Parliamentary questions

435. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide details of dentists in the Arklow and south Wicklow area who accept medical cards; the average length of time waiting for treatment; the measures being put in place to address this challenge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68578/25]

436. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the long awaited primary care centre planned for Gorey, County Wexford. [68579/25]

437. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the incentives which are in place to encourage the establishment of new general practitioner practices. [68580/25]

438. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the total number of health care assistants employed, by CHO area under the home support service for older people; the number of vacancies, by CHO area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68581/25]

439. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the range of State supports available to persons with haemochromatosis; and if she will consider running a public information campaign on the condition. [68582/25]

440. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if she plans to extend funding through the community primary care service to include battery packs for CPAP devices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68606/25]

441. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68610/25]

442. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the role and responsibility of the dental service at a location (details supplied); the services they offer and if they are taking children for all appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68615/25]

443. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will explain the rationale for the planned increase to blister pack preparation charges under the new HSE–community pharmacy contract; if she will urgently review this policy in light of the disproportionate impact on older patients and those with chronic conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68616/25]

444. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing an exemption or subsidy for medical card holders and older patients who rely on blister packs, given the significant financial burden of the proposed price increase effective from 1 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68617/25]

445. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if an application has been received for a homeless day centre in Cork city. [68624/25]

446. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on taxis and minibuses by the HSE (details supplied) in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [68659/25]

447. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 26 November 2025, the date which she received a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68660/25]

448. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1825 of 4 November 2025, the steps her Department expects pharmacies to charge for this service; the supports or alternatives available for low-income individuals who require blister packs for safe medication management but cannot afford the additional cost (details supplied); and if she will make a state…

449. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if regulations currently being drafted under section 13 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 in relation to ‘content of advertisements’ will apply to online, digital, and social media marketing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68666/25]

450. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been brought to an increase in youth alcohol consumption rates in the past decade (details supplied); if her Department intends on conducting research into the role of digital and social media marketing of alcohol products in relation to this increase in youth drinking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6866…

451. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 817 of 14 October 2025, if radiation therapists are excluded from the recognition of agency work for incremental credit purposes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68669/25]

452. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason for the HSE app only being available to people with a verified MyGovID account; if she is aware that this is contrary to the Data Protection Commission’s determination in 2019 that such conditional access to services provided by public bodies is unlawful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68677/25]

453. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding her Department has allocated to drug addiction prevention initiatives in 2024, and to date in 2025. [68684/25]

454. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 134 of 20 November 2025, and 943 of 25 November 2025, the current status of the review to assess the resources required to change the final check-in time at the minor injuries unit at Monaghan Hospital to 8pm; when this review will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68697/25]

455. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE have issued any internal guidance, instructions or circulars to deciding officers and medical officers on the treatment of older applicants whose modest pension increases place them marginally above the medical card income threshold, specifically in relation to high medical needs and essential living costs such…

456. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent consultants delivering chronic pain services in each hospital group; the number of vacant posts in these services in Q4 2025; and the actions her Department is taking to expand consultant capacity in line with population need. [68700/25]

457. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for first-time chronic pain appointments in each hospital group; the number of people aged over 65 on each waiting list; and the measures being introduced to reduce these waiting times. [68701/25]

458. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to chronic pain services in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the planned allocation for 2026; and whether additional funding will be ring-fenced to support older adults identified as having untreated chronic pain. [68702/25]

459. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when her Department last assessed unmet need for chronic pain treatment in adults aged over 65, in light of TILDA Wave 6 findings that two-thirds of older adults with moderate to severe chronic pain receive no medication; and the actions taken following this assessment. [68703/25]