Questions

954. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department intends to review the operation of private health insurers in relation to coverage for medically indicated liposuction procedures for lipoedema patients, in light of concerns regarding inconsistent decision-making, the use of criteria designed for lymphoedema rather than lipoedema, and practices that may result in patients being forced to rely on…

508. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department considers it satisfactory from a governance and accountability perspective that the HSE DIME Work Practice Plan system records only planned consultant schedules rather than actual attendance or hours worked; whether any policy direction has been issued to introduce a time-and-attendance or equivalent verification system for consultant workin…

2077. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive maintains any national system for monitoring clinical outcomes, complications, or long-term follow-up in respect of children and adolescents from Ireland who receive gender-related medical treatment abroad under the treatment abroad scheme or any related referral pathway; if so, the governance arrangements fo…

528. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the formal methodology used by her Department and the HSE when evaluating international clinical guidance prior to consideration or incorporation into national healthcare policy; whether that methodology was applied in respect of the WPATH Standards of Care between 2018 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15856/26]

529. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal clinical risk assessment, patient safety review, or governance audit has been undertaken since publication of the final Cass review in respect of gender healthcare services for children and adolescents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15857/26]

560. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1121 of 7 February 2026,to provide a detailed implementation schedule for each recommendation contained in the Emerging Health Threats Steering Group (ESG) Report published in October 2024, including for each recommendation; the decision taken by her Department; the approving authority, the decision date; the accountable divis…

561. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1121 of 7 February 2026, to list all funding approvals issued by her Department arising from the ESG Report since October 2024, including for each approval; the programme title; vote and subhead; amount approved for each financial year; whether the funding is current or capital, the approval date, and the body receiving the fu…

562. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance and reporting arrangements to Government in respect of the Health Threats Advisory Committee established in 2025, including its terms of reference, reporting frequency, the senior official accountable within her Department, and the dates of meetings held to date. [15897/26]

563. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance, statutory or administrative basis, and reporting structure of the cross-departmental One Health Oversight Committee established in 2025, including the Departments formally represented and the number of meetings held to date. [15898/26]

564. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1121 of 7 February 2026, to provide the approved governance structure, staffing complement, procurement route, budget allocation, and expected operational commencement date for the Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Emergency Preparedness. [15899/26]

565. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current stage of development of the National Health Threats Preparedness Plan; including the responsible Division; the anticipated publication date; whether draft Heads have been prepared; and whether the Plan will be placed on a statutory footing. [15900/26]

566. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1121 of 7 February 2026, to list the pandemic preparedness simulation exercises that have taken place since 2022; including the date; organising authority; participating State bodies, whether an after-action report was completed, and whether any such reports were submitted to her Department. [15901/26]

567. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators her Department uses to monitor national preparedness for emerging health threats; the date each indicator was first adopted; and the most recent reporting date for each indicator to the Minister. [15902/26]

577. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has recorded, since 1 January 2023, any concerns, warnings, or internal assessments regarding the adequacy or timeliness of responses provided by Children’s Health Ireland to Members of the Oireachtas; and if so, the number of such recorded instances and the governance actions taken. [15922/26]

609. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether, following publication of the final Cass Review into gender identity services for children and young people in the United Kingdom, her Department conducted any formal policy review of the continued referral of minors from Ireland to NHS gender identity services under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; if so, to provide the date, terms of reference, and outcome o…

610. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department sought or obtained independent clinical advice, evidence appraisal, or risk assessment regarding the appropriateness of continuing referrals of minors to NHS gender identity services following the Cass Review; and if she will outline the governance framework under which such advice was considered. [16026/26]

611. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any revised safeguarding guidance, policy circular, or written direction has been issued by her Department to the HSE concerning referral pathways for children and young people to gender identity services abroad since publication of the Cass Review; and if she will provide details of any such direction. [16027/26]

613. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of minors referred from Ireland to NHS gender identity services under the Treatment Abroad Scheme in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the total expenditure incurred in each year; and the policy basis upon which such referrals continue to be authorised. [16029/26]

625. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department currently receives routine, standardised reports from the Health Service Executive on gender identity services for minors, including referral numbers, waiting list numbers, assessment outcomes, numbers progressing to medical intervention, and associated expenditure; if so, the frequency and format of such reporting; and if she will make a st…

626. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific safeguarding and clinical governance standards that currently apply to gender identity services for minors pending the completion of the new Model of Care; whether these standards require full psychiatric assessment, comprehensive developmental history, screening for autism spectrum conditions, and documented differential diagnosis prior to considerat…

627. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, clinical audit, external review, or governance assessment has been conducted since 2020 in respect of gender identity services provided to minors, including referrals abroad where applicable; if so, to provide the date and high-level findings of such reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16055/26]

628. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what national dataset currently exists for the purposes of planning, oversight and evaluation of gender identity services for minors; whether this dataset captures referral source,diagnostic profile, co-morbidities, intervention pathway, outcomes, and costs; whether any data gaps have been formally identified by her Department; and if she will make a statement on …

629. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total annual expenditure incurred by the Health Service Executive in respect of gender identity services for minors in each year since 2020, including domestic services, overseas referrals, and ancillary supports; whether expenditure is subject to specific budget ceilings or value-for-money review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16057/26]

600. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what national clinical governance arrangements currently apply to specialist gender healthcare services for children and adolescents while the National Gender Service Model of Care (2018) is under review; and whether any interim clinical guidance has been issued since publication of the Cass Review. [13648/26]

601. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any future recruitment specifications for consultant posts in child and adolescent gender-related services will be required to align strictly with the revised National Gender Service Model of Care; and the national clinical governance structure that will approve such specifications. [13649/26]