Written Answers Nos. 742-759
742. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health for an update on staff shortages in the Cork east public health nurse network; if vacant positions have been filled; if a full service is now available in all parts of Cork east; and if not, the areas which remain impacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5821/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
743. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme; the strategy and key performance indicators for the programme; if a review will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5833/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra744. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of people who received a HPV vaccination as part of the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme; and the total cost per vaccine administered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5834/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 743 and 744 together.
The Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme commenced on 8 December 2022 with the opening of the HSE’s online registration portal for the programme.In 2023, the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme offered free HPV vaccines to:• females who are 24 years of age or younger• males who are 21 years of age or younger
Approximately 11,000 people received HPV vaccination through this programme.
I am advised that the HSE and my Department continue to work together to review available options in relation to provision of HPV immunisation in the future.
In 2025, the HSE will run a pilot programme which will aim to support Ireland’s effort to eliminate cervical cancer by improving the HPV vaccination rates among underserved communities, including Traveller, Roma and migrant groups living in Ireland. The pilot will seek to address the need of underserved communities to access HPV vaccination in the community and to provide access to targeted information and support that facilitates them to make an informed choice in relation to vaccination. Learnings from this pilot will be evaluated and inform the HPV vaccination programme.
With the aim of moving towards cervical cancer elimination in the coming years, it will be important to focus on increasing vaccination uptake rates in the routine HPV vaccination programme. To eliminate cervical cancer, all countries must aim to ensure that 90% of girls are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage and protection. It is vital that, moving forward, the importance of receiving HPV vaccination when it is offered through the routine HPV vaccination programme is communicated effectively to the population and that there is no confusion over the optimum time to receive the vaccine.
As there are competing vaccination priorities and demand on resources is high, it is critical that any resources available are directed to where they can best be utilised to produce maximum clinical impact.
745. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommendation that HPV vaccination should be offered to unvaccinated women who require excisional treatment for CIN 2+ lesions; if there are plans to provide vaccination to this group free of charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5835/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
746. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health for an update on the National Genetics and Genomics Office priority deliverables for 2025; the additional resources required to fully ensure the key performance indicators are achieved within the relevant timeframes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5836/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO) was established to drive the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland. My Department has been working closely with the NGGO to manage and implement this hugely valuable programme of change and to overcome the present and historical challenges associated with delivery of genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland.
My Department has provided the resources to deliver the priorities which have been approved as part of the National Service Plan 2025 and include a National Bioinformatics Director, bioinformaticians, communications officer, workforce project manager and two posts to provide overall support for the work of the National Office.
Already this year we have seen the launch of the National Test directory for rare diseases (January 2025) which will be expanded in due course to cover wider health care areas. In addition, resources have been approved to set up the National Genomics Processing Service and to improve access to clinical services.
My Department is fully committed to implementing the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland and taking the required next steps to support the NGGO in delivering on this objective, both during 2025 and beyond.
747. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of proposed legislation banning the sale of disposable nicotine inhaling products, banning the sale of flavoured nicotine inhaling products and placing restrictions on the advertising of such products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5837/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCabinet approval was given on 10 September to proposals for a Bill to further regulate nicotine inhaling products, including a complete ban on disposable vapes. Those proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General. Once completed, the draft legislation will require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535).
At this early stage in the legislative process, I do not have a timeline for the introduction of the measures in the Bill.
748. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of the 44 hospital-controlled car parks that provide patient parking; a list of those that provide concessions with details of such; a list of those that provide free parking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5838/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
749. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings that have taken place of the working group to implement guidance to hospitals in relation to car parking charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5839/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
750. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the value to each hospital in the State of the car parking charges system, in each of the years from 2018 to 2024; and if each system is under the hospitals control or run by a private operator, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5840/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
751. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if she will address the issues relating to long Covid awareness (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5841/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
752. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to expedite an operation for a person (details supplied). [5842/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
753. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health for the current staffing provision of psychologists for the North Lee, South Lee, West Cork, North Cork and Kerry primary care child and adolescent services, per grade and the population size each of those areas serve, in tabular form. [5843/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
754. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health for the projected staffing provision for April 2025 of psychologists for the North Lee, South Lee, West Cork, North Cork and Kerry primary care child and adolescent services, per grade and the population size each of those areas serve, in tabular form. [5844/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
755. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the gender breakdown of her Department in respect of principal officers, assistant secretaries and secretaries general, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5855/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe gender breakdown in the Department of Health is outlined below
Secretaries General - Male 100%
Deputy Secretaries - Female 50%, Male 50%
Assistant Secretaries - Female 57%, Male 43%
Principal Officers - Female 51%, Male 49%
756. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be made for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5864/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
757. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that the primary care centre in Balbriggan is being under-utilised while waiting lists for health services in north County Dublin continue to grow; if she has plans to use this space by increasing the availability of services within the Balbriggan medical centre; to provide details of the additional or expanded services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5865/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
758. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if she has considered the use of directly employed GPs to alleviate the chronic waiting times for GP services in north County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5866/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
759. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the current services offered by the HSE in the medical centre in Balbriggan, and the hours for which each service is available on a weekly basis, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5867/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
