Parliamentary questions

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TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work

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Showing questions asked by Ken O'Flynn under the heading Healthcare Policy.

247 questions match, newest first.

Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
796. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal review, audit, or risk assessment has been conducted in relation to the referral of minors abroad for gender-related treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, to provide details of the findings and dates of such reviews. [28113/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
797. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to identify the public healthcare providers abroad to which minors from Ireland have been referred for gender-related services under the treatment abroad scheme since 2020. [28114/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
798. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance or oversight arrangements are in place between the HSE and foreign healthcare providers in respect of treatment delivered to minors under the treatment abroad scheme. [28115/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
799. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal expenditure ceiling, cap, or upper limit applies to funding approvals under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the value of such limits; and if no such ceiling exists, the rationale for the absence of expenditure controls in a publicly funded scheme. [28118/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
800. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether there is a maximum cost threshold per patient under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the level at which additional approvals are required; and the approval process triggered when such thresholds are exceeded. [28119/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
801. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the approval hierarchy in place for treatment abroad scheme funding decisions, including the grade or role of officials authorised to approve standard applications and high-cost or complex cases; and whether Ministerial or Departmental sanction is required above specified thresholds. [28120/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
802. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal written policy, circular, or governance framework governs approvals under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, to provide the title and date of such policy; and if not, the basis upon which consistent decision-making is ensured. [28121/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
803. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether value-for-money or cost-effectiveness assessments are conducted in respect of treatments funded under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the methodology used; and if not, the reason no such assessments are required. [28122/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
804. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of internal audits, external audits, or Comptroller and Auditor General reviews conducted in respect of the treatment abroad scheme since 2020; the dates of such audits; and whether any findings or recommendations were made regarding expenditure controls or governance. [28123/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
805. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific oversight mechanisms exercised by her Department in relation to the treatment abroad scheme, including whether regular reporting, budget monitoring, or performance review processes are in place; and the frequency of such oversight. [28124/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
806. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme records and tracks expenditure by treatment category, referral pathway, or clinical indication; and if not, the reason such data is not collected in the context of public expenditure oversight. [28125/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
808. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy basis upon which ongoing referrals and funding approvals are authorised under the treatment abroad scheme, including whether such approvals are governed by national clinical policy, EU regulation alone, or Departmental guidance. [28127/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
809. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to identify the specific division within her Department responsible for oversight of treatment abroad scheme expenditure; the grade and title of the official designated as budget holder for the Scheme; and whether that individual has formal responsibility for approving or rejecting expenditure variances. [28128/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
810. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a defined annual budget ceiling is set for the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the ceiling in each year from 2020 to 2026; and the process by which expenditure exceeding projections is approved or sanctioned. [28129/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
811. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out the full approval chain for individual high-cost treatments funded under the treatment abroad scheme, including whether financial approval is distinct from clinical approval and the level at which final sign-off occurs. [28130/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
812. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of all audits carried out on the treatment abroad scheme since 2020, including dates, scope, findings, and any recommendations made in respect of expenditure control, governance, or value for money. [28131/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
813. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE or her Department has any mechanism to assess, benchmark, or challenge the cost of treatments invoiced by other EU/EEA healthcare systems under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, the methodology used. [28132/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
814. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal value-for-money assessment framework applies to treatment abroad scheme expenditure; and whether this has been reviewed or updated since 2020. [28133/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 21 Apr 2026 · to Health
815. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any additional governance, oversight, or approval criteria apply to gender-related treatments funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, the rationale for the absence of such criteria. [28134/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 14 Apr 2026 · to Health
2657. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the implementation timeline for the National Laboratory Information System, including key milestones, expected completion date, and the governance arrangements in place to ensure delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23710/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 14 Apr 2026 · to Health
2703. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what interim safeguards are in place pending the completion of the proposed national model of care in 2026. [23881/26]
Ken O'Flynn Written 14 Apr 2026 · to Health
2727. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national policy framework governing the operation of the Treatment Abroad Scheme; to confirm whether this framework explicitly addresses procedures which are not available within the State but which may be subject to differing clinical or ethical considerations; and to clarify how the Department satisfies itself that such activity is subject to appropriate go…
Ken O'Flynn Written 14 Apr 2026 · to Health
2734. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national policy framework governing the operation of the treatment abroad scheme; to confirm whether this framework explicitly addresses procedures which are not available within the State but which may be subject to differing clinical or ethical considerations; and to clarify how the Department satisfies itself that such activity is subject to appropriate go…
Ken O'Flynn Written 24 Mar 2026 · to Health
952. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the barriers currently faced by patients in Ireland living with lipoedema, including the absence of a published national HSE care pathway, limited access to conservative management such as compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage, and delays or difficulties accessing treatment through the Cross Border Healthcare Directive; what steps he…
Ken O'Flynn Written 24 Mar 2026 · to Health
953. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE working group established in 2023 to develop a national care pathway for lipoedema has completed its work; when the pathway is expected to be published; and whether patient advocacy organisations, including the Lipoedema Support Network Ireland, will be included in the development and implementation of this pathway [22010/26]