Parliamentary questions

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

621. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total amount of money spent on abortion services in 2022 (including abortions carried out in hospitals, community settings or via telemedicine, and including the cost of the operation and promotion of the MyOptions government helpline) broken down by category in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32386/23]

Abortion Services

Carol Nolan

622. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of the number of adverse incidents, in tabular form by severity scale and broken down by month, reported to the State Claims Agency which related to the Health Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 from January to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32387/23]

Family Reunification

Claire Kerrane

623. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health what engagement his Department had with the Department for Justice on visa criteria for non-EEA healthcare assistants particularly with regard to family reunification processes and eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32388/23]

Nursing Homes

Richard Boyd Barrett

624. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health what measures are being implemented to rectify the situation where nursing homes prior to the fair deal scheme were mischarging residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32390/23]

Medical Cards

Fergus O'Dowd

625. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if any consideration has been given to increasing medical card income thresholds for under- and over-70s ahead of the upcoming budget, with consideration to the excessive increase in cost-of-living and the Eurostat report which designates Ireland as having the highest goods and services costs in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32419/23]

Health Services Staff

Seán Canney

626. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the steps he intends to take to remove the pay difference between Section 38 and 39 health care workers which is causing major problems for the retention of staff and has resulted in the closing of respite services (details supplied) in Galway and Tuam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32423/23]

Dental Services

Joan Collins

627. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to restore walk-in dentistry services within primary care settings in CHO7. [32426/23]

Ambulance Service

Joan Collins

628. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the ambulance response times relative to key performer indicators for Echo and Delta callouts for May 2023, by ambulance region, in tabular form. [32427/23]

Hospital Staff

Joan Collins

629. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant maxillofacial surgeons based at St. James's Hospital in the years of 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [32428/23]

Hospital Services

Joan Collins

630. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of vascular surgeries procedures carried out at Beaumont Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [32429/23]

Hospital Staff

Joan Collins

631. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses working in Cherry Orchard Hospital in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [32430/23]

Hospital Staff

Joan Collins

632. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE vacancies, by job title, in the ophthalmology department at the Mater Hospital; and when these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [32431/23]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

633. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when he expects the audit of the €150 million temporary assistance payments scheme for voluntary and private nursing homes to be completed; the date the audit commenced; the number and rank of civil servants who have been allocated to this audit; if that number is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32432/23]

Vaccination Programme

Duncan Smith

634. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health whether the national children’s flu vaccine programme will continue to be free of charge for the 2–17 age group for the 2023/2024 flu season; whether there are any plans to change age eligibility for the free scheme for the coming season; the rationale for any such proposed change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32491/23]

Vaccination Programme

Duncan Smith

635. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE tender for the delivery of the nasal flu vaccine to children in primary schools and special schools between October and December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32492/23]

Departmental Programmes

Duncan Smith

636. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline the implementation of the Cost of Disability Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32496/23]

Departmental Meetings

Louise O'Reilly

637. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in 2022 and 2023 to date; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32502/23]

Pharmacy Services

Réada Cronin

638. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health whether, given the criticality of our pharmacies to community health, he has or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has or will engage with an organisaion (details supplied) on the matter, and the dates on which he has or will engage; if he will establish a review which encompasses the scope of services provided or which could be provided by community pharmacy; if he will include scoping of a minor ailments or minor illness scheme in community pharmacy in the terms of reference of the aforementioned review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32511/23]

Budget Process

Fergus O'Dowd

639. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he has received the pre-Budget 2024 submission from a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32519/23]

Hospital Services

Holly Cairns

640. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to avoid individuals who do not wish to be in mixed gender wards being placed in these settings. [32528/23]

Health Services Staff

Violet-Anne Wynne

641. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 313 of 1 February 2023, while filling vacancies may be a key priority, what is the current strategy to fill vacancies in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32569/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Violet-Anne Wynne

642. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 29 March 2023, if “exceptional circumstances” includes capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32570/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Violet-Anne Wynne

643. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Clare on a waiting list for speech and language therapy services, by age and length of time that they have been waiting in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32571/23]

Mental Health Services

Violet-Anne Wynne

644. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for child and adolescent mental health services in County Clare by length of time, that is, less than three months; three to six months; six to nine months, nine to 12 months and in excess of one year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32572/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Violet-Anne Wynne

645. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for eye examinations in County Clare by length of time waiting in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32574/23]

Dental Services

Violet-Anne Wynne

646. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for dental examinations and check-ups in County Clare by length of time waiting in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32575/23]

