1938. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that all babies born in Ireland are tested for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as soon as possible, in view of the impact early diagnosis has on long-term outcomes for affected children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59305/25]
Topics / Health Screening Programmes
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsHealth Screening Programmes
184 questions from 55 TDs, between 14 October 2025 and 21 October 2026.
184
questions
184 written, 0 oral
55
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
1
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 0 |
| March 2025 | 0 |
| April 2025 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 0 |
| June 2025 | 0 |
| July 2025 | 0 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 0 |
| October 2025 | 1 |
| November 2025 | 61 |
| December 2025 | 14 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 15 |
| March 2026 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 1 |
| May 2026 | 1 |
| June 2026 | 2 |
| July 2026 | 12 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 14 |
| October 2026 | 27 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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17
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16
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15
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14
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14
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10
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10
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7
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
1947. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the addition of spinal muscular atrophy to the heel prick test for newborn babies; the timeframe for it to be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59327/25]
1951. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Government’s commitment for spinal muscular atrophy to be implemented in the heelprick test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59341/25]
1952. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when she expects that spinal muscular atrophy will be included in the heelprick test, given this was a commitment of the Government in 2023. [59348/25]
1967. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health for an update on the inclusion of spinal muscular atrophy in the heel prick test. [59416/25]
1968. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if spinal muscular atrophy will be implemented in the heelprick test by November 2025 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59417/25]
1976. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has not yet been implemented in the national newborn heelprick screening programme, despite the decision announced in November 2023 to include SMA in that programme; if she will confirm the timeline for its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59477/25]
1984. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health when the national 'heel prick' test will be expanded to also test for spinal muscular atrophy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59528/25]
897. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when she intends to add a test for spinal muscular atrophy to the heel prick test for newborns. [55387/25]