Written Answers Nos. 330-351
330. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions his Department is taking to ensure individuals who are not computer literate are able to make an application for enduring powers of attorney. [36735/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for their question regarding the online application process for Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, 2015.
EPAs are a vital advance planning tool that enable adults to plan ahead for a time when they may have diminished decision-making capacity, ensuring that a person’s wishes are known and respected.
The Decision Support Service (DSS) has statutory responsibility for the operation of many of the provisions of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 including the registration of EPAs.
Ensuring that the application system for decision support arrangements is as user-centric and as accessible as possible is a priority for my Department and is central to the work of the DSS.
On foot of stakeholder feedback the DSS has implemented a number of changes to improve the EPA application process, to reduce application processing times, and to address the accessibility needs of users of the service.
In that regard, in July 2024 the DSS introduced an accessibility policy which includes a dedicated EPA helpdesk service to ensure that individuals who require additional assistance in completing an online EPA application are supported in doing so. This helpdesk facility, together with helpful instructional videos and other guidance material provided on the DSS website, has seen the number of registered EPAs increase, and the timeframe for registration decrease.
It is important to note that there remains a facility for manual applications to be submitted by those who cannot, for a variety of reasons, utilise the online application system. The accessibility policy sets out that the DSS will ensure that individuals who are unable to utilize the online portal are facilitated in making an EPA application manually, and all applicants will be offered the support and advice required to ensure that they can complete their application to have their EPA registered.
A total of 3,000 EPAs have been registered by the DSS since the commencement of their service in April 2023, with over 85% of these registered since the introduction of the accessibility policy in July 2024. These figures indicate robust engagement with the new system since the introduction of the accessibility policy, and a growing awareness by adults of the importance of planning for the future.
My Department looks forward to continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that those who face diminished decision-making capacity are enabled to retain as much autonomy over their lives as possible, and have their wishes documented and respected.
331. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions being taken in response to the serious incident at Oberstown in which nine staff were injured–four requiring hospital treatment, including one with life-changing injuries–marking the third such assault in under two weeks; how he justifies operating the facility with dangerously low staffing levels, given that only 20% of the 2025 intake remains on shift; and the immediate steps that will be taken to implement independent safety reviews, proper restraint protocols, and PPE provision for residential social care workers. [36737/25]
View answerI am concerned that the question asked repeats assertions made about recent incidents at Oberstown which were put into the public domain without consultation or verification and which contain significant factual inaccuracies. I would like to correct these inaccuracies and provide important context while being mindful of the sensitivities of the individuals involved.
Oberstown operates a system in accordance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) for the reporting of Incidents, Accidents and Assaults (IAA). Oberstown has an ‘A’ rating with the State Claims Agency for reporting incidents on NIMS. A weekly IAA meeting reviews all incidents reported over the past week.
All individuals involved in the incidents referred to continue to be fully supported by Oberstown. Where injuries were sustained, following triage by the campus onsite medical team, four individuals were referred to hospital for further checks, none of which resulted in hospitalisation (stays in hospital). While it would not be appropriate for Oberstown to discuss details of any personal injuries outside the internal review process, I have been assured by the Director that to date the campus has not received any medical information to support the assertion that any staff member involved in the incidents received ‘life-changing injuries’. It is unhelpful to make unsupported assertions on the nature or potential repercussions of any injury sustained in an incident which is under review.
Every incident at Oberstown is subject to a thorough internal reporting and review process which operates on the principles of supporting all the individuals involved and respecting the integrity of the internal review process. Incidents are assessed in line with a ‘hot debrief’ protocol followed by an After Incident Review involving all key parties under the guidance of the campus Organisational Psychologist.
