dur…

1009. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department conducted any equality, vulnerability or impact assessment on the treatment of discretionary medical card applications for people aged over 70 during 2020 to 2025; and if not, to state the reason such assessments were not carried out. [71982/25]

1010. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the work, governance structure, timelines and outputs of the Programme of Work Underway within her Department examining the medical card eligibility framework; and to specify whether this work includes an assessment of approval trends for discretionary medical cards for people aged over 70. [71983/25]

1011. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department holds trend analysis or internal reports on discretionary medical card approvals, refusals and approval rates for people aged over 70 since 2020; and to provide a summary of any findings. [71984/25]

1012. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the Department’s policy position on the role of medical inflation, rising living costs and increased clinical need in assessing hardship for people aged over 70 who exceed the income threshold; and to confirm whether the Department plans revisions to hardship interpretation or supporting documentation requirements. [71985/25]

1013. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 634 of 23 September 2025, if an urgent response from the HSE will be provided (details supplied). [72019/25]

1014. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of first consultations and second consultations for abortions that were provided by general practitioners, family planning clinics and women’s health clinics in 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72028/25]

1015. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the amount her Department has spent on translation services from a company (details supplied) for the years 2020 to 2025 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72070/25]

1016. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if she will extend the long Covid sick scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72078/25]

1017. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the assessment or consultation that was done to approve the permanent removal of dental services in Killybegs, County Donegal; the reason for removing the service; the reason another dentist could not be found in Killybegs to continue the service; if her Department will consider reversing this decision in the future given the distance peopl…

1018. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when the practice support grant will be paid to a doctor (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72099/25]

1019. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the new elective hospital in Cork; and when this will be fully operational. [72100/25]

1020. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults in Cork currently awaiting an appointment for audiology, by waiting time, in tabular form. [72102/25]

1021. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults in Cork currently awaiting an appointment for ophthalmology, by waiting time, in tabular form. [72103/25]

1022. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of children in Cork currently awaiting a scoliosis appointment longer than four months. [72104/25]

1023. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed supervised injection facilities in Cork. [72105/25]

1024. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the provision of primary care centres in Blarney, Mayfield and Glanmire. [72106/25]

1025. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS general practitioners in Cork, by LHO in 2020 and in 2025. [72107/25]

1026. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS patients in Cork, by LHO, in 2020 and in 2025. [72108/25]

1027. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to Southdoc to date in 2025. [72109/25]

1028. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints received about Cork health services in 2025, by complaint category or health service provider. [72110/25]