Written Answers Nos. 738-760
738. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no funding for hospital transport for patients based in south Tipperary (details supplied); if she will urgently review this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13621/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
739. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the current waiting times for appointments with the speech and language therapist service following initial assessment in counties Longford and Westmeath. [13622/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
740. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a child (details supplied); if she will provide an update on this appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13640/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
741. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a child (details supplied); if she will provide an update on this appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13641/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
742. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the completion of the national rollout of HSE community neuro-rehabilitation teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13647/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
743. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her plans to address the shortage of accredited genetic testing services for patients in Ireland; her views on public hospital laboratories not having the resources, equipment, or accreditation to meet the clinical genetic testing needs of patients and clinicians; how she proposes to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13649/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
744. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her plans for developing a national genomic processing service; when this will be done; if accredited companies located in Ireland will be included in the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13650/25]
View answerMy Department continues to collaborate with the HSE National Genetics and Genomic Office (NGGO) to implement the National Strategy on Genetics and Genomics, including the development of a National Genomic Processing Service (NGPS). An Expression of Interest and Invitation to Participate process is currently underway to identify a service provider for the NGPS from within publicly funded Model 3 and Model 4 hospitals and laboratories. The function of the NGPS will be to support the use of the Rare and Inherited Disease Test Directory, which was launched earlier this year, and to act as a centralised hub for coordinating receipt of samples and associated documentation.
745. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the guidance provided by the HSE to public consultant clinicians on where patient blood samples should be sent for genetic testing; what countries Irish patient blood samples are sent to for testing; the process for validating and approving these testing laboratories; if they send the samples to ISO 15189 accredited laboratories in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13651/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
746. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she has plans to open a public procurement competition for the provision of clinical genetic testing in Ireland; if so, the anticipated timeline for implementation; and the plans she has for retaining genetic testing within Ireland using an accredited laboratory testing centre. [13652/25]
View answerMy Department continues to collaborate with the HSE National Genetics and Genomic Office (NGGO) to implement the National Strategy on Genetics and Genomics including the development of a National Genomic Processing Service (NGPS). Following the establishment of the NGPS, service utilisation and demand projections can be determined which will help inform plans for a public procurement process for genomic tests associated with the clinical indications specified in the National Genomic Test Directory, which was launched earlier this year.
747. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the increase in regional inpatient neurorehabilitation beds, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13653/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
748. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13655/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
749. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if all HSE safeguarding teams in community healthcare organisations are now fully integrated into the six new HSE regions; if not, the issues holding up the process; and the additional skills and training planned for HSE safeguarding staff to deal with complex financial issues arising from safeguarding. [13656/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
750. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health if she has considered the report of the Law Reform Commission of April 2024 “A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding”; and if she intends to bring forward legislation to establish a National Adult Safeguarding Agency independent of the HSE; and, if so, the timeframe for the enactment of such legislation and the establishment of such an agency. [13657/25]
View answerSafeguarding at-risk adults against abuse is of paramount importance and is taken very seriously by the Government.
The independent Law Reform Commission published a Report on ‘A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding’ in April 2024. The Commission’s Report set out comprehensive and wide-ranging recommendations that have relevance across a range of Government Departments, including, but not exclusive to, the Department of Health. One of these recommendations included establishing a statutory Safeguarding Body with a cross-sectoral remit.
The Programme for Government 2025 ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’ includes a commitment relating to all sectors to explore the establishment of a National Safeguarding Body to ensure the health, safety and welfare of vulnerable adults. I anticipate that this Programme for Government commitment will be carefully considered by all relevant Departments in relation to their respective functions.
Separately, the Programme for Government also includes a commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector. My Department, in liaison with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, is at an advanced stage of finalising this policy to further strengthen the existing protections in this sector. It is expected that these sectoral policy proposals will be brought before Government in the coming months and that the preparation of related underpinning legislation will commence thereafter.
751. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the total cost of the HSE’s National Safeguarding Office computerised system for recording and analysing reports of abuse of vulnerable adults, from project definition to final testing and implementation; the members of the project board that oversaw the project; the number of times it met; and if the minutes of these meetings will be made public. [13658/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
752. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the total number of social workers currently employed in the HSE and HSE-funded hospitals and social care services; the number of social workers currently employed in each level 4, level 3 and level 2 hospital in each of the six new HSE regions; the comparable number employed in 2020; and her plans to expand social work services in the community. [13659/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
753. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health if dental treatment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [13661/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
754. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the measures she will enact to ensure both medical card and non-medical card patients who are aged-out of childhood dental services due to excessive waiting lists maintain their entitlement, that their treatment regime is uninterrupted, that their waiting time is taken into account when they are moved to the adult waiting list and they are not expected to join the new list to begin waiting again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13662/25]
View answerThe 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. However, the HSE does not provide the child oral health examination programme to children once they turn 16.
The HSE’s child oral health examination programme has been impacted by capacity challenges in recent years and I acknowledge that we need to do more to support access to this current service while reform proceeds through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP). In Budget 2025, an additional €2m in funding, increasing to €4m in 2026, was provided to continue implementation of the NOHP and improve access to existing community services in our HSE dental and orthodontic clinics. This investment is providing an additional 15 HSE dental and orthodontic 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 sets out the reform of services so that children can access regular, prevention-focused oral healthcare from birth. Children will be supported to access a local general dental practice from birth and will be able to continue to access regular public care at their chosen practice until they turn 16.
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 these new services for children as among the initial priorities.
755. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE respiratory physiotherapists working in Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; if this number will be further increased [13673/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
756. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the case of a person waiting on a hearing test (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13688/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
757. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to a facility closing in County Waterford (details supplied); the plans she has to keep the facility open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13726/25]
View answerPadre Pio Rest Home, Cappoquin, Waterford has given notice that it does not intend to seek re-registration and will be closing. An NF35 Form, which is a formal regulatory notification required by HIQA, was submitted by Padre Pio nursing home notifying HIQA of their intention ‘to cease to carry on the business of the designated centre and close the centre’. The nursing home is registered for 24 beds and currently has 18 residents in situ. Nursing homeowners may choose to exit the market for a variety of reasons, for example due to retirement. It is essential that when nursing homes are intending to close or cease participating in the NHSS, that residents and their families must be consulted with, and given appropriate notice so that new homes can be found and residents can move in a safe, planned way. There is a legal requirement that providers must give at least 6 months’ notice to HIQA if they intend to close. This provides residents, families and public health authorities appropriate time to respond effectively. This is a voluntary, orderly closure. The nursing home is working with HIQA and the residents. There is sufficient capacity in the area to accommodate the residents from Padre Pio. This is a privately owned and operated business and currently neither the Department of Health nor the HSE has any plan to purchase and/or continue to operate this facility.
758. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of systems analysis review reports, or similar reviews, which were carried out in respect of occurrences at each psychiatric hospital or unit from 2016 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the number therein that were commissioned following the death of a patient, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13756/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
759. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the staff allocated to the home based treatment team in Cavan Monaghan Mental Health Service at present, by title, discipline, grade; those positions which are currently unfilled; the corresponding figures for March 2020, March 2021, March 2022, March 2023 and March 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13757/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
760. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current risk assessment and management policies that guide the home based treatment team in Cavan Monaghan Mental Health Service; when these policies were last revised; if there are plans to review these policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13758/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