Oberstown is not experiencing ‘dangerously low staffing levels’. It is incorrect to say that ‘only 20% of the 2025 intake remains on shift’. As verified by Oberstown’s personnel and payroll records, in 2025 to date, Oberstown has recruited 18 staff, 16 of these in the roles of Residential Social Care Worker and Night Supervising Officer who work in the residential units and are involved in the day to day care of young people, and two in other areas of the campus. Of this intake, 17 remain (94.4%) – only one staff member left within six months of joining.
Oberstown operates robust health and safety systems and processes to ensure the safety of everyone on the campus – young people, staff in all departments and visitors. These systems, processes and outcomes are the subject of dynamic ongoing and periodic internal and external review and inspection in line with campus operational practices and policy and statutory requirements. The campus carries out monthly Health and Safety Audits and operates a campus-wide Health and Safety Committee.
The campus also holds itself to the highest international standards through voluntary participation in regular external audits and accreditations to international (ISO) standards.
Oberstown is also subject to annual independent inspection by HIQA.
332. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the urgent measures being taken to address the over-capacity crisis at Oberstown, which has recently resulted in the centre turning away remand children due to lack of space, including two facing serious charges; and the steps he will take to ensure that any increase in capacity is matched by investment in rehabilitative programming, trauma-informed care, and the training and protection of staff to prevent future cycles of reoffending. [36738/25]
View answerOberstown Children Detention Campus is the State’s sole detention centre for children. The maximum occupancy in Oberstown is set by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality by way of a certificate made under the Children Act 2001.
This certificate is currently set at 46 (40 boys and 6 girls). Places can be used to accommodate both children on detention orders and children on remand orders.
In order for the principle of detention as a last resort for children to be applied effectively throughout the youth justice system, it is essential that sufficient appropriate community sanctions are available to the courts when dealing with offending by children. Policy in respect of community sanctions for children is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and I have recently engaged with Minister O’Callaghan and we have agreed the need to expand these services such as the Bail Supervision Scheme in order to ensure that genuine alternatives to detention are available to the courts.
Notwithstanding the importance of community sanctions, it is also necessary for the effective operation of our youth justice system that detention remain an option where required.
I am aware of the low numbers of boys’ places available in Oberstown to the courts in recent months. Having considered the matter in detail, I believe it will be necessary to provide for a small increase in the near future in the maximum number of boys that may be detained at Oberstown. My officials have already asked the Director to make preparations on the Oberstown Campus for this.
With respect to longer-term planning, my Department is conducting a research based assessment of future demand for Oberstown services, in line with a commitment contained in the Youth Justice Strategy. The outcome of this, which will be available later this year, will inform the direction of policy on the future capacity of the Campus in line with the overall aims of the Youth Justice Strategy.
With respect to the provision of rehabilitative and trauma-informed care at Oberstown, the Campus has a dedicated Programmes team who work with external providers to deliver a bespoke suite of courses to meet the needs of young people, in line with Oberstown’ s CEHOP® framework, which addresses individualised plans for Care, Education, Health, Offending behaviour and Preparation for leaving. All staff are familiar with the programmes on offer and care delivery under CEHOP®.
Oberstown also has a dedicated team from Tusla’s ACTS (Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service) on campus providing specialist multidisciplinary therapeutic support to young people to address behaviours associated with complex clinical needs. The HSE Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (FCAMHS) provides psychiatric services to young people in Oberstown.
Regarding the safety and wellbeing of staff in Oberstown, I emphasise that their wellbeing and safety is a priority for my Department and for the management team in Oberstown. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of the staff, recognising the unique demands of working in Oberstown Campus.
A broad range of supports ensures employees have access to the resources they need for safety, health and wellbeing.
Detailed information on measures being implemented to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff at Oberstown
On-site Chartered Psychologist (Organisational Psychologist)
An on-site chartered psychologist, specialising in systemic psychotherapy and work and organisational psychology, offers a tailored campus support service. This includes:
• Therapeutic interventions – confidential counselling, group support and therapeutic services to address personal and workplace challenges, fostering resilience and wellbeing.
