Parliamentary questions

574. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the date by which spinal muscular atrophy will be included in the newborn heel prick test, given that her predecessor made a commitment to that effect two years ago. [67215/25]

575. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health when newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy will be rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67223/25]

576. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1820 of 4 November 2025, the timeframe for the strategic assessment report and preliminary business case which is required in line with infrastructure guidelines for the PET scan at UHL; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67232/25]

577. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will extend the temporary scheme of paid leave for public health service employees unfit for work post Covid-19 beyond 31 December 2025, in recognition of the exceptional service and sacrifices made by frontline staff during the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67234/25]

578. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if food replacement drinks will be restored to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67238/25]

579. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the fair deal scheme; if she will address the concerns raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67239/25]

580. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a free, organised national prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening programme for men from age 40; the estimated number of men aged 40 to 69 in Ireland; the scale and costs involved; whether the National Screening Advisory Committee has completed its health technology assessment; and when a decision can be expected; and…

581. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the date on which the National Screening Advisory Committee and Health Information and Quality Authority will finalise their health technology assessment on a prostate cancer screening programme; if there are plans to offer interim free PSA tests; if men aged 40 to 69 in the current pilot will be allowed to continue screening beyond the pilot …

582. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for an update on evaluation timelines for Ireland's PRAISE U/ProstateCheck pilot involving 5,000 men in Dublin and Waterford; whether preliminary results have been shared; when these results will be published; if there are plans to extend opt-in PSA screening to all men aged 40 to 69 nationally, particularly those at high-risk; and if she will…

583. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the cost-effectiveness modelling that has been carried out for organised PSA plus digital rectal examination screening starting at age 40 to 69; whether Irish cost-benefit analyses indicate net savings across this age group; the assumptions on uptake, overdiagnosis, potential harms, and subsequent treatments that were made; the monetary and he…

584. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the national public-awareness and behaviour change campaigns planned to encourage men aged 40 to 69 to take part in prostate-cancer screening; whether a dedicated campaign will be developed; the way in which regional inequities in incidence and survival will be addressed; the supports that will be made available to men hesitant to seek PSA tes…

585. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the steps the National Cancer Control Programme and HSE will take to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment resulting from PSA testing, to ensure adherence to updated clinical guidelines on follow-up biopsies and imaging; whether HIQA has guidelines and clinical safety protocols in place; the way in which patient quality-of-life outcomes will …

586. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when she expects the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill 2025 to be introduced.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67248/25]

587. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health the retrospective cost-benefit analyses of State vaccination programmes carried out in order to determine each annual campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67252/25]

588. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health when a review of the rate of value added tax on oral vitamin and mineral supplements, currently 13.5% rate, will be carried out; and the reason there is a disparity in VAT classification between oral pharmaceuticals, and oral supplements for health promotion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67255/25]

292. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of home care support hours for older people provided in Louth in each of the years 2020 to 2024, inclusive; the target for 2025; the number provided to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66394/25]

293. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health whether consideration has been given to establishing a reimbursement mechanism for women who accessed private treatment for endometriosis due to the absence of public care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66396/25]

294. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health to outline the immediate supports currently available to women with endometriosis, in addition to planned future measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66397/25]

295. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of home care support hours for older people provided in Cork South Lee in each of the years 2020 to 2024, inclusive; the target for 2025; the number provided to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66399/25]

296. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will review the recent decision to remove melatonin from the long-term illness scheme; if he will consider reinstating coverage for melatonin for patients with epilepsy and other neurological conditions where it is clinically prescribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66434/25]

297. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the measures her Department and the Health Insurance Authority are taking in response to ongoing premium increases by private health insurers, including recent price adjustments by a company (details supplied); if she will consider options to strengthen consumer protection and improve transparency in the regulation of pri…

298. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the research carried out by her Department into the cost of further expansion of the medical card to all people over the age of 70; her views on the merits of this proposition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66439/25]

299. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been seen by mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66473/25]

300. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that pharmacists are warning customers that the free blister packing service that they offer will be discontinued soon; her views on this development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66475/25]

301. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list for audiology services, by age, assessment type and procedures, and the length of time individuals have been waiting, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66491/25]