Healthcare Policy

1239. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if the HIQA health technology assessment (HTA) for the shingles vaccines factored in the potential savings to the State and the HSE from the reported impact of the vaccine, from population studies in Canada, Wales, Australia and the US, on delaying the onset of dementia, slowing down its progress and cutting the risk of death among those al…

1240. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health to outline who conducted the HSE's 2017 position paper on wind turbines and public health; who requested the position paper; the terms of reference that governed the paper; if any stakeholders made submissions to the review, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12868/26]

1241. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that the European Society of Cardiologist's has supported the European Environmental Agency's 2025 Noise Report, (details supplied); the arrangements in place between her Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to ensure public health oversight of environmental noise, traffic, airport and…

1242. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health given that the HSE's position on wind turbines and public health is currently under review, if she will confirm whether, and on what date, her Department and the HSE were made aware of a submission to the 2019 Draft Wind Energy Development Guidelines by a group of acousticians (details supplied); which offices were informed, including t…

495. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined the Portuguese model for endometriosis support, specifically the provision of up to three paid days off a month for those with a diagnosis of endometriosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11202/26]

497. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to introduce a paid work leave model, similar to the Portuguese system, for women with a medical diagnosis of endometriosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11211/26]

312. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the office or authority which withdrew the 2017 HSE Position Paper Wind Turbines and Public Health; if, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and the National Director of Public Health were notified of this withdrawal; if so, the dates of same; if and when the Department of Housing; Local Government and Heritage was similarly notified; and …

656. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason children with non-verbal IQ scores above 90 and severe dyslexia, but who cannot present a reliable verbal IQ due to speech difficulties, are excluded from Reading Schools; whether current policy reflects contemporary evidence on dyslexia identification and intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

979. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the financial supports available for a young person (details supplied), who requires surgery which cannot be performed in Ireland, the UK, Europe or Switzerland, and therefore, must travel to US.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9249/26]

987. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be considered for funding for surgery in the USA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9265/26]

989. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to basing the cost of the licence to sell cigarettes, currently at €1,000 on the volume of cigarettes sold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9274/26]

1034. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the Department’s formal policy and methodology for evaluating international clinical guidance prior to its consideration or adoption within national healthcare frameworks; whether any such formal evaluation was undertaken in respect of the WPATH Standards of Care between 2018 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…

1039. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance framework under which funding for chronic pain services is currently allocated, given that the HSE has confirmed that funding decisions are made at regional level without national expenditure data; when this decentralised approach was approved by her Department; and the oversight mechanisms her Department has in place to ensure …

1042. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has specified, or intends to specify, a minimum national dataset for chronic pain services, including waiting times, consultant capacity, referral pathways, and treatment modalities; and when such standards will be issued to the HSE. [9475/26]

1043. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what assessment her Department has made of regional variation in access to specialist chronic pain services following the establishment of the six health regions; and the measures she will take to prevent inequitable access to care based on geographic location. [9476/26]

1055. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that responsibility for national policy, safeguarding standards, and governance frameworks for services involving children rests with her Department rather than with clinical programmes established by the Health Service Executive; and how that responsibility is exercised in the context of gender identity services for minors…

1056. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the evidence base underpinning current or proposed models of care for gender identity services for children and young people; whether international reviews or guidance were considered in that assessment; and whether any such assessment has been formally documented. [9489/26]

1140. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the new Breastfeeding Strategy; and the timeline for publication. [10209/26]

1192. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she or her Department intend to introduce a 'no wait card' or similar scheme to entitle customers with certain medical conditions to make use of staff toilet facilities in establishments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10336/26]

1193. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to outline her plans to expand supports for those with epidermolysis bullosa and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10344/26]

1065. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding vaping; her plans to address this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7820/26]

1119. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason a proposal to implement a new social deprivation practice grant has not been progressed (details supplied); her plans to implement this proposal; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8253/26]

1148. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the current status of the AMRIC antimicrobial resistance programme; the additional supports or resources allocated to sustain this work in 2026; if she will provide assurances that the programme will remain a priority given its patient safety importance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8434/26]

1149. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the way in which patient empowerment and health literacy will be embedded within the new health regions; the structures in place to ensure meaningful engagement with patient advocacy groups, including an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8435/26]

1151. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health her plans to develop or update a national health literacy strategy to support patient empowerment, particularly for marginalised and high-risk groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8437/26]