• After-incident support – assistance following critical incidents, including a safe and confidential space to process events and structured reviews to ensure psychological safety and promote individual, team, and organisational learning.
• Professional coaching and group work – sessions to develop skills, address challenges, and support personal and professional growth.
• Clinical supervision – regularly scheduled one-to-one or Group Supervision sessions. Led by the Organisational Psychologist, the campus rolled out practice supervision to frontline staff in 2024. Supervision provides a space to discuss and process emotional reactions, dilemmas, and concerns in relation to work.
Access to a multi-level system
The campus support services include a structured, multi-level system including a team of 28 peer support workers (PSWs), trained in critical incident stress management (CISM) and mental health first aid. They provide immediate, frontline assistance to colleagues affected by critical or traumatic incidents. For additional support, employees can also access a confidential employee assistance programme (EAP), providing 24/7 counselling, advice, and resources for personal and professional concerns.
This tiered framework ensures that staff have access to appropriate support at every level – from internal peer-based assistance to professional psychological services and access to external support.
This holistic approach reflects the unwavering commitment of Oberstown to creating a supportive, proactive workplace that places employee wellbeing and personal growth at its core. By providing access to these resources, Oberstown aims to foster a resilient, healthy, and supportive work environment for all employees.
Additional resources
• On-site Medical Suite staffed by Clinical Nurse Manager and a team of qualified nurses.
• Access to medical screening and assessment, by Medmark, the campus occupational health provider.
• Award-winning "Working Well" framework – specifically designed for the demands of Oberstown, Working Well identifies health and wellbeing priorities and schedules initiatives across the year to support psychological resilience and workplace wellbeing.
Working Well framework is a whole-system approach to addressing psychosocial health and wellbeing. It features supports and resources around four pillars – Work Safe, Work Healthy, Work Well and Work Wise.
• Best practice – Oberstown is certified to national standards for wellbeing and international standards for Occupational Health and Safety Management (ISO 9001:2015) and Psychological Health and Safety at Work (ISO 45003:2021).
• Oberstown is accredited to Ibec’s KeepWell Mark, has been listed among Ireland’s Top 100 Leaders in Wellbeing each year since 2021, won the Wellbeing Initiative of the Year 2020 at the Ibec KeepWell Awards, and was shortlisted in three categories in 2022.
• LifeSpeak online health and wellbeing resources for staff and family members.
333. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine the case of a person in Cork (details supplied) who requires urgent long term residential care; to advise if they are on a priority waiting list; to advise what are the long term plans for increasing and extending long term residential places in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36756/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
334. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if childcare providers can require parents to take up and pay for a full 45 hours of childcare per week as a condition of enrolment; and if she will clarify whether parents remain eligible to receive the national childcare scheme subsidy if they do not avail of the full 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36775/25]
View answerMany families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. For this reason, the Scheme is designed to be flexible in acknowledgement that childcare needs vary widely across families. As such, NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for i.e. 45 weekly hours.
It must be recognised that early learning and childcare providers are private businesses and as such, the Department does not determine what sessions providers choose to offer.
Once parents are awarded a CHICK, they may choose any approved provider that meets their needs and has a space available. Ultimately, it is between the parent and the provider to reach an agreement on the hours of childcare registered. The hours are agreed based on a combination of what the family requires and what the provider can offer in terms of available sessions.
The NCS subsidy is applied to the hours that have been agreed between both parties - subject to attendance rules. If these hours are the same as the amount of hours available to the applicant under the Scheme, then all hours of care will be subsidised. If the hours agreed are more than the amount of hours available to the applicant, the remaining hours of care will be unsubsidised and paid for by the family.
This is a key financial and governance control to ensure that public money is being used responsibly and not to fund full-time places where a child is not actually receiving any childcare.
