Parliamentary questions

Emergency Departments

Bernard Durkan

33. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department and the HSE continue to engage with the various hospitals throughout the country, with a view to improving the throughput at accident and emergency services in order to ensure early diagnosis/full triage in the quickest possible time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25745/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

34. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor, assess and remedy any shortcomings in the delivery of health services, whether in regard to access to homecare, general medical services and capacity requirements in whatever area, with a view to resolution in the short term in order to make the health services in this country a more attractive place to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25746/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25862/24]

Mental Health Services

Bernard Durkan

141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it is expected to improve the mental health facilities available in CHO 7 for each category of patient over the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which backlogs in school health examinations are being addressed, including dental and ophthalmic; the extent of progress in addressing these backlogs over the past twelve months to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25874/24]

General Practitioner Services

Bernard Durkan

143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which plans are in hand to ensure an adequate GP service throughout County Kildare, an area of expanding population; if all efforts can be made to ensure seamless access to quick service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25875/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he and his Department continue to accelerate the programme of assessment for children with or without special needs who may be in need of counselling, psychiatric or medical attention; if he will ensure a rapid processing of such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25876/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bernard Durkan

145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health by how much it is intended to reduce the numbers on hospital waiting lists by whatever means over the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25877/24]

Dental Services

Bernard Durkan

146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which dental patients can have their requirements met and progressed as quickly as possible, with particular reference to medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25878/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health how many applications for medical cards were granted in the past 12 months to date; the number who were refused or who are under investigation in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25879/24]

Health Services Staff

Bernard Durkan

148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress made in the last twelve months in countering ongoing difficulties of obtaining and retaining professional staff throughout the health services; the plans to increase staffing in the health service over the next 12 months to adequately address backlogs for service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25880/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which women’s health specifically remains central to the provision and delivery of a reliable level and quality of health services in all areas throughout Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25881/24]

Disease Management

Bernard Durkan

150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the efforts that are being made to meet the challenges of rare diseases, early diagnosis; the requirement for rare/orphan disease drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25882/24]

Vaccination Programme

Bernard Durkan

702. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his Department's request to HIQA to carry out a health technology assessment examining the cost benefits of an enhanced vaccine for the over-65s; when the formal consultation with interested stakeholders will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24750/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Bernard Durkan

736. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24923/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Bernard Durkan

737. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to regulate for the over-labelling of non-Irish health warnings on vaping products, which is fuelling a grey market in such products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24926/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Bernard Durkan

884. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent of the discussions that have taken place in regard to the provision of primary care centres in Leixlip and Maynooth, County Kildare; the extent to which discussions have taken place with statutory or other bodies with a view to addressing the need for modern primary care centres in both towns; if any other discussions took place which might have the effect of changing priorities; if any proposals or agreements have been made which might impact the schedule and arising therefrom the imminent provision of the centres in question or if changes have been made without consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25601/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 2 May 2024, if the case will be considered for even a partial contribution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24560/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

417. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the level of support and assistance available in the case of an individual (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23540/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

448. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position in respect of the transfer of services from a service (details supplied) to the HSE; when this information will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23725/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when urgent speech therapy and physiotherapy will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied) who recently suffered a stroke and is relying on these services to regain a normal independent quality of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23342/24]

Emergency Departments

Bernard Durkan

279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if, following a knife attack and attendance at A&E, the A&E charge of €100 is still applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23514/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a full medical card has not been restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23515/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Bernard Durkan

281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an electric wheelchair is available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23516/24]

Hospital Admissions

Bernard Durkan

282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason the daughter of a person (details supplied) was admitted to Tallaght Hospital on 16 May 2024, without her mother’s knowledge (guardian) and was discharged without any explanation or attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23518/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23520/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Bernard Durkan

284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which adequate control and regulation of vape outlets is universally and adequately applied, having particular regard to the concern of those who are anxious to comply with all regulations and the elimination of harmful or addictive ingredients in the products and who have never sold cigarettes at their outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23521/24]

Health and Safety

Bernard Durkan

614. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide more resources towards inspections of vaping products entering the country and add to the 40 inspection checks for vaping products set out in the HSE's National Service Plan 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22794/24]

Health and Safety

Bernard Durkan

615. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to increase the number of test purchase inspections for vapes, as set out in the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, from the planned number of 340 set by the HSE (to cover both vapes and cigarettes); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22795/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card might be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22304/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a social worker might be appointed to address the needs of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22309/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Bernard Durkan

308. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for steroid injections will be arranged as soon as possible in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21099/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

492. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be renewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20180/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

519. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when it is expected to offer the son of a person (details supplied) an appointment for initial assessment for ADHD; the current average wait time for such appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20278/24]

Nursing Homes

Bernard Durkan

521. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when all matters will be concluded with in respect of the fair deal application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20288/24]

Dental Services

Bernard Durkan

599. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he is in agreement with the Irish Dental Association’s policy paper “Towards a Sustainable Oral Healthcare Service”; the extent to which he expects a reliable fund stream to be available for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20691/24]

Hospital Services

Bernard Durkan

600. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if efforts continue to be made to improve patient safety and best practice to ensure an improved working environment at University Hospital Limerick and to avert the repeat of recent incidents there, with particular reference to addressing the most important and fundamental issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20693/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bernard Durkan

21. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which he and his Department continue to concentrate on waiting lists in respect of health procedures in general throughout the country; the extent to which adequate success is being achieved in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19769/24]

Emergency Departments

Bernard Durkan

55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the operation of national accident and emergency departments in all hospitals throughout the country with a view to eliminating, insofar as is possible, avertable accidents; if action can be taken to ensure that patients on trollies can have reduced waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

305. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when it is expected to make a refund contribution to a person (details supplied); if his case can be examined with a view to resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20128/24]

Home Care Packages

Bernard Durkan

306. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which homecare packages are readily available in the CHO7 region to candidates who urgently require them; the efforts currently in hand to ensure all allocated homecare package hours are being actioned and administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20141/24]

Nursing Homes

Bernard Durkan

307. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of fair deal applications applied for in each of the past five years to date; the numbers granted, refused or pending; the number appealed and overturned on appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20142/24]

Medicinal Products

Bernard Durkan

308. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the total number of rare and orphan drugs currently being evaluated for use in Ireland; the length of time that is normally required for this process; the drugs that have taken an inordinate amount of time to evaluate and approve for use here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20143/24]

Health Services Staff

Bernard Durkan

309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to ensure the availability of an adequate number of health professionals within the health services, including, but not limited to, consultants, GPs and nurses to meet the demand in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20144/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the health services can be co-ordinated in such a way as to ensure a modern response to patients' needs in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20145/24]

Mental Health Services

Bernard Durkan

311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to increase adult mental health services in CHO7; if the precise measures deemed to be necessary are being taken forthwith; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20146/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards reviews undertaken in each year in the past five years to date; the number of medical cards rescinded post-review in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20147/24]

Emergency Departments

Bernard Durkan

313. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he intends to set up an emergency management team to deal with overcrowding and hospital emergency departments, with particular reference to ensuring that the highest possible standards prevail when dealing with the inflow of patients by facilitating their access to emergency treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20148/24]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Bernard Durkan

314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in dealing with the waiting lists of children seeking procedures for scoliosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20149/24]

Health Services Staff

Bernard Durkan

315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he can take steps to counter the difficulties of obtaining and retaining professional staff throughout the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20150/24]