Written Answers Nos. 858-871
858. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide updated figures on the number of people currently waiting for dementia-specific daycare or home care services in each CHO area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36183/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
861. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider increasing investment in dementia research, given that it currently accounts for less than 1.5% of total health research output; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36186/25]
View answerResearch is cited as one of the six Priority Action Areas of the National Dementia Strategy and the need for research and evidence is highlighted as a priority for service planning and delivery as well as to advance understanding of the cause, cure and care of dementia.
The Programme for Government sets out eight key priorities in terms of dementia care and support, one of which is to work with the National Dementia Office and key stakeholders to develop a National Dementia Registry to map services, identify need and plan the delivery of equitable access to services.
In line with both commitments, on 23 May 2025, Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell T.D. with responsibility for Older People announced that implementation of the National Dementia Registry for Ireland had commenced. The Registry is intended to improve patient care quality and clinical outcomes for people with dementia, provide data for service provision, feed into policy development, and facilitate research. This will address the need for evidence based research and enhance service planning and delivery.
Over the past five years, €19 million in new funding for dementia has been provided, including €2 million in Budget 2025, focusing both on community-based services and new diagnostic and post-diagnostic support services, which the Government aims to progressively increase and improve upon.
The Health Research Board, the largest funder of health and social care research in the state, has funded Dementia Trials Ireland since 2020 at a total cost of €2.5m over five years. The objective of DTI is to significantly develop and expand the current small dementia clinical trials portfolio to include studies of diverse types. These trials will include proof of concept to implementation, non-pharmacological to pharmacological approaches, suitable for all stages and all sub-types of dementia. There is a large focus within the network on public and patient involvement.
The HRB also funds the Dementia Research Ireland Network. The aim of the DRNI is to support, facilitate and promote interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, academics, policy makers, PPI, and other stakeholders.
As part of the 2026 Estimates process, my Department will fully consider all requests to further expand and progress dementia services to support people with dementia and their families, in order to ensure that they can live as well and as independently as possible.
862. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if she will consider awarding discretionary medical cards to women who underwent pelvic mesh implant surgery and were left with crippling, life-changing complications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36215/25]
View answerI understand that complications from a mesh implant are very distressing and painful for those women involved and since the emergence of this matter, the ongoing priority focus for my Department has been to ensure that all women experiencing mesh-related complications receive high quality, multidisciplinary and patient-centred care.
Medical card provision is primarily based on residency and financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.
The issue of granting medical cards on the basis of illness or a disability was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the expert group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
Officials in my Department have regularly engaged with two stakeholder groups, Mesh Ireland and Mesh Survivors Ireland, to understand the experiences and challenges some women have in accessing supports and services for mesh complications.
Officials are in the process of exploring options for aftercare supports for women who have suffered complications related to mesh surgery.
863. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if she will carry out an independent inquiry into mesh implants, to establish the facts, the extent of harm, and develop a registry of the individuals affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36216/25]
View answerConsiderable work has been done and continues to progress in Ireland in relation to the safe use of mesh implants; and the patient voice is central to our understanding of this matter.
Over the past two decades, uro-gynaecological mesh has been widely used in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women. Mesh devices are certified as compliant with relevant EU legislation, and as such, European regulatory competent authorities consider that the benefits outweigh the risks for these devices.
I am aware that in response to concerns raised in Ireland regarding complications associated with the use of mesh devices in late 2017, the then Minister for Health requested the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to prepare a report on the matter, which was published in November 2018.
The CMO’s report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures contains a number of recommendations regarding the safe and effective provision of mesh procedures in uro-gynaecology and an appropriate response to women who suffer complications as a result of undergoing such procedures. The CMO’s report includes a recommendation on identifying the number of women requiring, and likely to require, specialist multidisciplinary services.
The report was informed by the available national and international evidence and the personal experiences of women who have suffered complications following mesh surgery. In July 2018, in advance of publication of the full report, the CMO requested the HSE to pause all mesh procedures where clinically safe to do so. This pause remains in place.
The HSE has created a dedicated webpage about vaginal mesh implants, including contact information regarding the pathways for women suffering complications. In addition, multidisciplinary specialist services are now available for women suffering from mesh complications across two sites at Cork University Hospital (CUMH) and National Maternity Hospital (NMH) Dublin.
The focus for my Department and the HSE remains the full implementation of the CMO’s report and ensuring that women who require aftercare following mesh complications receive high quality, multidisciplinary patient-centred care in accordance with the evidence and supported by robust clinical governance mechanisms.
864. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has not reinstated a podiatry clinic in Barrack View Health Centre, Edward Street, Limerick, which has not been held since March 2025; when it will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36217/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
865. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the current proposal to split Erasmus+ into a standalone mobility programme and a skills chapter of the competitiveness fund; the Irish position on this; the discussions that have taken place on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35205/25]
View answerThe Erasmus+ programme is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport activities throughout Europe.
The objectives of the Programme are organised under three Key Actions:
Learning mobility of individuals;
Cooperation among organisations and institutions; and
Support to policy development and cooperation.
Ireland is an active participant across all three Key Action areas.
The current programme runs from 2021 to 2027 and is funded under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) which also runs to 2027.