Nursing Homes

Cathal Crowe

647. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns (details supplied) relating to the funding of nursing homes under the fair deal scheme. [32585/23]

Medicinal Products

Robert Troy

648. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if pain management patches can be supplied to a person (details supplied). [32588/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Robert Troy

649. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a referral to the National Rehabilitation Hospital at Dún Laoghaire (details supplied). [32589/23]

Pharmacy Services

Matt Carthy

650. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the last date which there was a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and pharmacy contracts; when a further review will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32599/23]

Pharmacy Services

Matt Carthy

651. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when he last met with (details supplied) in respect of dispensing fees and contracts, and the scope of services permitted by pharmacies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32600/23]

Pharmacy Services

Matt Carthy

652. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to conduct a review of the scope of services provided within community pharmacies; if such a review will include consideration that minor ailments and minor illnesses be included within the scope of pharmacies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32601/23]

Pharmacy Services

Róisín Shortall

653. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is considering a proposal from an organisation (details supplied); if he intends to review the dispensing fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32605/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig MacLochlainn

654. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide, in tabular form, the number of radiographers employed on a full-time and part-time basis at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32607/23]

Hospital Services

Pádraig MacLochlainn

655. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the opening and closing times for radiology at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32608/23]

Hospital Facilities

Pádraig MacLochlainn

656. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of rooms currently being used in radiology at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32609/23]

Health Strategies

John Lahart

657. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a heart failure registry to help reduce high hospital admission and mortality rates among patients with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32611/23]

Health Strategies

John Lahart

658. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the 90-day hospital readmission rate for heart failure patients estimated at 30% by the HSE’s national heart programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32612/23]

Health Strategies

John Lahart

659. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to cut waiting times for outpatient appointments for heart failure patients, particularly in view of the high hospital readmission rates among patients with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32613/23]

Health Strategies

John Lahart

660. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a pilot phone support programme run by an organisation (details supplied) in conjunction with the heart failure service in University Hospital Waterford that reduced the readmission rate among patients with the condition; if he believes this is a service that should now be expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32614/23]

Hospital Services

John Lahart

661. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to list the hospitals that provide a clinical psychology service to heart failure patients, those treating heart failure that have no dedicated service for these patients; to set out his plans to improve these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32615/23]

Health Strategies

John Lahart

662. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health in light of a survey by an organisation (details supplied) survey finding that 50% of heart failure patients did not receive adequate cardiac rehabilitation; what measures are being taken to increase access to the service for this specific patient cohort; what progress has been made to reduce an overall national waiting list for cardiac rehabilitation estimated at over 2,800 in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32616/23]

Health Services

Paul McAuliffe

663. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for IVF as announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32637/23]

Medicinal Products

Fergus O'Dowd

664. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 25 April 2023, if he can seek clarification on whether the HSE is confirming that seroquel is being prescribed to nursing home dementia patients despite the HPRA advice (details supplied) which states that it should not be taken due to increased risk of stroke and or in some cases the risk of death in elderly people with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32638/23]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

665. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to progress drug availability in Ireland for rare forms of the neurological condition, spinal muscular atrophy, specifically adult types 3 and 4 (details supplied). [32647/23]

Vaccination Programme

Bernard Durkan

666. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the preparedness of Ireland for the forthcoming influenza seasons with specific reference to people over 65 years of age; whether there are any plans to introduce an increased vaccine schedule to this most at-risk cohort; if there are plans to undertake health technology assessments for this cohort; when same is likely to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32651/23]

Hospital Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

667. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently review the need for the appointment of six genomic resource associates at the department of clinical genetics at Crumlin Hospital to reduce the current unacceptable two-year waiting list with regard to rare diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32655/23]

Health Strategies

Brendan Griffin

668. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health for advice and clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32660/23]

Health Services

Joan Collins

669. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to research (details supplied), published on 6 June 2023, which reveals that services for over-8s are based on a geographic lottery to access children’s eye care with very little access in some areas, particularly in the north west and parts of the greater Dublin region; if the HSE will fast-track the roll-out on a standardised optometrist-led eye care programme for over-8s and a timeframe to introduce same; to provide a breakdown nationally of where this care is now; and the plans for the future. [32661/23]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

670. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if current trainee counselling psychologists in second and third year of their doctorate programme will receive funding; the timeline he is working towards in announcing the details of this funding, given that students who are currently enrolled in counselling psychology doctorate programmes fees are due in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32664/23]