Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Steven Matthews

729. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a review of the community ophthalmic services medical treatment scheme; if he will request this process to be expedited in view of ongoing concerns related to reimbursement from medical professionals in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29814/23]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

730. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a call by an organisation (details supplied) for an end to a significant geographical inequality in children’s eye-care and for a national public eye-care programme for children over eight years; the steps his Department is taking to tackle this inequality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29834/23]

Healthcare Policy

Holly Cairns

731. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on how and when public funding for IVF treatment will be distributed; when funding for treatment through the public hospital system will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29840/23]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

732. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure an individual is supported in seeking specialist care in the UK (details supplied). [29841/23]

Health Services

Holly Cairns

733. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide his response to an organisation’s (details supplied) call for a national eye-care programme for children aged 8-16 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29842/23]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Holly Cairns

734. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that all equipment and aids, including specialist chairs, provided to individuals are non-flammable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29843/23]

Hospital Staff

Violet-Anne Wynne

735. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if the significant vacancy in the post of paediatric neurology consultant at UHL has been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29850/23]

Dental Services

Violet-Anne Wynne

736. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health to clarify the situation when a member of the public is unable to secure their own dentist; what he will do for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29854/23]

Departmental Reviews

Neasa Hourigan

262. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review into the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force; when this review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28890/23]

Primary Care Centres

Fergus O'Dowd

263. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will seek an update on the refurb, refit and extension of the Castlebellingham health centre to a new primary care centre; the total expected cost of the project; if he will provide a list of services that will be provided in the new premises; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28893/23]

Home Care Packages

Fergus O'Dowd

264. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the expected timelines on the establishment of a new statutory home support scheme; how he plans to scope and plan for such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28894/23]

General Practitioner Services

Fergus O'Dowd

265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update of the North East Doctor-on-Call service to address the major pressures on the current service which is leaving many persons unable to access out-of-hours GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28898/23]

Mental Health Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

266. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the Mental Health Commission's annual report 2022, if he will consider front-loading investment in mental health services, rather than the current funding model; if he would like to see changes in the funding model going forward; how he intends to address the major issues highlighted in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28909/23]

Health Service Executive

Marian Harkin

267. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the criteria that the HSE uses to consider whether it will provide funding to charities in the healthcare sector; how the HSE reviews its funding of charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28922/23]

Health Service Executive

Marian Harkin

268. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the HSE's decision to provide funding or withdraw funding from a charity influences the work of the charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28923/23]

Health Promotion

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

269. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health if his Department is sending a delegation to the WHO-convened Global Congress on Implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in Geneva in June 2023; if so, the composition of the delegation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28926/23]

Health Service Executive

Marian Harkin

270. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he believes it appropriate that a State body, such as the HSE, has the power to influence charities through granting or withholding funding; the potential negative impact this has on the freedom of charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28928/23]

Disability Services

Michael Ring

271. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if additional funding could be made available to an organisation (details supplied) so that people over 65 years can receive services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28943/23]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

272. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will seek the details on the total number of registered nursing homes in Ireland in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the details of the total number of residents registered over the same years. [28944/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John Paul Phelan

273. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health when former staff who worked in care homes during the pandemic will get the pandemic bonus payment (details supplied); the reason this matter has not yet been resolved over three years since the height of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28945/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Martin Browne

274. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if a study of a parcel of land to the rear of St. Patrick’s Hospital, Cashel, to determine suitability for a community nursing unit has been completed; if not, if a study is due to be carried out; and the details of same. [28948/23]

Nursing Homes

Martin Browne

275. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the study of a site on Palmers Hill in Cashel, County Tipperary to determine suitability for a community nursing unit has been completed; if not, if it is due to be carried out; and the details of same. [28949/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Martin Browne

276. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of sites that are being considered for the development of a community nursing unit in Cashel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28950/23]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

277. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if any progress has been made with respect to recruitment of occupational therapists in County Louth which has reached critical levels; if neighbouring areas with suitable levels of occupational therapists could transfer or redirect services; if persons will be offered appointments in neighbouring areas, in order to deal with the absolutely unacceptable void in services in the Louth area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28951/23]

Hospital Facilities

Fergus O'Dowd

278. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update with respect to the projected opening date for the new 50-bed St. Joseph’s Hospital development in Ardee, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28952/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Robert Troy

279. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for scheduled surgery. [28958/23]

Health Services

Jackie Cahill

280. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if an individual with a medical card who had a procedure performed on private healthcare can have a part reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28960/23]

Mental Health Services

Mark Ward

281. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the total number of inpatient beds for CAMHS; the number of inpatient beds that are operational; the plans to reopen beds; the plans to expand inpatient bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28968/23]

Pharmacy Services

Jackie Cahill

282. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he intends to review the fees that pharmacies receive from the State for all State drug schemes before the end of June 2023; if he will engage with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28977/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

283. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons approved for home care supports who are currently waiting on delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28978/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

284. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons over the age of 75 years approved for home care supports who are currently waiting on delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28979/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

285. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of current clients approved for additional home care support hours awaiting allocation of those additional hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28980/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

286. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new persons approved for HSE home care support hours since 1 January 2023 who are currently awaiting delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28981/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

287. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new persons age 75 years and older approved for HSE home care support hours since 1 January 2023 who are currently awaiting delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28982/23]

Pharmacy Services

Niall Collins

288. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28986/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

289. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the proportion of the €2.2 million allocated for the development of long-Covid services in 2022 that was spent exclusively on long-Covid services; the allocation drawn down by each clinic in 2022; the corresponding figures for 2023; the respective period of operation of each clinic; the number of new patients and recurring patients treated to date; the number of patients awaiting a first appointment in each clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28988/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

290. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 307 of 15 September 2022, the number of full-time posts allocated to post-acute and long-Covid clinics, by clinic and speciality; if the position has been filled; if an offer has been made; if a recruitment competition is ongoing; if the HSE recruitment process has commenced in view of the emerging evidence on long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28989/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

291. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 812 of 18 October 2022, if he will outline the metrics at each clinic in 2022 including the number of new patients seen and the number waiting at the end of the year; the corresponding figures for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28990/23]

Qualifications Recognition

Denis Naughten

292. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on excessive delays in the processing of the qualifications of an international recognition applicant (details supplied) by CORU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28991/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

293. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who worked as a front-line worker in the health sector through the Covid pandemic, will receive their Covid Bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28994/23]

Medicinal Products

Louise O'Reilly

294. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of the pain medication (details supplied); if he is aware that this means that the smaller boxes are being purchased and paid for in full by persons on the drug payment scheme because they cannot purchase the prescribed amount; if there is any way for people to claim back this money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29005/23]

General Practitioner Services

Catherine Connolly

295. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of free GP care for children aged six and seven years, as announced as part of Budget 2023; the timeline for the roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29014/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

296. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his response to a media report (details supplied); when this deficit in the Service Plan was identified by this Department; the action he proposes to take to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29024/23]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

297. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, in respect of an application for a medical card in case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29057/23]

Pharmacy Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

141. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding concerns it has for future funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28620/23]

Pharmacy Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

142. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the introduction of a flat-fee model of care being reimbursed at €6.50 per medicine; if his Department has costed this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28621/23]

Pharmacy Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

143. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28622/23]

Pharmacy Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

144. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he and his Department will engage with the community pharmacy sector to discuss a new contract and enhance its role in the delivery of healthcare in the community, as per the commitment in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28623/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

145. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment for admission [28624/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Barry Cowen

146. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment for admission. [28625/23]