Written Answers Nos. 22-41
22. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health for an update on plans to relocate the Rotunda Hospital to the Connolly Hospital campus in Blanchardstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34325/25]
View answerThe proposed relocation of the Rotunda hospital is at an early stage. As with all major capital developments, this project will need to progress through a series of approval stages. This is in keeping with the Infrastructure Guidelines, published in December 2023.
In the meantime, the Government is investing to ensure the Rotunda continues to deliver quality care.
For example, the hospital budget has increased to €109 million in 2025. This is an increase of 47% or €35 million since 2020.
A planned new Critical Care Wing will provide significant upgrades to the site. These include additional NICU capacity, single room beds, and a new theatre.
The HSE has purchased an additional building – Hampson House – to extend the Rotunda’s capacity. Hampson House was officially opened in January. Over 100,000 outpatient and ambulatory patients are expected to attend each year.
I was delighted to visit the Rotunda earlier this month, launching a NICU resource for parents. This reflects continuing commitment to providing the best service for families. The Government will continue to support the Rotunda to ensure that it can meet the needs of the women, infants and families it serves.
The Programme for Government 2025 contains a commitment to developing a successor to the National Maternity Strategy. This will consider the future delivery of maternity services.
23. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the current emergency oncology resources at the Mater Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34884/25]
View answerI understand from information provided by the Deputy that a patient received a letter from the Mater Hospital Breast Clinic advising them that it was not possible to provide a date for an appointment.
I appreciate that this must be extremely worrying for any patient receiving such a letter. I have asked officials from my Department to urgently liaise with the HSE to examine the situation and the approach being taken with respect to appointments at the Mater Breast Clinic.
The Mater Breast Clinic is one of nine HSE rapid access Symptomatic Breast Disease clinics. The HSE has set a target of 95% of urgent referrals being seen within 10 working days. Non-urgent referrals should be seen within 12 weeks.
The HSE National Cancer Control Programme monitors the performance of these clinics. Last year national compliance with targets was 76% for both urgent and non-urgent referrals. While five centres generally met or exceeded the targets during the year, four did not. This is often caused by staff shortages or problems in accessing diagnostics or radiology services.
As the clinics consistently operate at full capacity, unfortunately, any disruption to services can lead to a backlog which can take time to clear. Where a performance issue arises the HSE implements site-specific measures. These can include funding additional clinics or providing locum cover where necessary.
The HSE has advised that the Symptomatic Breast Disease clinic at the Mater has experienced long standing recruitment challenges. While these challenges have now stabilised, it will take time for clinicians to work through the waiting list.
24. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health her response to the ESRI report on future capacity requirements for GP services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34603/25]
View answerThe ESRI report on future GP capacity requirements provides a welcome contribution to our general practice workforce planning. The report shows that as our population grows and ages over the next 15 years, and as we continue to provide more services in the community, we need to continue to increase our general practice workforce to meet the resulting additional demand for general practice consultations.
Work is ongoing to increase the number of GPs practising throughout the country. In recent years significant additional investment has been provided to general practice under the 2019 and 2023 Agreements. This has provided for increase fees for GPs, increased practice supports, and the introduction of new services.
The number of new entrants to GP training has been increased by 80 percent over just five years from 2019 to 2024, with 350 places available from 2024. The total number of doctors undertaking GP training has grown as a result, as has the number of GP graduates which will continue to grow over next few years. In addition, 118 doctors are currently in practice here under the International Medical Graduate Rural GP programme, with 18 having completed the new 2-year programme.
While GPs are private practitioners, and as such determine the location they practice from, as well as their own staffing requirements, supports for practices in rural and urban deprived areas have been increased, as have supports for hiring practice staff.
The ongoing Strategic Review of General Practice, due to be completed this year, will also help our planning for general practice capacity and for the wider sustainability of GP services.
25. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the total spend to date on the national children's hospital; the projected spend when the project is completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27503/25]
View answer26. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of amending the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 to remove the loophole that allows advertising by alcohol companies to advertise 0.0% versions of their products on TV, radio and sporting events; if her Department has carried out any research into this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33420/25]
View answerThe Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 regulates the advertising of alcohol products. This is in order to reduce the enormous health harms associated with their consumption; non-alcohol products do not cause such harms.
These products are relatively new to the market, therefore there is as yet insufficient evidence to determine whether they might have a positive health impact by encouraging consumers to substitute non-alcoholic products for those containing alcohol. My Department will undertake an assessment of the national and international peer-reviewed research available on the public health impacts of the emergence of these products. It is intended that this assessment will be concluded by Quarter 2 of next year.
27. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of people under the care of the Midleton, Youghal and Cobh and Glenville adult mental health teams who have been transferred to continuing care settings or high-support hostels since the Owenacurra Centre took in its last resident in February 2021; and the name and locations of those services. [34664/25]
View answerAs you are aware , the Owenacurra Centre was damaged as a result of flooding associated with Storm Babet on 18th October 2023. In this context, a key priority for the HSE has been to identify appropriate accommodation to meet the evolving care needs for the 6 remaining service users who were resident at the centre at the time.
The HSE has previously advised my Department that 2 of these residents moved into their community home in May 2024. The HSE have been informed that both the residents and families are very happy with this move and their new community home. The 4 remaining residents remain in the care of Cork Mental Health Services . Works have commenced at a second three-bedroom property, with the expectation that they will be completed later in 2025.
I understand from the HSE that the current position in relation to the former Owenacurra residents under the care of the Midleton/ Youghal and Cobh/ Glenville Adult Mental Health Teams, who have been transferred to continuing care settings or high-support hostels since February 2021 is that they are receiving care via Glenwood House, St. Stephen's Hospital, and St. Catherine's unit.
As Minister for Mental Health, I will continue to work with the HSE to ensure that the issue of appropriate accommodation is progressed by the HSE as a priority, in order that the 4 remaining service users can fully transition to appropriate community based residential care as soon as possible.
|
Location/ Service; |
No of Service Users |
|
Glenwood House |
1 |
|
St. Stephen’s Hospital |
2 |
|
St. Catherine’s Unit |
1 |
|
Total |
4 |
28. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to accelerate delivery of a new primary care centre in Portumna, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34125/25]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for allowing me to update the house on this matter.
The need for a new Primary Care Centre (PCC) in Portumna was identified as part of the HSE’s overall primary care centre development programme. As the Deputy is aware, the HSE had previously advertised and identified a preferred developer for this new centre and construction had commenced. However, the preferred developer was unable to proceed based on the original terms and following significant engagement, the HSE had to exercise its right to terminate the Agreement for Lease in Q1 of this year.
Following the termination of that Agreement for Lease, the HSE is now reviewing the most appropriate options to proceed with this development. At present, the HSE is updating the service needs assessment and preparing a revised schedule of accommodation and business case for this PCC. Subject to obtaining the necessary relevant approvals, it is currently expected to progress to the next stage in Q3 2025.
I fully recognise that the delay in the delivery of Portumna PCC is both disappointing and frustrating for the people in the Portumna area who have been waiting on the completion of this centre for some time. However, the HSE is now moving forward with plans to progress the development of Portumna PCC and ensure that plans for the new centre take into account the changing needs of the area.
I assure the Deputy that my Department is engaging with the HSE to progress the further development of PCCs throughout the country, including Portumna PCC.
29. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the progress made towards the full digitisation of healthcare records and information systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34831/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to work toward the full digitisation of healthcare records and to support increased capital investment in health digitalisation through the National Development Plan Review which is ongoing.
The Digital for Care strategy sets out the path to a single digital health record for every person in Ireland and consists of three priority initiatives under proceeding concurrently and in parallel, as follows:
1. The HSE Health App (which has already won a number of technology awards) was launched in February 2025, giving patients control over their health journey. Further releases are planned this year.
2. The National Shared Care Record programme has been mobilized, with the contract for the technology platform awarded to EY, Better, and Kainos. A phased roll-out will begin in Q4 2025 in the South-East region to healthcare workers based in University Hospital Waterford and surrounding community areas. Roll-out will extend to other regions from 2026.
3. A preliminary business case for the National EHR, which will be nationally led and regionally delivered, has been developed by the HSE. It is subject to the External Assurance Process (EAP) before being presented to Government. A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was published in June 2025 to inform EHR suppliers of the health service's interest in enterprise-level EHR systems. This process is open to all potential vendors.
30. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to improve transparency and scrutiny in relation to the amount hospitals are charging health insurance companies in order to address rising premiums. [33416/25]
View answerIreland’s health insurance market is community-rated. Health insurance premiums are based on the average cost of providing the services covered by a particular product, rather than on an individual health’s status.
Insurers make predictions based on their customer base and what services they will require in the coming year and price their premiums accordingly.
There are several contributors to premium price increases, including age and demographic profile. Older people have more complex health needs. However, community rating means that older and sicker people pay much less for health insurance than they would in a risk-rated market. Other factors include increases in staffing costs and medical inflation relating to new high-tech treatments.