It may be of use to note that a valid NCS award can be used with any childcare provider that is contracted to deliver the NCS. It is open to parents to source alternative childcare places where their chosen provider does not suit their needs. Their local City/County Childcare (CCC) may be able to assist in this process. A full list of participating services is also available here: www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/
335. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what the purpose and value was of the contingent charge recorded by the Minister for Health in 1974 (Instrument T.235/74); whether this charge was ever enforced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36800/25]
View answerA response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
336. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the State funded, subsidised or insured any aspect of the operations at a location (details supplied), including buildings, care services or facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36801/25]
View answerThe Deputy has asked about funding relationships between the State and Sean Ross Abbey between 1950 and 1980.
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes made significant findings in relation to what happened to vulnerable women and children in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. Throughout its inquiry, the Commission relied on the testimony of hundreds of survivors and millions of pages of documentary evidence.
Chapter 19 of the Commission's Final Report details the institution known as Sean Ross: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/chapter-19-sean-ross/. This chapter states that Sean Ross was owned and run by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and that the public assistance / health authorities paid for the vast majority of the mothers and their children while they were living there.
With regard to the funding of buildings and facilities at Sean Ross, the chapter details a number of instances where funding was provided by the Department of Health. To give just some examples, in October 1952 the Department of Health "authorised a grant of £1,800 from the Hospitals Trust Fund towards the cost of providing a new assembly hall." Additionally in 1956 the Department of Health "decided that it would give a grant of £1,300 to cover the cost of installing fire escapes, upgrading the sewerage system, connecting downpipes and renovating the dining rooms".
Regarding the broader issue of historical records of residential institutions, the Department is currently in possession of the Commission’s archive of records and is the data controller for all the personal data contained within those records. The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, also has a copy of the Commission’s database and related records.
Additionally, work on the creation of the central repository of records to sit within the National Centre for Research and Remembrance is being led by the National Archives under the auspices of the Steering Group. Many of the records to be contained in the National Centre will transfer to National Archives of Ireland from a government department or State body who created, received or held the records in the course of their own business functions. A process is underway across departments to prepare these records for transfer to the National Centre under the provision of the National Archives Act 1986.
In relation to the query about Saint Anne's Special School this query may be more relevant for the Department of Education.
337. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to increase capacity for childcare services in north Kildare; the number of families currently on a waiting list for childcare services in north Kildare; the average waiting times on those lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36809/25]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% from the 2021/22 programme year. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 3 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by over 15%. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the numbers of registered early learning and childcare services in 2024. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year provides estimated data for enrolments by county boundaries.
Data from 2023/24 estimated that there were 11,634 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in County Kildare. This data also indicated that 42% of services had at least one vacant place and an estimated 48% had a waiting list.
It is important to note that waiting list data should not be used as a measure of overall demand for ELC and SAC places. While waiting list data can be used to give an indication of demand for places for a given age group or service type not all services operate a waiting list. In addition, an individual child may be on multiple waiting lists in different services.
Because services operate their own waiting lists, my Department does not have data on the average time on waiting lists.
A new Forward Planning and Delivery Unit within my Department has been allocated additional resources and is pursuing an ambitious programme of work. A forward planning model is in development which will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding would be able to capture almost a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises.
50 applications will be progressing to the next stage of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. These 50 applications come from a mix of Community Extension (24), Private Extension (7), Community Purchasing (4) and Community Construction (15) projects, which, when completed, will deliver 1,500 additional full time childcare places for 1-3 year olds. Three service in Kildare were approved for funding under the scheme. I look forward to seeing how these projects progress over the coming months.
The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand.
Some early scoping work has been carried out to explore options to introduce a segment of public provision. More detailed and extensive policy development and design is ongoing in order progress to implementation stage, having regard to the wider emerging policy context as set out in the Programme for Government.
This work has informed my Department’s contribution to the review of the National Development Plan which will set out the capital allocation to underpin this work in the coming years. There has been a range of engagements at official and political level to inform the updated National Development Plan between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. My officials and I are continuing to engage with colleagues across Government on the review.
