Parliamentary questions

485. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the medicine belzutifan (welireg) is available for the treatment of patients with Von Hippel-Lindau disease in Ireland; whether it is eligible for reimbursement by the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46535/26]

486. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the medicine daraxonrasib is available for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer in Ireland; whether it is or will be eligible for reimbursement by the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46536/26]

487. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether any consultant pathologists, other than those based at University Hospital Waterford, have formally notified her Department that they will cease undertaking coronial postmortem examinations; if so, the number involved; and the locations concerned. [46539/26]

488. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the contingency arrangements currently in place where coronial postmortem services cannot be provided locally; the locations where such contingency arrangements are currently being utilised; and the annual cost of such arrangements including at Waterford University Hospital. [46540/26]

489. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to address concerns in relation to maternity services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46543/26]

490. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to examine concerns in relation to maternity care, (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46544/26]

491. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the steps have that been taken to address physical abuse of senior citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46551/26]

492. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently address the issue in County Kerry of patients requiring mid to long-term care being located in the furthest away community hospitals and nursing homes from their family following discharge from hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46552/26]

493. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to issue a discretionary medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46554/26]

494. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) initially received a message stating that their medical card was being extended and subsequently received a request for additional information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46560/26]

495. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting ophthalmology assessment and treatment in South Tipperary; the numbers waiting over six, 12, 18 and 24 months respectively; the numbers awaiting treatment broken down by age category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46607/26]

496. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed update on the recruitment process for the consultant ophthalmologist post serving South Tipperary; the number of recruitment campaigns undertaken since October 2024; the number of applicants received under each campaign; whether interviews have been conducted; whether a fourth recruitment campaign has commenced; and if …

497. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the interim arrangements currently in place to provide ophthalmology services in south Tipperary pending the recruitment of a consultant ophthalmologist; the number of patients treated through such measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46609/26]

498. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting ophthalmology assessment in south Tipperary; the number waiting longer than 12, 18 and 24 months; the longest waiting time currently recorded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46610/26]

499. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has undertaken a risk assessment or patient safety review arising from the absence of a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary since October 2024; whether concerns have been raised regarding delayed diagnosis or treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46611/26]

500. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the ophthalmology waiting list validation exercise and targeted clinic initiatives currently being undertaken in south Tipperary; the number of patients reviewed to date; the number removed from waiting lists; the number treated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46612/26]

501. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason no waiting list reduction targets have been established for orthodontic services in South Tipperary for 2026 or 2027; whether she considers it acceptable that no numerical targets are in place despite children waiting up to 82 months for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46613/26]

502. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that the HSE has advised that the orthodontic waiting list in South Tipperary is expected to continue growing throughout 2026 and 2027; the projected size of the waiting list at the end of each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46614/26]

503. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the additional consultant orthodontist, specialist orthodontist, dental nursing and administrative staffing resources would be required to eliminate the current orthodontic treatment waiting list in South Tipperary within two years and within three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46615/26]

504. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reasons specialist orthodontist vacancies dating from 2021 and 2023 remain unfilled; the number of recruitment campaigns undertaken for each vacancy; the number of applicants received; the number shortlisted; the number interviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46616/26]

505. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether a formal clinical risk assessment has been undertaken regarding children waiting up to 82 months for orthodontic treatment in South Tipperary; whether delayed treatment has resulted in patients exceeding optimal treatment windows; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46617/26]

506. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on orthodontic waiting lists in South Tipperary who are expected to reach 16 years of age before receiving treatment based on current waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46618/26]

507. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on outsourced or privately contracted orthodontic treatment for patients from South Tipperary in each of the past five years; the number of patients treated under such arrangements annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46619/26]

508. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a specific recovery plan exists for orthodontic services in South Tipperary; the targets, milestones and timelines contained within such a plan; the expected reduction in waiting times arising from it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46620/26]

509. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the regional oral health group established to review orthodontic services in the South East; the membership of the group; the terms of reference; the dates on which it has met; the recommendations made to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46621/26]