Written Answers Nos. 796-819
796. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the progress and expected completion date of the planned Curlew Road primary health care centre in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35757/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
797. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans for a premises (details supplied) on Davitt Road in Dublin 12; the expected commencement date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35758/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
798. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if it can be ensured that an urgent appointment for surgery is scheduled for a person (details supplied). [35762/25]
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.
799. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if she will consider extending special leave with pay for those who worked on the front line during the pandemic, contracted long-Covid and as a result are still suffering from serious health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35837/25]
View answerIn the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-Covid. At the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) a number of times, it was extended for a further 12 months at the end of June 2024 on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it. The special scheme was due to conclude on the 30th of June 2025. However, the Labour Court has today recommended a final extension of the current Special Scheme to run up to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
800. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health at the time of the overview, the WTE number and grade of CR staff employed in each hub site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35842/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, this PQ has been referred to the HSE to respond.
801. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who participated in a phase 3 cardiac rehab programme in each site (hospital and hub) in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35843/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
802. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the criteria used to deliver funding to support 13 permanent cardiac rehab posts to integrated health authority regions (IHA) 1 and 2 (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35844/25]
View answerCardiac rehabilitation (CR) is considered a valuable component of secondary prevention for patients with heart disease due to the rigorous and extensive evidence base supporting its effectiveness. The importance of cardiac rehabilitation was highlighted in Changing Cardiovascular Health 2010 -2019 and is also considered in the recently published National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services.
The Model of Care for Integrated Cardiac Rehabilitation, launched in October 2023, ensures that patients living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have equitable and timely access to high quality CR care, no matter where they live. For people who have been hospitalised with CVD, prevention of repeat events and hospitalisations is important. The CR model of care recognises that to optimise outcomes for patients eligible for CR, consideration must be given to maximising recruitment and retention of such patients therefore, offering increased flexibility in how people can participate in CR is key in this regard.
Cardiovascular health is a major pillar of the health funding announced as part of Budget 2025. Budget 2025 included over €9 million in full-year costs to support important cardiovascular health initiatives, including €4m and 45 posts for cardiac services. This funding has enabled initial reform in cardiac services and supports the development of a new cardiovascular strategy in the longer term.
Specifically, the former Minister for Health requested that a population health lens be placed on cardiac disease, as a key element of cardiovascular health to identify next steps to progress prevention and rehabilitation care through an integrated and regional basis. The specific short-term aim under this heading was to set out the relevant Cardiovascular programs and initiatives including the Enhanced Community Care Programme (ECC), Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme, and the Model of Care for Cardiac Rehabilitation. Opportunities for enhancement of existing community cardiac services were identified to drive integration.
To ensure continued alignment with the Integrated Care Programme for Chronic Disease it was advised to explore a pilot CR programme in 2025 and to develop implementation evidence to support ongoing reform in this important area which would be supported through the Budget 2025 allocation. 13 posts have been created in the North West region, which were identified to address the critical gaps in CR in two IHAs. These posts are currently in recruitment, with four posts having been appointed and accepted, as of mid-June 2024. The initial priority is to test the implementation of the Model of Care for Integrated Cardiac Rehabilitation in two IHA areas in HSE West and North West.
This pilot aims to demonstrate the impact of a Regional Integrated CR Service to deliver on timely, high quality, equitable, person-centred CR service, increase patient choice and access, deliver a standardised CR programme and support ongoing quality improvement. Under leadership of a regional governance group, waiting times, clinical and psychosocial impacts will be evaluated, and learnings will be used to support implementation in other RHAs.
The HSE have advised that there has been significant internal engagement between two IHA managers who are responsible and fully support the regional implementation of the Model of Care at operational level. HSE West and North West has substantial experience and clinical leadership in the delivery of integrated CR. Currently, the area delivers a regional integrated service under the leadership of Integrated Care Consultant Cardiologist, having a regional standard operating procedure in place and a shared database.
The end goal is to provide a fully connected, end-to-end cardiac rehabilitation pathway for patients across the region and to reduce waiting times for cardiac rehabilitation, improve patient access and experience and deliver better long-term health outcomes.
803. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the national average wait times for audiology appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35855/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
804. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the breakdown, per region, of the wait times for audiology appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35856/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
805. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to recruit additional staff to alleviate lengthy wait times for audiology appointments nationally in Dublin north west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35857/25]
View answer806. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the anticipated timeline for the reduction of wait times for audiology appointments with the recruitment of additional staff for the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35858/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 805 and 806 together.
The 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 (HSE). 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, including reductions in wait times. 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/
In the meantime, €750k has been allocated as once-off funding in 2025 to address children’s waiting lists as part of the Waiting List Action Plan. The HSE advise that the Audiology for Children and Young People Framework Tender documents have been finalised and will be published soon. Once the Framework is established, with suitable external providers identified, the once-off funding will be allocated to Regional Executive Offers (REOs) on a pro-rata basis to ensure that the longest waiting children can be seen.
807. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if her Department is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); the actions being taken by the HSE to ensure they receive adequate administrative support, in line with occupational health recommendations, given their condition; if she is aware that the HSE-approved permanent administrative post has not been sanctioned by IBH/paybill, and that efforts to recruit via agency and internal panels have failed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35884/25]
View answerThe department have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
808. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if she or her Department are engaging with, or will engage, a company (details supplied) concerning the termination of a contract of care for a resident. [35914/25]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the day-to-day operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health services is a matter for the HSE.
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
809. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health to outline the safety-care measures put in place at a hospital (details supplied) following the HSA inspection at the hospital in June 2022; if there has since been a follow up inspection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35928/25]
View answerThe Health and Safety Audit referred to was carried out at the request of Cork University Hospital management. As the matter relating to the measures put in place following the audit are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
810. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health to outline the measures being taken to address the backlog in HSE dental check-ups for primary school children; whether a catch-up programme is planned for children who missed their second-class dental assessments due to Covid-19 related delays; if he will clarify whether any reimbursement or tax relief is available to families who have had to pay for private dental care in the absence of public provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35931/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
811. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans in place to extend-replace the temporary special scheme for HSE staff unfit for work due to long Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35937/25]
View answerIn the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-Covid. At the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) a number of times, it was extended for a further 12 months at the end of June 2024 on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it. The special scheme was due to conclude on the 30th of June 2025. However, the Labour Court has today recommended a final extension of the current Special Scheme to run up to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
812. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Government approval in September 2024 for Ireland to evacuate a number of sick children from Gaza for treatment and care, following an appeal from the World Health Organization to address the current health needs of people from Gaza, the number of children from Gaza received and treated to date in 2025; and the number which remain outstanding at this time, in tabular form. [35941/25]
View answerI thank the Deputies for their queries in relation to the medical evacuations to Ireland of paediatric patients from Gaza.
I can advise the Deputies that as an EU Member State, Ireland responded to a request from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assist in addressing the current health needs in Gaza.
On 18 September 2024, the Minister for Health announced that Ireland would receive up to 30 paediatric patients through Egypt, in response to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) request to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The patients selected by the HSE and CHI, from the WHO medevac approved list, for treatment in Ireland are minors i.e. under 17 years of age, and must be in Egypt awaiting medical evacuation. The health needs are categorised under cancer, haemodialysis and patients with other severe medical conditions.
Ireland opts into this response on a case-by-case basis for children who require treatment, subject to the availability of necessary treatment capacity in the HSE and CHI. Many of the patients on the WHO medevac approved list, had arrived to Egypt before the Rafah crossing closure in May 2024.
Ireland has a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance, including through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid humanitarian and development assistance programme, and the HSE Global Health Programme.
12 WHO paediatric patients have been medical evacuated to Ireland so far, along with 12 mother/carers and 21 accompanying family members. Including the 12 WHO patients, all 45 family group members are receiving treatment for illnesses incurred as a result of living conditions in Gaza.
|
Date of medical evacuation |
WHO paediatric patients arrived in Ireland |
Accompanying carers arrived |
Immediate family members arrived |
|
19 December 2024 |
8 |
8 |
11 |
|
5 May 2025 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
|
Remaining Ireland medevac capacity |
18 |
- |
- |
My Department is grateful to several Departments and agencies for their significant engagement for the successful medical evacuation including:
• Department of Justice in relation to visas for entry to Ireland, border control and registration for permission to stay in the State;
• The Department of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Irish Embassy in Egypt who facilitate the processing of Department of Justice visa applications for each patient and accompanying family members;
• HSE and CHI in relation to the selection of patients and provision of healthcare treatment services;
• Department of Social Protection in relation to registration and social protection payments to the parent or guardian;
• Irish Red Cross who have been contracted for provision of accommodation and ongoing case work support including translation services;
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage who communicate evacuation offers for patients, on behalf of Ireland, via the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
My Department and the HSE also engage with the World Health Organisation in Egypt, the Ministry of Health in Egypt, and the Umerto Primo Hospital in Cairo to assess and prepare the patients.
Planning is ongoing with the HSE for the next medical evacuation operation aiming to reach the 30 WHO patients as per Ireland’s commitment, taking into account of lessons learned from the first two evacuation operations.
813. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health to respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35944/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
814. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be offered to a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35945/25]
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.
815. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to get sufficient number of healthcare assistants working in areas throughout the country (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35959/25]
View answer816. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health when the new wing of Midleton Community Hospital will be officially open; the date for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35960/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
817. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if the old Midleton Community Hospital will be used for any specific alternative community services once the new hospital in Midleton is completed and open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35961/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
818. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if it is possible to give the kitchen area in the old Midleton Community Hospital to the local meals and wheels in Midleton (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35962/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
819. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health when works will begin on the existing site of the Owenacurra mental health respite centre in Midleton, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35963/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