My Department also funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. Contact details for the Kildare County Childcare Committee may be found at www.kccc.ie.
338. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the enforcement of disability parking spaces on both publicly owned streets and in private locations such as shopping centre car parks is being addressed in the draft National Disability Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36971/25]
View answerEnsuring the accessibility of transport, infrastructure and the built environment for people with disabilities is a key priority for Government.
Significant work continues to be undertaken on the finalisation of a new National Disability Strategy, and publication is expected shortly. The Strategy will provide a blueprint for the genuine advancement of the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It will take ambitious action across a range of thematic pillars that, taken collectively, capture the issues that most affect disabled people in their day-to-day lives - education, employment, independent living, health, and transport.
Transport will be a significant Pillar of the Strategy and considerations around accessibility and mobility will be important dimensions with a focus on delivering co-ordinated actions across government and at local levels. The Disabled Parking Permit Scheme is set down in Section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 and SI 182/1997 Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997. The provision of disabled parking spaces is the responsibility of each individual local authority, and the enforcement of carpark spaces is a matter for An Garda Síochána and local authority traffic wardens. Disabled spaces in private car parks fall outside of the legislation.
339. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on agency and recruitment agency by the HSE for the provision of home care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36874/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
340. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting on HSE panel for recruitment for home care support in Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36875/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
341. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting on HSE panel for recruitment for home care support in Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36876/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
342. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken and the progress made in relation to filling the vacant occupational therapist posts in primary care in County Laois, as there has been no occupational therapists in the service for several years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36678/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
343. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if she is considering and investigating the use of Al-powered sensors to keep older adults safer and healthier in their own homes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36697/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
344. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for children aged 2-6 to access speech and language therapy services in each health region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36706/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
345. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the total cost to name the new children’s hospital in Dublin the “National Children’s Hospital Ireland”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36708/25]
View answerThe National Children’s Hospital Ireland will be the largest and most advanced children’s hospital in Ireland. It will bring together the services of the existing children’s hospitals, Temple Street, Crumlin, and Tallaght, under one roof, delivering world-class care in a state of the art, digitally-enabled facility.
Children’s Health Ireland undertook a branding and naming process, with the support of a specialist branding agency, for the new children’s hospital. The methodology for the process was designed against the following principles (i) engagement and inclusivity, (ii) being mindful of the history and lessons learnt, (iii) time and cost-effectiveness. The name was chosen following engagement with a number of stakeholders, including the Youth Advisory Council whose members help to inform policy and service development by sharing their experiences of Children’s Health Ireland hospital services. The cost involved with this process was c.€4.5k.
The name, National Children's Hospital Ireland, reflects the vision of the new hospital being a hub in a national network of paediatric care, which will work with regional and local paediatric units to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all children, as close to home as clinically suitable.
346. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if she allow for Mounjaro to be accessed on the medical card (details supplied). [36712/25]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
347. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the reason the continued suspension of the transvaginal tape sling procedure for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women, which is clinically supported procedure, is still unavailable in Ireland more than six years after the pause was implemented; and the options women have now, who have not yet had a family and who have already tried and failed all conservative therapies. [36724/25]
View answerUro-gynaecological (transvaginal) mesh is used in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women and such mesh devices have been widely used for this over the past two decades. However, in late 2017, in line with emerging international evidence, concerns were raised at national level regarding the frequency and severity of complications associated with the use of transvaginal mesh devices. The then Minister for Health requested the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to prepare a report on the clinical and technical issues involved.
In November 2018, the CMO’s report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures was published. The report 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. In July 2018, the CMO asked the HSE to pause all mesh procedures where clinically safe to do so, pending confirmation of the implementation of specific recommendations in the CMO’s report.
In 2023 the HSE established a National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group to oversee vaginal mesh implants in our HSE acute hospitals in terms of both primary implant surgery and tertiary complications services. The focus of this group was to review and assess implementation of the recommendations as set out in the CMO’s report and assess the appropriateness of resuming uro-gynaecological mesh procedures, cognisant of international developments and approaches in this complex area.
