Written Answers Nos. 673-693
673. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of public nursing homes in Wicklow compared with private nursing homes; if any of the private nursing homes accept publicly funded residents who do not qualify for the fair deal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13933/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
674. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health for a statement on the Baggot Street Hospital; for a statement on the registration of the site on the Intra-State Register for disposal by the HSE; and if she will report on his engagement with the HSE and the Minister for Health in respect of same. [13948/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
675. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason section 39 workers in some institutions (details supplied) were advised they lie outside the scope of the agreement and therefore not afforded the improved work and pay conditions that many of their section 39 colleagues have had confirmed; the steps she will take to rectify this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13291/25]
View answerAn unprecedented agreement was reached at the WRC on 10th March to fund Health and Social Care, and Homeless sector employers give a 9.25% pay increase to their workers – an increase equivalent to the current Public Sector Agreement 2024-2026. The agreement also includes an automatic link to match any future pay increases that may arise in future public sector pay agreements.
The agreement recognises that staff in these sectors should be fairly paid and appropriately recognised for the vital work they do.
This agreement applies to the pay of workers in organisations grant funded under Section 39 (Health Act 2004), Section 56 (Child and Family Agency Act 2013), Section 10 (Housing Act 1988) and Section 40 (Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023).
ICTU unions will now ballot their members with a view to formalising the deal under the auspices of the WRC. The pay terms are backdated to start from October 2024 with implementation to take place over a two-year period to the end of 2026:
• 2.25% on 01 Oct 2024
• 1.0 % on 01 April 2025
• 2.0% on 01 Nov 2025
• 2.0 % on 01 April 2026
• 2.0% on 01 Oct 2026
676. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the waiting period for a CAMHS assessment for a person [details supplied]; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13302/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
677. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the work of the National Hearing Care Plan Working Group; when the group’s recommendations are expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13304/25]
View answerThe Minister for Health established the National Hearing Care Plan Working Group in August 2024.
The Hearing Care Plan Working Group is jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. Membership of the Working Group is drawn from relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, the Irish Academy of Audiology, and the Department of Social Protection.
The Group is tasked with making recommendations around developing a holistic model of hearing care in Ireland. This work is ongoing and will consider, among other things, the appropriate linkage between public and private provision of care to maximise positive outcomes for patients.
The Working Group are progressing work to meet the target set out in the Terms of Reference to produce a draft Plan by end of Q2, 2025.
Further information regarding the Working Group, including its Terms of Reference, can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e68ec-minister-for-health-establishes-national-hearing-care-plan-working-group/
678. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Donegal will receive a rheumatology appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13309/25]
View answerUnder 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.
679. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 752 of 4 March 2025, and subsequent reply in relation to the heartwatch scheme; the reason the new CDM Programme is only open to medical card patients (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13311/25]
View answerThe conditions for eligibility for GP services paid for by the State are set out in the Health Act 1970.
The Chronic Disease Management Programme, which has been rolled out progressively since 2000 and will see a further expansion to the conditions covered from July this year, covers a very large patient population. To date, over 470,000 patients have been registered on the programme, and this year’s expansion is estimated to bring in an additional 33,000 patients.
The delivery of healthcare programmes on such as large scale as this requires a measured approach to ensure that the capacity to deliver the programme is not exceeded. The Chronic Disease Management Programme was established following the 2019 GP Agreement which sets out the specific patient groups to be covered, the phasing of the Programme’s introduction, and the resources to be provided to GPs to deliver the programme.
The Programme as foreseen in the 2019 Agreement is now fully operational, and the expansions of 2024 and 2025 have been planned with General Practice to ensure that capacity to deliver them is in place. I and the HSE are continuously monitoring healthcare programmes with a view to ensuring appropriate access for patients in circumstances of appropriate capacity. In this context, I note that the Programme for Government includes a commitment to ‘examine the possibility of expanding the Structured Chronic Disease Management Programme to include more conditions and seek to provide access to more adults with these conditions’.
With regard to the specific person referred to in the question, I would note that all patients who had been on the Heartwatch programme when the CDM Programme was introduced were granted access to the CDM Programme, regardless of eligibility status. The patient or his GP may wish to contact the HSE directly to clarify their situation.
680. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health for an update on any progress to the Dual Diagnosis Programme since 2021; the way it is being monitored; and if outcomes and the progress of individuals are tracked and monitored. [13323/25]
View answer681. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a list of the dual diagnosis services in each CHO, in tabular form. [13324/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 680 and 681 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
682. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE addiction services under HSE social inclusion have adequate resources to manage behavioural addictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13325/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
683. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of the addiction services, and the funding they receive, per county, in tabular form. [13326/25]
View answerAn interactive map of publicly funded drug treatment and drug-related family support services, developed in partnership between the Department of Health and the Health Research Board, was launched in June.
This online tool marks the first time a visual database of services has been produced. It features 442 services in receipt of public funding, including services provided directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE) or community-based organisations and residential services funded via the HSE. The map is hosted by the Health Research Board and can be accessed at: www.drugsandalcohol.ie/services_map
The map provides easily navigable information on local services for people looking to access services to address their drug or alcohol use, and for families and concerned others who are struggling to deal with a loved one’s drug or alcohol use. The map complements existing resources such as the drug and alcohol helpline and the drugs.ie website.
As the issues raised in this question relating to funding are service matters, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response.
684. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason the deaths of babies with congenital anomalies, such as down syndrome or spina bifida, are not included in Maternity Patient Safety Statement reports; how the exclusion of these deaths contribute to transparency and patient safety monitoring; the measures in place to ensure that the full extent of perinatal mortality, including cases involving congenital anomalies, is accurately recorded and used to inform maternity care improvements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13327/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
685. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the average length of time that patients are awaiting for an initial appointment after being referred for care in Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, CHI Temple Street, and Beaumont Hospital, per specialty, per inpatient-outpatient, from 2018 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13328/25]
View answerIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
I published the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 on February 12th, representing this Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times for patients and improving access to hospital care.
In keeping with this commitment, significant funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025, €190m for the HSE and €230m for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
With the 2025 plan, we will continue to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, progressing towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the NTPF collects data on patients on waiting lists at a point in time and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided in the tables at the link below.
Since 1st January 2019, NTPF data from Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children's University Hospital and National Children's Hospital at Tallaght University Hospital have been reported as one entity, Children's Health Ireland.
686. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting longer than 12 months for an initial appointment after being referred for care in Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, CHI Temple Street, and Beaumont Hospital, per speciality, per inpatient/outpatient, from 2018 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13329/25]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, adult and child waiting list information by hospital and specialty is published monthly by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) on its website: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
The information is now being made available through an interactive visual tool which provides users with a much-improved way of accessing and analysing waiting list information.
Since 1st January 2019, NTPF data from Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Children's University Hospital and National Children's Hospital at Tallaght University Hospital have been reported as one entity, Children's Health Ireland.
687. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently on the waiting list for primary care child and adolescent services in south Lee. [13330/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
688. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies per dual diagnosis teams across the country. [13332/25]
View answerThis PQ has been referred to the HSE for answer.
689. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the total paid to private consultancy firms by the HSE, from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025, by company and category of consultancy, in tabular form. [13333/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
690. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed discharges, by category and hospital, in tabular form. [13342/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
691. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of additional beds delivered since publication of the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan, by year, in tabular form. [13348/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
692. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the current number of acute hospital inpatient beds, by site, in tabular form. [13349/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
693. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of additional post-acute specialist rehabilitation beds delivered in 2024 and to date in 2025, by site, in tabular form. [13350/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