The European Commission is expected to make its proposal on the next MFF in the coming weeks (around the middle of July). It is also expected that the Commission will make its proposals with respect to the programmes which may be funded under the framework at the same time or soon after.
Once proposed by the Commission, the review process with the Council and then the Parliament will commence.
At this point the Commission has not made a proposal with respect to the next Erasmus+ programme and as such there have been no discussions between the Commission and Member States on this matter.
It would not be appropriate for me as the Minister to comment on speculation on what may be proposed at this point in time.
866. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what the current administration, teaching, instructor and management grades are in further education and training; what circular letters, if any, correspond to each of these grades; and what the associated pay scales are (for example, CL 44/99 for VTOS co-ordinator); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35314/25]
View answerThe Department of Education and Youth’s (DEY) Circular Letter 0017/2025 lists all grades employed by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in Further Education and Training (FET), other than teachers and SNAs. As per Section 19 of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, DEY issues Circulars relating to grades other than teachers and SNAs employed by ETBs.
There are more than 60 circulars applicable to these grades, covering a broad spectrum of issues, for example, Payment of Tool Allowances to Craft Workers, Carers Leave, Career Breaks, Changes to Domestic Subsistence Rates, Analogous Grades, Incremental Credit, and so on. Further information is available on: www.gov.ie/en/circulars/
Current pay scales for staff employed by ETBs in FET are included in:
• Circular 0017/2025, “Revision of Salaries and Allowances of Certain Grades other than Teachers and SNAs employed by ETBs under The Public Service Agreement 2024 - 2026 effective from 01 March 2025 and Circular 0015/2025”, and
• Circular 0015/2025, “Revision of Teacher Salaries under the Public Service Agreement 2024 – 2026. Application of pay adjustments with effect from 1 March 2025”.
867. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if financial support is available to Irish citizens who chose to complete a third level degree abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35460/25]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States. In general, an approved undergraduate course in this context is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU Member State or the UK.The Scheme does not extend to PLC courses or postgraduate study pursued outside of Ireland nor does it extend to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than for exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland.
The Deputy may wish to note that tax relief may be available at the standard rate of tax in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
868. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider enforcing a scheme for Irish citizens training abroad in medicine, where tuition relief would be provided while completing their degree, contingent on a contractual agreement to return and serve in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35461/25]
View answerThe contractual agreement, as described by the Deputy, for medicine students to take up employment within the Irish healthcare workforce after graduation from their medicine training, would need to be made with the employer, in this case the Department of Health and it's agency the HSE.
A similar arrangement was reached with Queens University Belfast for undergraduate medicine places, intake in September 2024 and September 2025, for 50 students. This arrangement was co funded by Department of Health and is contingent on students opting to undertake an internship year in the Irish public health workforce after graduation.
My Department has been working very closely with the Department of Health to increase Medicine training places. In July 2022 a landmark increase in Medicine programmes was jointly announced by both My Department and the Department of Health, increasing Medicine places for EU students by 200, on an incremental basis, up to 2026.
In October 2022, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) ran an expression of interest (EOI) process seeking responses from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine. EOIs were sought from institutions with the capability to expand existing courses or create new courses in these areas. In 2024 the HEA recommended the progression and development of several projects, including two new Medicine programmes: A Graduate Entry Rural and Remote Medicine Programme in the University of Galway and a direct entry Medicine programme in the University of Limerick. At full roll out it is anticipated this will provide a further 78 student places per annum between both Universities.
I will continue to work with my colleague, the Minister for Health, and our agencies to increase training provision and to provide the skilled graduates to support and enhance our healthcare sector.
869. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list all the public services contracts worth €10 million or more granted by him, the forerunner in his Department or other State bodies in the past five years; the value of each contract; the length of term of each; the expiration date of each contract; and whether any contract was discontinued during its term and for what reason. [35486/25]
View answerMy officials are collating the information requested and will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.
870. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason funding to an organisation (details supplied) did not increase in budget 2025; if he is aware of a reduction in places; if he will review the allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35510/25]
View answerMy officials are looking into this matter and engaging with City of Dublin ETB. I will follow up with the Deputy directly.
871. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing tuition fees for postgraduate and repeat students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35662/25]
View answerThe higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are therefore responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational matters, including the management of academic affairs. Postgraduate tuition fees and fees for repeat periods of study are set by each institution. I understand that these fees can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the type of course and the institution’s fee structure.
My Department does not collect data on postgraduate or repeat fees charged by institutions for individual courses. Therefore, an estimated cost to the State of fully supporting these fees is not available.
In considering the Deputy’s query, it is important to note that postgraduate students may be eligible for support under the student grant scheme administered by SUSI. Details of these postgraduate grant supports are available at: www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/postgraduate-income-thresholds-and-grant-award-rates/
I will be publishing an options paper ahead of Budget 2026. This paper will identify the costs and potential impacts of various policy options aimed at reducing the cost of tertiary education for students and their families. The paper will inform decision-making in the lead-up to Budget 2026. While I cannot confirm specific measures that will be included in the next Budget, I can assure the Deputy that supporting students and reducing financial barriers will be a key priority for me.