My Department has recently received a report from the HSE’s National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group. My officials are currently examining the report and liaising with their counterparts in the HSE to ensure comprehensive implementation of the CMO’s recommendations.
Women’s health is a key priority for the Department of Health. I understand the impact the pause on the use of uro-gynaecological mesh has on women who wish to avail of this surgery, however my Department must take a safety-first approach to this issue.
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, multi-disciplinary patient centred care in accordance with the evidence and supported by robust clinical governance mechanisms.
348. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1495 of 10 June 2025, the breakdown of weekly and weekend activity, by ordinary rostered hours compared to extra-contractual hours funded via NTPF or other insourcing funding streams, in tabular form. [36726/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
349. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all acute hospital-related NTPF spending for the period 2020 to 2025, inclusive, by spending type by hospital, and by year, in tabular form. [36731/25]
View answerMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a full reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
350. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the pre-budget 2026 submission of an organisation (details supplied); if she will engage with this organisation in advance of budgetary negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36744/25]
View answer351. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on whether existing support networks for families of people with Alzheimer’s disease are sufficient; the actions she will take to improve these facilities as much as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36745/25]
View answer352. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to shortfalls in the services available both to people with Alzheimer’s disease but also to their support networks, as outlined in the pre-budget 2026 submission of an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36746/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 to 352, inclusive, together.
Since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, I have been working to support people with dementia and their families and will continue to prioritise their needs and build on the existing provisions and already substantial investment in dementia over the next five years to ensure that all people affected by dementia, get the supports they need.
€19 million in new funding for dementia has been allocated over the past five budgets to implement the National Dementia Strategy and the Dementia Model of Care. This includes the establishment of Memory Assessment and Support Services, new and expanded Regional Specialist Memory Clinics and a National Intellectual Disability Memory Service to improve access to dementia diagnostic and post-diagnostic support services. Other post-diagnostic support services include the national Dementia Adviser service and the national network of Memory Technology Resource Rooms.
Since 2021, the Government has also prioritised the improvement of community-based services for people with dementia. This includes investment in dementia day care, day care at home and activity clubs for young onset dementia. The Government has allocated over €2.2 million in funding to day care centres operated by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), and there are 58 centres currently in operation. In addition, nearly €2.6 million has been allocated for the provision of dementia day care at home. Day care at home was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic for people who for a variety of reasons cannot attend a day care centre.
Furthermore, the Government recognises family carers as key enablers for Government policy to support people to live with dignity and independence in homes and communities of their choosing for as long as possible by providing vital care to some of our most vulnerable citizens.
Family carers of people with dementia may also avail of general family carer supports funded by the Department of Health. The 2025 Programme for Government includes eight dementia-specific commitments and a commitment to “fully fund the Carer’s Guarantee,” which will provide a core basket of services to carers across the country regardless of where they live.
Since Budget 2021, recurring funding of €2m has been allocated towards the Carer’s Guarantee, to provide a core basket of services to carers across the country, regardless of where they live. €0.6m in additional funding was provided in Budget 2025, bringing total annual funding for the Scheme to €2.6m.
This funding helps to provide a more standard package of supports to family carers in every region, in tandem with the community and voluntary sector. In 2025, €2.44 million of this funding is provided to Family Carers Ireland (FCI) to deliver a mix of community and individual supports across five areas of activity: community carer supports; intensive and emergency supports; education and training; FCI’s freephone careline; and psychosocial supports. The remaining €160,000 is supporting the development and delivery of online supports for over 8,000 family carers through Care Alliance Ireland by means of an online support group.
My department will fully consider the requests set out by all stakeholders, in relation to further expanding and progressing dementia services to support people with dementia and their families, as part of the 2026 Estimates process, in order to ensure that they can live as well and as independently as possible.
