Parliamentary questions

850. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health if her Department has plans for people living with dementia to be assessed for disability services based on their individual needs rather than, or in addition to, being routinely referred for older persons’ services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53323/26]

851. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients availing of the GMS medicines optimisation support service since its commencement on 1 June 2026; the number of patients previously in receipt of phased dispensing who have transitioned to the new service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53324/26]

852. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the projected full-year cost of the GMS medicines optimisation support service, including the €0.35 fee payable per GMS item dispensed and the €32.50 monthly enhanced medicines optimisation support fee, as agreed under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025; the amount paid out under each fee to date in 2026; and if she will make a statem…

853. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will publish the PCRS-approved list of medicines that qualify a patient for the enhanced medicines optimisation support fee under the GMS medicines optimisation support service; the clinical criteria used to compile that list; whether the list will be kept under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53326/26]

854. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the eligibility criteria applying to the GMS medicines optimisation support service for patients with cognitive or physical impairment, intellectual disability, or experiencing social exclusion including homelessness; the method by which eligibility is assessed and by whom; the appeal mechanism available where a patient is refused access…

855. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the rationale for treating monitored dosage systems, commonly known as blister packs, as a last-resort option under the GMS medicines optimisation support service which commenced on 1 June 2026; her response to concerns that patients in residential care settings will no longer receive blister packs free of charge; the assessment her Depa…

856. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether patients in receipt of free phased dispensing or blister packs in August 2025 will retain that support indefinitely under the GMS medicines optimisation support service; the arrangements for new patients who would previously have qualified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53329/26]

857. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of community pharmacies onboarded to date to the national unused medicines return and disposal scheme provided for under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025; the target date for all pharmacies to be participating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53333/26]

858. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason Ireland did not operate a national collection system for unused medicines despite the obligation under Directive 2004/27/EC, in place since 2004; the steps taken to ensure the new scheme achieves full compliance with that Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53334/26]

859. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the planned public awareness campaign on the return of unused medicines to pharmacies will launch; the budget allocated to that campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53335/26]

860. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the review of the national unused medicines return and disposal scheme scheduled after nine months of operation will be published; the metrics that will be used to evaluate the scheme, including tonnage of medicines collected and pharmacy participation rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53336/26]

861. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the assessment her Department has made of the contribution of unused medicines in the home to accidental poisoning of children, self-harm and suicide risk; whether data on hospital presentations linked to accidental ingestion of medicines by children will be used to evaluate the impact of the national unused medicines return scheme; and …

862. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether she will bring forward proposals to control nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, in view of the hospital discharge data for 2020 to 2024 showing a rise in neurological presentations linked to recreational nitrous oxide use, with a mean patient age of 19.7 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53338/…

863. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of people who entered treatment for problem nitrous oxide use in each of the years from 2021 to 2025; the number in each year aged 17 years or under; the services available specifically for adolescents presenting with nitrous oxide-related harm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53339/26]

864. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has issued clinical guidance to emergency departments and neurology services on the recognition and treatment of nitrous oxide-induced neurological injury, including subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53340/26]

865. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has examined restricting the sale of flavoured nitrous oxide canisters marketed towards young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53341/26]

866. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Health for an update on her Department's engagement with parents of children who they suspect suffer from PANS-PANDAS; the measures her Department is taking to develop guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53347/26]

867. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health to review a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53365/26]

868. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners that were employed through the general medical services scheme in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the estimated annual cost of the GMS in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53384/26]

869. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the total number of sanctioned whole-time equivalent posts per medical discipline in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of posts that remain unfilled per discipline, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53385/26]

870. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the total number of locum staff employed in public hospitals through private healthcare agencies in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the total estimated cost in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53386/26]

871. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated total spend on the National Treatment Purchase Fund to address the waiting lists in each of the years 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53387/26]

872. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the amount of the total healthcare budget that is outsourced to provide healthcare through independent bodies, private providers or agencies in each of the years 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53388/26]

873. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated average wage of Section 38 and Section 39 workers separately; the number of workers in each section in 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53389/26]

874. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will request the HSE to urgently prioritise funding for a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53392/26]