Parliamentary questions

1054. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the addiction services that are available in Mayo for young people and children aged under 18; the number of patients serviced; and the current waiting list for these services. [72219/25]

1055. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department carried out an assessment of the financial or clinical impact of introducing a blister pack charge, particularly for older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72225/25]

1056. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for a full medical card from persons aged 70 years and over that were refused in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and the income thresholds applied in each year that formed the basis for refusal. [72240/25]

1057. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the median and upper-quartile income of applicants aged 70 years and over who were refused a Medical Card in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and the proportion whose means exceeded the threshold by fifty euro per week or less. [72241/25]

1058. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has undertaken any review since 2020 of the adequacy of the medical card income thresholds for persons aged 70 years and over in light of cumulative inflation and rising living costs; and the findings of any such review. [72242/25]

1059. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed whether the continued rise in GP Visit Cards issued automatically to applicants aged 70 years and over indicates unmet need for full medical card coverage within this population; and the actions taken in response at policy level. [72243/25]

1060. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has reviewed the administrative process required of persons aged 70 years and over when applying for a medical card, and whether any reforms are planned to streamline or reduce the documentation burden for older applicants. [72244/25]

1061. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current number of whole-time equivalent vacancies for social workers, social care workers and dietitians in the HSE South/South-West region; the average duration of these vacancies; and the projected contribution of apprenticeship schemes to reducing these vacancies in 2025 and 2026. [72250/25]

1062. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the cost per apprentice for social work, social care work and dietetics; the budget provided to support these apprenticeships in 2025 and 2026; and the assessment used to determine whether current intake levels are sufficient to meet workforce needs. [72251/25]

1063. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has set performance indicators or workforce targets for apprenticeships within the South/South-West region; and if so, the targets and the reporting schedule for monitoring progress. [72252/25]

1064. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if an evaluation has been carried out on the effectiveness of apprenticeships in retaining qualified staff in the region; and to provide the findings of any such evaluation. [72253/25]

1065. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the timeline for approval of the proposed social care worker apprenticeship; the planned intake numbers once approved; and how this aligns with projected shortages in disability services in the South/South-West. [72254/25]

1066. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number and grades of additional clinical staff identified as necessary to increase patient access to orthodontic services; when recruitment for these posts will commence; the projected impact this staffing increase is expected to have on current waiting lists; and whether funding for these additional posts has been ring-fenced; and …

1067. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed once-off orthodontic grant of €3,000 for eligible patients; the criteria that will be used to determine eligibility; the way in which the allocation of the grant will operate in practice; whether this measure is intended to permanently supplement public capacity or serve as a temporary intervention to address…

1068. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the proposed orthodontic grant will interact with the existing 20% tax relief on orthodontic treatment; if her Department has estimated the total net out-of-pocket cost remaining for families after both supports; whether measures are being considered for families who cannot claim tax relief due to low income or non-taxp…

1069. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason 890 clients in Cork were awaiting home support at the end of October 2025, representing 3,130 hours of unmet need, including 543 awaiting a new home support service and 347 awaiting additional hours; the actions being taken by the HSE South West to address these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72260/2…

1070. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to address the recruitment and retention challenges for Health Care Assistant staff in Cork and Kerry, given the acknowledged impact on service delivery and waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72261/25]

1071. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Care Assistants (Home Support) in Cork and Kerry in 2025; the number of candidates screened and appointed; the extent to which these campaigns will address the staffing shortages reported by the HSE Southwest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72262/25]

1072. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason no autism diagnostic assessments are being conducted directly within primary care in the HSE Southwest; the reason a primary care autism team has not been established to provide this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72263/25]

1073. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the cost of outsourcing autism diagnostic assessments in the HSE Southwest; the number of assessments delivered through private providers in each of the past three years; whether direct provision through a primary care team will reduce these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72264/25]

1074. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels required to provide an in-house autism diagnostic service within primary care in the Southwest; whether recruitment for these posts has begun or is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72265/25]

1075. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in commencing construction of the new ten-bed rehabilitative residential unit in Midleton to replace the Owenacurra facility; the updated timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72266/25]

1076. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if community mental health teams in the HSE Southwest are currently accepting more new cases than they are discharging; the actions which are being taken to address capacity pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72267/25]

1077. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if it is HSE policy that pharmacists participating in the free HRT scheme must ascertain a patient's sex assigned at birth when they suspect this differs from their gender marker in medical records; if so, the legal and medical basis for this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72271/25]

1078. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the reason a decision was made to remove a full care package from a child (details supplied), if the full care package can be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72273/25]