Parliamentary questions

658. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce regulations on the sale and use of nicotine pouches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65062/25]

659. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the plans for multiannual funding for a national radiotherapy equipment replacement programme to ensure that the current scenario with equipment older than ten years in use (contrary to IAEA and ESTRO recommendations) is addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65071/25]

660. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans for the replacement strategy for University College Cork/Cork University Hospital Cancer Centre and University Hospital Galway Cancer Centre respectively; if all machines will be replaced at one time, or if a staggered replacement programme is intended; the steps that will be made to avoid patient delays when machine replacement is…

661. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the current estimated numbers of adults and children living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in the State, by CHO area and age cohort; how her Department is responding to the 2025 World Diabetes Day focus on diabetes and well-being across life stages and in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

662. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to report on current participation rates in the national diabetic retinopathy screening programme and other structured screening for diabetes-related complications (including foot and kidney disease); to set out any plans to expand eligibility, outreach and capacity to improve early detection and prevention; and if she will make a statement o…

663. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the current HSE policy on access to continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps and hybrid closed-loop systems for people living with type 1 diabetes, including eligibility criteria for children, adults and pregnancy, her plans to widen access in line with recent international best practice and World Health Organization guidance; and if she …

664. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department and the HSE are responding to the World Diabetes Day 2025 theme of diabetes and well-being, particularly in relation to workplace supports, psychological supports for people living with diabetes; the measures she will take to tackle stigma and discrimination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [650…

665. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to report on the engagement to date between her Department, the HSE and the manufacturer of the Omnipod 5 tubeless hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system regarding its introduction to the Irish market; if a pricing and reimbursement application has been submitted under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; and if she …

666. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE, NCPE or her Department have undertaken, or plan to undertake, a clinical and cost-effectiveness assessment of the Omnipod 5 tubeless hybrid closed-loop insulin pump system, having regard to its availability and funded use in the UK and other EU member states; if so, to outline the status and expected timelines for a decision; and …

667. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health her views on the potential role of the Omnipod 5 tubeless hybrid closed-loop insulin system in expanding patient choice for people with type 1 diabetes, including children, people with disabilities, needle or tube aversion, and those with high treatment burden; if she will request the HSE to examine its potential use within the national diabe…

668. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to set out current waiting times by hospital group for first and follow-up appointments at adult and paediatric diabetes clinics; the measures being taken to ensure timely, equitable access to multidisciplinary diabetes care across all regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65092/25]

669. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health how her Department and the HSE intend to respond to the new World Health Organisation global guidelines on diabetes during pregnancy; to outline current and planned measures to improve screening, management and post-pregnancy follow-up for women with gestational or pre-existing diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65093/…

670. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a national diabetes registry or equivalent data infrastructure; how this will support service planning, prevention and research; the timeframe for full implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65094/25]

671. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant plastic surgeons at St. James's Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [65170/25]

672. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant ophthalmologists that are currently only dealing with public patients at the Mater Hospital in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [65171/25]

334. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an urgent update on the case of a vulnerable young woman with complex mental health needs (details supplied), whose clinical team recently advised that she requires 24-hour care and is not capable of living independently, but who is now being considered for discharge to temporary independent accommodation with limited home-support hours;…

335. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Health when the procedure mid-urethral mesh sling will be available in Ireland for patients who currently have to travel abroad for the procedure. [64071/25]

336. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health if there has been any change to the dermatology services in Monaghan Hospital; if the service has ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64073/25]

337. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if there are any measures planned to combat the long waiting lists for physiotherapy services in the Market Street Wellness Centre, Killorglin, County Kerry (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64074/25]

338. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health given the long waiting times for publicly funded speech and language therapy, what supports or funding are available for families to access private therapy when a child has been diagnosed as needing said therapy but may wait up to two years for public services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64080/25]

339. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health with consideration for the findings of national and international research, the measures that will be implemented to deal with the impact of loneliness on all age groups, as loneliness is considered a major public health issue internationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64112/25]

340. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if it is proposed to develop a strategy to help prevent loneliness as a public health policy priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64113/25]

341. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the work to date of the Loneliness Taskforce, which was established in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64114/25]

342. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1088 of 12 November 2025, the number of such procedures completed from 2023 to date in 2025, by year, in tabular form; the average wait time for patients at point of treatment; the number of patients in each time band to date in 2025 before treatment and removal from waiting lists. [64123/25]

343. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of whole time equivalent grades providing hernia surgical services at University Hospital Waterford, in tabular form; if there are vacant or otherwise unfilled or absent posts; whether a request has been made for additional posts, the details of that request; and the number of clinic hours provided to date in 2025. [64124/25]