Parliamentary questions

Departmental Schemes

Seán Canney

244. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the fees paid to optometrists providing eyecare under the HSE adult eyecare schemes are inadequate, do no not reflect the cost of providing a modern eye examination and have not been increased in more than 20 years; if he is further aware that the Department of Health has made submissions for funding to his Department and is awaiting approval; the steps being taken to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22293/24]

Home Help Service

Michael Fitzmaurice

245. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for home support for each month in 2024, in each CHO and LHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22151/24]

Home Help Service

Michael Fitzmaurice

246. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time in CHO 2 for those approved for home support and waiting for services to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22152/24]

Home Help Service

Michael Fitzmaurice

247. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of people in CHO 2 currently waiting for home support for longer than three months; the number of people waiting for longer than six, longer than 12 and longer than 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22153/24]

Hospital Services

Brendan Howlin

248. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure Wexford General Hospital has access to consultant neurology services; the reason Wexford General Hospital is the only model 3 hospital in the south east without outreach neurology clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/24]

Healthcare Policy

Brendan Howlin

249. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if in the determination of health service provision, levels of social deprivation are taken into account by the HSE and his Department; the level of specific extra funding made available to areas with vulnerable populations above the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22163/24]

General Practitioner Services

Mark Ward

250. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if a GP will be employed in the primary care centre on the Boot Road, Clondalkin; when this will be in place; when they will take on new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22167/24]

Health Service Executive

Brendan Griffin

251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health what will happen with current HSE buildings in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22169/24]

Medical Qualifications

Mark Ward

252. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to explain the rationale behind CORU’s recommendation that observers sit in on psychotherapy sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22171/24]

General Practitioner Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

253. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if a locum GP will be put in place at a health centre (details supplied) to cover a departure; what plans are in place for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22175/24]

Health Services

John McGuinness

254. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if section 39 funding will be put in place immediately for a project (details supplied) as the project is under considerable financial pressure.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22180/24]

Mental Health Services

Mairéad Farrell

255. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to close the Galway training centre in Merlin Park hospital or to reduce its hours or functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22186/24]

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]