Private patients may be treated in a private or, to a lesser and decreasing extent, a public hospital. In public hospitals, patient charges are fixed by legislation and are fully transparent [Schedule Four of the Health Act 1970 (revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1970/act/1/revised/en/pdf?annotations=false) .
The charges that apply in a private hospital are negotiated between private health insurers and health service providers. It is in the insurers’ interest to negotiate the best possible rate for procedures and services, as this will control their claims costs.
All of these matters are factored into the health insurers’ commercial considerations and business pricing strategies. However, as Minister for Health, I have no role in the commercial decision-making of any private health insurer.
31. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the provision of orthodontal services in the north-east region; the reasons for delays in accessing services; and her proposals to ensure adequate service levels. [34677/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
32. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if there has been any costing in relation to the publication and implementation of the national framework for endometriosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27501/25]
View answer33. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the measurable actions her Department is taking to ensure that elderly people have timely access to age-appropriate mental health supports, including integrated primary care pathways, nursing home liaison psychiatry, and community-based outreach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33952/25]
View answerIt is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government, and the HSE to ensure that people have access to the appropriate range of mental health supports available. This includes older persons who require assistance with their mental health needs.
The HSE recognises the essential role played by Primary Care in the provision of mental health care in Ireland. Approximately 90% of mental health presentations remain in a primary care context accounting for a significant amount of presentations each year.
In Ireland, age-appropriate mental health supports for older people are increasingly being delivered through integrated primary care pathways that focus on early intervention, community-based care, and holistic support. Central to this approach is the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) programme, a key component of the Sláintecare reform, which aims to shift care from hospitals to the community. ECC has established Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP) teams across the country, offering multidisciplinary assessments and care plans that include input from geriatricians, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and social workers. These teams play a crucial role in identifying and managing both physical and mental health conditions in older adults, including depression, anxiety, and dementia, while keeping individuals living safely and independently at home.
These developments are guided by "Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone" (2020–2030), Ireland’s national mental health policy. This framework emphasizes the need for tailored mental health services for older adults, including better integration between specialist psychiatry of later life teams and general primary care services. The policy advocates for community-based approaches to care that address not only clinical needs but also social isolation, physical health and loneliness—significant factors affecting mental health in older age. Ongoing work includes the development of integrated care pathways between primary care and mental health services, including consultation-liaison psychiatry, shared care models, and efforts to better address the physical health needs of people accessing specialist mental health services within the primary care context.
The HSE is progressing the implementation of the Model of Care for Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People (2019), which provides a framework for the development of accessible, integrated, and age-appropriate mental health services for older adults.
In particular, measurable actions are being progressed under Recommendation 6 of the Model of Care, which outlines the staffing requirements for Psychiatry of Old Age Liaison Services across acute hospitals and nursing home settings.
Key actions to date include:
Establishment of five demonstration sites delivering liaison psychiatry services in:
• Louth/Meath (RHA A, CHO 8)
• St James's Hospital (RHA B, CHO 7)
• St Vincent’s University Hospital (RHA C, CHO 6)
• Sligo/Leitrim (RHA F, CHO 1)
• North Dublin/Beaumont (RHA A, CHO 9) (approved in 2025)
A national gap analysis has been completed for Community Mental Health Teams for Older People. While approximately two-thirds of the recommended teams are in place, staffing levels vary, and work is ongoing to build full multidisciplinary capacity.
• Posts have been approved for 2025 to strengthen existing teams across multiple regions.
• five-year strategic implementation plan is in development, with a year-three review point, to guide the phased expansion of both liaison and community mental health services for older adults.
• Additional teams for both liaison and community services will be developed through the annual estimates process, prioritising areas of greatest need and gaps in multidisciplinary staffing.
• This work is being progressed in partnership with stakeholders across primary care, older persons’ services (e.g. Memory Clinics, ICTOP, CIT), the National Dementia Office, and acute hospitals, to promote integrated care pathways.
• Emerging good practice examples include integrated service models in Sligo/Leitrim and the development of collocated community mental health and day hospital services for older people.
Additional liaison appointments have been made to support older persons in:
• Limerick (RHA E, CHO 3): Consultant appointed in 2024
• Cork (RHA D, CHO 4): Community Consultant appointment planned for 2025
An integrated approach to the delivery of mental health services for older persons is been progressed by the HSE across the following key initiatives.
The Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme is a transformative initiative under Sláintecare, shifting healthcare delivery from hospitals to community settings, ensuring patients receive tailored treatment closer to home. By strengthening primary care, general practice, and integrated community services, the programme is preventing unnecessary hospital referrals and admissions while enhancing patient outcomes.
