Written Answers Nos. 1501-1520
1501. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including organ transplant recipients in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1143/25]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1502. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the roll out of the national clinical program for adults with ADHD, in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1147/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1504. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied). [1158/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1505. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the recruitment of a HSE community dietitian manager in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1159/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1506. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to examine the urgent case of a person (details supplied); if a hip replacement will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1161/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1507. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the recruitment campaign for HSE home care workers in the Sligo Leitrim area; the number of home care workers recruited since January 2024 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1170/25]
View answerThe HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
1508. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if hip surgery for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1171/25]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1509. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and surgery expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1174/25]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1512. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he plans to further resource the complex menopause clinic in University Hospital Galway (details supplied); if a review has been carried out in relation to whether there is a need for further expansion of the clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1184/25]
View answerThere are currently six specialist clinics nationwide, one in each maternity network, for women who require complex, specialist care. All six clinics are operational.
As part of the Women’s Health Action Plan, additional funding for the existing menopause clinics is being provided this year to extend their opening hours. This funding will provide an additional 2.8 WTEs spread across the NMH, Rotunda, Cork and Galway, with a projected additional capacity of 2,000 new appointments.
With regard to the current waiting list times for Galway’s menopause clinic, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1513. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if he is considering adding Crohn's disease to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1192/25]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1514. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the funding provided by the Government to the joint Irish College of General Practitioners/Health Service Executive non-EU rural GP initiative to recruit GPs from outside Ireland in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1202/25]
View answerThe joint HSE and ICGP International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme commenced in 2023 to recruit GPs from outside of Ireland to work in general practice here. Under the programme GPs work in general practice while undergoing a 2-year training programme following which they can take up a GMS contract (normally training for 4 years is required). Placement of these GPs is targeted to rural and underserved areas. 114 IMG GPs were in practice as of October last.
Funding of €6.2 and €5 million was made available for the programme for 2024 and 2025 respectively. The funding provided allows for the recruitment of up to 250 IMG GPs this year. As the programme was funded by the HSE on a pilot basis from within existing resources in 2023, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the details of the 2023 funding as soon as possible.
1515. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1206/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on July 2nd 2024, having passed all stages in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
This complex and far-reaching legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction, including domestic altruistic surrogacy, but also provides for the regulation of future surrogacy arrangements undertaken by Irish residents in other jurisdictions. In addition, the legislation allows for the recognition of parentage arising from past domestic and international surrogacy arrangements.
Intensive work is ongoing in relation to commencement of the various provisions of the Act as soon as possible, including in respect of further progressing the establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority.
1517. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for an update on any work his Department has undertaken to increase the number of general practitioners in communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1210/25]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,539 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. A further 615 GPs, who do not hold a GMS contract, hold some other contract with the HSE for the provision of health services such as services under the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme or National Cancer Screening Service.
A number of measures have been taken in recent years to increase the number of GPs practising in the State and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients across the country.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice was increased by €211.6m. This provided for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees for additional services and increased practice supports. The GP Agreement 2023 further increased GP capitation fees, increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a grant support for additional staff capacity as well a practice staff maternity leave support. These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors.
Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available from 2024. 346 new entrants commenced training last year, a 21% increase on the previous year’s intake of 286.
Furthermore, recruitment of GPs from abroad commenced in 2023 under the joint HSE and ICGP International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 114 IMG GPs were in practice as of October last and funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs from outside Ireland to the country this year.
Lastly, a Strategic Review of General Practice is underway. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity. When completed, the review will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
1518. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health what plans his Department have undertaken to ensure Balbriggan primary care centre is fully occupied by the medical and administration teams assigned to the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1211/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1519. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of all medical specialities accessing and working from Balbriggan primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1212/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1520. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant haematologists attached to University Hospital Limerick in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1222/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
