Parliamentary questions

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

256. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if the detailed results of the public consultation on Further Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products, which his Department conducted from 25 November 2023 to 5 December 2024, will be published in full before proposals for new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking are brought to the Government. [22192/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

257. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if a detailed regulatory impact assessment will be prepared and published at the same time as the general scheme of proposed new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking. [22193/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

258. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with retailers on the workability of raising the legal age for smoking, particularly given that differing age limits could apply to the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products; and if this matter will be assessed thoroughly in the regulatory impact assessment on the legislation proposing a change in the age for smoking. [22194/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

259. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if the current legislative provision for test-purchasing of tobacco by persons under the current age limit would be extended to allow 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to be used for test-purchasing if the legal age for smoking is raised to 21. [22195/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

260. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on the civil liberty and equality implications of his proposal to remove the right to smoke, which currently extends to all adults from over 190,000 Irish adults on the basis of age. [22196/24]

Healthcare Policy

John Paul Phelan

261. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the plans he has to address alcohol consumption by children, noting that the Irish Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study 2022 found 31% of children have consumed alcohol, compared with 9% of children who have smoked cigarettes. [22197/24]

Medical Cards

Louise O'Reilly

262. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will update the medical card to cover weekly lymph drainage massage for persons with lymphoedema; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22202/24]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

263. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a request for improved services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22203/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Healy-Rae

264. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter in relation to the annual pension allowance declaration form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22207/24]

Health Services

John Paul Phelan

265. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the reason a service (details supplied) that was suspended during the Covid lockdown has not recommenced; if there is a timeline for reopening the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22239/24]

Medical Cards

Carol Nolan

266. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the health service of providing medical cards, including GP visit cards, to international protection applicants from 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22258/24]

Health Services

Francis Noel Duffy

267. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to continue the pathfinder programme in Tallaght and other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22259/24]

Hospital Equipment

Denis Naughten

268. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the existing DEXA scanner at Portiuncula University Hospital will be replaced; the number of patients who have had their appointment transferred to another hospital; the interim measures in place and the expected timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22260/24]

Mental Health Services

Denis Naughten

269. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the vacancy for a community nursing position for psychiatry of later life, based at St. Brendan's CNU, Ballinasloe, will be filled; if the post has been advertised; the period of time this position is vacant; the number of patients on the caseload of the previous nurse prior to the post being vacated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22261/24]

Ambulance Service

Denis Naughten

270. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the plans to either relocate or refurbish the existing ambulance station in Roscommon town; if he is aware of the poor structural condition of the existing station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22262/24]

Primary Care Services

Mattie McGrath

271. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the length of time the ophthalmologist post is vacant in south Tipperary primary care services; the actions that have been taken to address this vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22270/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

272. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason no alternative arrangements have been made for the 1,500 or so children waiting on the ophthalmology service, some of whom have been waiting for some time now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22271/24]

Medicinal Products

Éamon Ó Cuív

273. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to approve a drug (details supplied) for reimbursement by the HSE, given the value of this drug in treating a rare disease is recognised; the stage in the process the consideration of this drug is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22277/24]

Hospital Staff

Paul Donnelly

274. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if there is a CNS in dementia in each acute hospital in Ireland; and if he will outline the situation in each hospital, in tabular form. [22282/24]

Dental Services

Pat Buckley

275. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) will have to wait for more than two years to get broken dentures replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22284/24]