Since its launch in 2020, ECC has expanded significantly, establishing 96 Community Health Networks, 53 combined ICPOP and ICPCD Community Specialist Teams and deploying over 2,800 additional healthcare staff to support multidisciplinary care models. ECC demonstrates a shift towards improved health through prevention, early detection and management; improved lifestyles; improved clinical results and routine care in the Community. The programme also enhances GP access to community diagnostics, mobile medical services, and telehealth solutions, improving accessibility and efficiency.
In 2024, over 42k people were supported by ALONE, a voluntary partner, in delivering facilitating co-ordinated support, visitation support, befriending, age friendly housing technology and community supports. Through these initiatives, ECC ensures that more people receive proactive, high-quality care in their own communities, reducing pressure on acute hospitals while improving long-term health outcomes and enabled home-based care.
Both myself as Minister, and the HSE remains committed to expanding timely, age-appropriate mental health services for older people, ensuring care is delivered in the right place, at the right time.
34. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on progress towards implementation of the development control plan for University Hospital Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34620/25]
View answerIn late 2023, Saolta convened a Capital Programme Oversight Board to develop a clinically led, holistic master planning approach for its University Hospital Galway (UHG) campus. This master planning process has been informed by population health needs and clinical demand for the region and it is proposing a number of projects of significant scale on campus. When complete, UHG will provide state of the art Model 4 hospital facilities for the people of Galway and the HSE West and Northwest Region.
In order provide a clear plan for the sequencing and phased delivery of the much-needed new capacity and facilities, a Development Control Plan (DCP) for the campus has been completed. This DCP includes plans for a new helipad, additional bed capacity, new emergency department, new paediatric and maternity facilities, labs and cancer centre.
In May, I visited Galway University Hospitals to see and hear about the proposals under the DCP. At the end of May 2025, my Department received a copy of the DCP and programme Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the proposals at UHG. These documents are currently being reviewed against the requirements of D/PENDR’s Infrastructure Guidelines and will be returned to the HSE with feedback, to be subsumed into the Preliminary Business Case (PBCs) for the first phases of the works. Work has commenced on the Preliminary Business Case and a Business Consultant has been appointed.
To deliver much needed new facilities at UHG a significant volume of enabling works will be required. The HSE has advised that initial enabling works on UHG campus to support this programme of works have begun.
The proposals for UHG, as well as the other significant ambitions we have for much-needed capital investment in our health system, form part of our ongoing engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform following Minister Chamber’s announcement of a review of the National Development Plan.
35. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the steps she has taken to incentivise GPs to engage in discussions on the National Endometriosis Framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35001/25]
View answerEndometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological conditions in Ireland and affects approximately 1 in 10 women worldwide. It can be a difficult condition to diagnose and treat because of the variation of presentation, impacting the physical and mental well-being of patients at varying levels.
The National Framework for Endometriosis is being developed by the HSE’s National Women & Infant’s Health Programme (NWIHP) in conjunction with endometriosis specialists and gynaecologists, and in consultation with stakeholders, including the Irish Council for General Practitioners. The Framework identifies how care for women with endometriosis will be delivered from primary care to local hospital care to specialist complex care by multidisciplinary teams.
The HSE has advised that this Framework is nearing completion. The Framework will be published when final agreement between the IMO, representing GPs, and the HSE, on the role played by GPs in implementing the model of care is reached.
36. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health for an update on plans to develop a network of rapid outpatient clinics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34868/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
37. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the current average ambulance response time; the average ambulance response time in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34063/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
38. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to provide additional beds and staff in community hospitals across Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34870/25]
View answer39. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34535/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
40. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the Government’s position on the proposed World Health Assembly pandemic treaty, which would confer sweeping new powers on the World Health Organisation in future public health emergencies; and if the Government intends to fully support this treaty, or will reject any provisions that may interfere with national sovereignty, medical freedom or the right of the Irish people to have democratic oversight over health policy decisions. [26751/25]
View answer41. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps she has taken to expedite regulation of psychologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34744/25]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware from my previous replies on this issue, psychology has been a uniquely challenging profession to regulate due to the diversity of its specialisms and the fact that there is no common education pathway or standards for entry to the profession.
CORU, which is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals, has undertaken a significant body of work to progress the opening of the Psychologists Registration Board.
My Department is currently prioritising a Regulated Professions Bill, which will ensure legislative provisions are in place to expedite the opening of the psychologist register. It is now anticipated that the first three divisions of the register will open in early 2026.
