Written Answers Nos. 345-360
345. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if she will consider rolling out the shingles vaccine through the National Immunisation Programme to people aged 70 years and over and to those who are immunocompromised over 50 years as has been done in other states in the EU, the UK, Australia and New Zealand; if other supports are available to cut the cost of vaccination (details supplied). [6923/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraShingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme but it is open to any individual who is aged 50 years and older and who wishes to receive the vaccine to consult with their GP or pharmacist.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the national immunisation programme are chosen by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in order to give each individual the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) recently carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.
HIQA published the HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the schedule is not cost effective and is associated with a substantial budget impact. My Department has considered its findings and determined that the introduction of the vaccine can be reconsidered when cost effectiveness is more favourable.
346. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health her views on whether data in relation to the prevalence and impact of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia in Ireland is robust enough; and if she has plans to increase the collection of this data which impacts decisions around the National Immunisation Programme. [6924/25]
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.
347. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6925/25]
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.
348. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health her plans to incentivise Irish medical staff back from Australia and Canada to work in the HSE. [6934/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Minister for Health is primarily to deal with legislation, policy, overall budgetary allocation, and corporate governance. The HSE is a separate entity to the Department of Health and as such, the HSE has responsibility for matters relating to the staff within their employ or staff going through the process of recruitment.
This query has been referred to the HSE for response.
Yours sincerely
349. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health for an update on dental care accessibility for children; and if tax deductibility will be progressed for routine dental care. [6935/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE Oral Healthcare Service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for children at ages approximating to second and sixth class and, in some cases, fourth class. Emergency care is provided for children of all ages up to 16 and for those with complex and additional needs.
The child oral health examination programme has been impacted by capacity challenges in recent years and I acknowledge that we need to do more. In Budget 2025, an additional €2m in funding, increasing to €4m in 2026, was provided to continue implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP) and improve access to existing community services in our HSE dental clinics. This investment is providing an additional 15 HSE dental staff nationally to deliver oral healthcare in our community, including supporting children to access the current primary school programme of routine check-ups.
In the longer-term, the NOHP, Smile agus Sláinte, sets out a complete transformation of oral healthcare services and expansion of the care available for both children and adults. An implementation plan for the first phase of rollout to end-2027 is being finalised between my Department and the HSE and contains development of new services for children as one of the initial priorities.
Comprehensive, prevention-focused oral healthcare packages are being developed to support children to attend a local general dental practice from birth, representing a significant expansion of care compared to the current model.
Taxation policy, including the provision of tax reliefs, is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
350. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a certificate of baby loss. [6936/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Civil Registration (Amendment) (Certificate of Life) Bill 2022 seeks to amend the Civil Registration Act, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Social Protection.
I appreciate how important it is to recognise and acknowledge pregnancy loss, and the devastating impact pregnancy loss can have on families. The Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Act 2024, is expanding access to the stillbirth register, and those who can request a certificate. Changes were made, through the Act, to the criteria for the registration of stillbirths with a reduction of the current weight and gestational age, as well as the changes to include multiple pregnancies. These changes mean that many babies will now be given the acknowledgement, recognition, and validation they deserve.
The Civil Registration (Amendment) (Certificate of Life) Bill 2022 passed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann on 20 October 2022, and is currently at the Third Stage in Seanad Éireann. I am advised that, subsequent to that date, Senator Doherty met with officials from the Department of Social Protection, including from the General Registry Office, in relation to this Bill.
In the context of the further progression of this Bill through the legislative process, my officials will engage as required, from a health policy perspective, with the Department of Social Protection as part of that process.
351. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the current status of the psychiatry position at Dungarvan Community Hospital; if a vacancy occurs at present; the total period of time from 1 January 2024 to date that the position has been vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6949/25]
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.
352. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the total number of positions comprising the mental health team at Dungarvan Community Hospital; the number of these positions that are currently vacant; the duration each current vacancy has occurred, by position and number of vacancies, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6950/25]
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.
353. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of suicide crisis assessment nurse positions that currently pertain to Waterford; the number of positions that are currently vacant; the duration each current vacancy has occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6951/25]
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.
354. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health liaison nurse positions attached to University Hospital Waterford; the number of these positions that are currently vacant; the duration since each current vacancy has occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6952/25]
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.
355. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an initial appointment with child and adolescent mental health services in CHO5, broken down by county and by year of current referral, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6953/25]
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.
356. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if a HSE surgical hub will be introduced at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown (details supplied). [6963/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCreating ring-fenced elective-only capacity will achieve the planned separation between emergency and elective care. This will release existing hospital capacity for acute care and will get us closer to the 12 weeks Sláintecare access targets. The development of a national network of four Elective Treatment Facilities (Cork, Galway and 2 in Dublin) is provided for in the Programme for Government. Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown has been identified as a preferred location for one of these new facilities.
In addition, six planned Surgical hubs will address interim national elective care capacity needs ahead of their completion. Just as the Elective Hospitals, the hubs will perform high volume low acuity day procedures and diagnostics. Once operational, each hub will deliver over 28,000 day-cases annually.
In addition to the Reeves surgical centre in Tallaght, which is already fully operational, two of these six new surgical hubs will be delivered Dublin. The Mount Carmel surgical hub already opened earlier this month in South Dublin while construction is well underway for the surgical hub in Swords in north Dublin, with an indicative timeframe to become operational in the last quarter of this year.
The remaining surgical hubs will be delivered in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, and they will become operational over the course of 2026 while the feasibility of a hub for the northwest is being explored in line with the Programme for Government.
358. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to provide a palliative care centre in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6970/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe government is committed to the development of a new hospice in Drogheda. It is a strategic goal and a priority of the HSE to develop a 36 bed Specialist Palliative Care Unit in Drogheda to service the population of Louth and Meath. This is in line with the HSE Development Framework for Palliative Care (2017) and the National Adult Palliative Care Policy (2024).
The HSE have been working in partnership with a registered charity - Newgrange Hospice Foundation – to deliver the hospice. The partnership with Newgrange Hospice will mean construction costs of the new hospice being covered by the charity and its donors. The HSE will fund the fit out and operating costs (both pay and non-pay). Drogheda Hospice will provide integrated and high-quality palliative care to patients in the North East. It is anticipated the tender will be awarded in late 2025, and work will commence in early 2026. Construction will take two years and the new hospice is anticipated to open in 2028.
When built, the hospice will provide inpatient, outpatient, day-hospital and bereavement services. It will also support palliative care education and research throughout the region. The new hospice will act as a hub for a comprehensive palliative care service in the region. It will be integrated and operate closely with the existing specialist palliative care teams in Louth and Meath, which currently provide specialist palliative care in local acute hospitals and in the community.
As part of Programme for Government 2025, Government will continue to invest in palliative care to achieve national coverage of hospice and community services.
359. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of rapid-response vehicles available on a 24-7 basis in County Galway in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; if this number will be increased in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6989/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra360. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the call volumes for the National Ambulance Service for the northern Galway area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6990/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputies directly, as soon as possible.
