Written Answers Nos. 612-631
612. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if a proposal will be considered by the expert advisory group established to guide the next suicide reduction strategy (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49854/25]
View answerThe development of real alternatives to emergency departments continues to be a key priority for the Government.
I continue to advance various initiatives to support access to services, and to ensure that people with mental health difficulties can access the emergency supports that they need. These include:
• Prioritising the ongoing work of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation in relation to the issue of assessment rooms and securing safe, dedicated spaces within all emergency departments for mental health assessments.
• Continued national roll-out of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCAN Nurses).
• The roll-out of a network of Crisis Resolution Teams and Crisis 'Solace' Cafes, providing an extensive range of community services focused on resolving mental health crises within mental health services, and avoiding emergency department presentation.
• A new model of care for Liaison Psychiatry (in emergency departments and acute hospitals) has been developed by the HSE and was launched on 29 May 2025.
• The Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Operational Plan reduction in cumulative daily trolley count in 2024 and key focus in the 2025 plan on expansion of all UEC services into evenings and weekends.
I continue to work to shift supports for those in crisis away from hospitals and into services in our communities, acknowledging that the emergency department is often not the most appropriate environment for supporting people in distress.
I have overseen the development of the new Model of Care for Crisis Resolution Services, which has two components, Crisis Resolution Teams and Crisis Cafés.
Crisis Resolution Teams are teams of mental health professionals who work out of hours to meet people in a crisis and provide rapid assessment and intensive intervention. There are now six pilot Crisis Resolution Teams currently operational in different parts of the country. Crisis Cafés are a welcoming, non-clinical safe environment in the style of a café where people can go at evenings and weekends. These are known as 'Solace' cafés, and a number are now open in different locations. The model of care for Crisis Resolution Services was developed as a direct recommendation of Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy. It recognises that people who are experiencing a mental health crisis need specialist services to provide timely brief intensive supports to keep people safe.
In addition to the above, the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office published a new 3-year action plan in February of this year for comprehensive reform across all youth mental health services, including the specialist CAMHS service. This will deliver services which are safer, effective, easier to access and which offers appropriate support at all levels when needed.
The three-year plan sets out a clear roadmap for the Department and HSE to ensure children and families have equitable and timely access to high-quality mental health care, including better links with Primary Care and Disability Services, and greater use of e-mental health responses.
Key aims are to ensure young people nationally can access in a more comprehensive and integrated way, youth focused Mental Health care at the right time in the right place as envisaged under Sláintecare reforms. Services should be better connected and easier to navigate, with increased focus on the rights of young people and their families.
The new plan commits to developing an Integrated Crisis Response Pathway for children and young people experiencing a mental health crisis across the 24/7 continuum of care, including an improved child and youth liaison service with Emergency Departments.
As the Deputy is aware, this work has been guided by our outgoing national suicide reduction strategy, Connecting for Life, through different actions to help us achieve our goal to reduce the number of people we lose to suicide every year. Grounded in international best practice, Connecting for Life has provided a comprehensive framework for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention across the country. This strategy came to the end of its life in 2024 and the Department of Health is currently developing a successor strategy which will build on the good work done under Connecting for Life.
To inform the development of the next national suicide reduction strategy the Department of Health recently ran a public consultation. This public consultation has been completed and three reports arising from this work were published on the 10th of September. The findings from this work will be invaluable in informing the new national suicide reduction strategy, providing insights from those with lived experience of suicide, professionals working in relevant contexts, and NGO's doing work in this area.
To assist in this work Minister Butler recently appointed 22 members to an Expert Advisory Group to guide the development of Ireland’s next national suicide reduction strategy. The Expert Advisory Group for the next suicide reduction strategy will play a central role in shaping the strategy, ensuring it is informed by the findings from the public consultation, in which many people with lived experience of suicide participated, as well as the latest evidence, and cross-sectoral expertise.
This expert group is chaired by Dr Eileen Williamson, former CEO of the National Suicide Research Foundation, who brings a wealth of experience to the role from her 29 years working in the area of suicide prevention.
In addition, a Lived Experience Reference Group has been appointed, which will ensure that the voices of those with lived experience will be central to the development of this strategy; informing, critiquing and guiding the development of recommendations in tandem with the Expert Advisory Group. This group will be chaired by Joe O'Donovan and coordinated by the National Suicide Research Foundation.
I am committed to the development of a new suicide reduction strategy that will take full account of the findings of public consultation, the latest evidence, as well as the views of both the Expert Advisory Group and the Lived Experience Reference Group. This will be done with a view to ensuring we continue to see a reduction in suicide in Ireland and provide the services and supports that those in crisis, and those who are bereaved by suicide, want and need.
613. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health to report on the case of a person (details supplied) who, having been referred 18 months ago to University Hospital Limerick for an MRI scan to address chronic kidney disease, has yet to receive an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49856/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason for outsourcing a contract for non-emergency patient transport in the greater Dublin area to a private ambulance provider, given that the National Ambulance Service already operates a well-established and fully staffed intermediate care vehicle (ICV) service; the justification for this decision being taken without any meaningful consultation with staff or their representatives; the steps she is taking to ensure that existing ICV service is protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49857/25]
View answer615. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will immediately review the decision of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to outsource the contract for non-emergency patient transport in the greater Dublin area to a private ambulance provider; if she will commit to strengthening and investing in NAS resources rather than diverting public funds into private services; if she will ensure that meaningful consultation with staff representatives is initiated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49858/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 615 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
616. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the services currently provided for adult patients with epilepsy at a hospital (details supplied); the number and grade of staff that are currently attached to this service at this site; the number of current staff vacancies within this service; the number of epilepsy patients currently registered with this service; the number of patients currently awaiting first consultations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49887/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
617. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider the introduction of ring-fenced annual funding for radiotherapy equipment replacement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49888/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
618. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider the establishment of a national body with radiotherapy expertise to identify patient and technology specific needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49889/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
619. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49890/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
620. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health her views on the need to provide life-saving equipment in addition to AEDs and life rings; and her plans to issue new guidelines on appropriate life-saving equipment to provide to schools, sports clubs and other such bodies. [49896/25]
View answerAutomated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations. AEDs are among the various items eligible for funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund.
The Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme) is operated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to voluntary, not-for profit sports clubs, community groups, National Governing Bodies of Sport, and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.
The programme funds the purchase of AEDs for the above-mentioned groups and many of these are also available to the wider community.
Funding is also available through the HSE’s national lottery grants schemes and other community grants schemes. At a local level, the network of local sports partnerships throughout the country delivers education and training opportunities across a broad range of areas to local sports clubs and community groups. This includes first aid workshops, which typically cover CPR and-or defibrillator training as part of the content.
From the 1st of January 2023, my Department through the Department of Finance removed VAT from AEDs to make the cost more feasible for groups, organisations or individuals looking to purchase an AED.
621. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that patients being prescribed concerta for the treatment of symptoms associated with ADHD by doctors in the CAMHS service have to leave that service and the prescribing element of that service at aged 18; if she is further aware that there is no adult clinic for ADHD for persons living in North County Dublin; if she will advise where a specialist who will prescribe concerta for an 18 year old can be sourced from within the HSE for a person living in North County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49898/25]
View answerADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
The HSE’s Model of Care for ADHD in Adults, which I launched in 2021, outlines a National Clinical Programme for ADHD in Adults based on multi-disciplinary community teams to diagnose and treat ADHD in adults. As Minister I have resourced the establishment of the teams envisioned by the Model of Care, with total funding of over €5 million on a recurring annual basis. The national network of ADHD teams is now fully funded and in recruitment, with 7 teams currently operational. I secured the funding in Budget 2025 to roll out all remaining teams envisaged in the Model of Care, including a team for the north Dublin area which is currently being recruited.
In relation to the additional specific information requested regarding care transitions and ADHD services, as these are operational matters, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
622. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on Connolly Hospital’s engagement with the National Transport Authority regarding a plan to upgrade road infrastructure within the Connolly Hospital site; the expected timeline for the commencement of road improvements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49901/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
623. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of security staff hired directly and through agency in Galway University Hospital; the number that are hired directly, and through agencies; the overall cost, from 2020 to 2024, per year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49925/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
624. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand the availability of free HRT products beyond the treatment of menopause symptoms to transgender people as part of gender-affirming healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49933/25]
View answerUnder the HRT measure, which came into effect on 1 June 2025, where a woman has been prescribed a Hormone Replacement Therapy product by her healthcare provider for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, the cost of the HRT medications or products, and the dispensing fees will be met by the State.
This measure is intended to support the management of the symptoms of menopause and, therefore, relates to the provision of treatment for the symptoms a specific medical condition/life stage i.e. menopause. HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing symptoms of menopause and has shown to be the most effective intervention.
Menopause has been highlighted as a key priority area by the Women’s Health Taskforce. It is a key action in the Women’s Health Action Plans. A number of measures have been implemented in recent years to improve the experience of menopause for women in Ireland, including this HRT arrangement.
I am aware that HRT is used in the treatment of other medical conditions/circumstances, including gender-affirming healthcare, hypogonadism, IVF, and some cancer treatments. However, the current provision of the Free HRT Arrangement, legislated for under the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Act 2024, limits eligibility to those whose healthcare provider has prescribed HRT to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.
I am aware of the concerns raised regarding care for transgender individuals. As per the Programme for Government 2025, this Government is committed to ensuring a transgender healthcare service that is based on clinical evidence, respect, inclusiveness, and compassion.
A new clinical programme for gender healthcare has been initiated by the HSE and an updated clinical model for gender healthcare services is being developed. This work will inform an implementation plan for its delivery.
Developing a Model of Care for Gender Healthcare Services is expected to be a complex process. As such, the HSE and officials in my department will work closely together to support the process, ensure transparency and keep the patient at the centre of the process. It is important that the HSE is given time to develop a model of care that is based on the best clinical evidence and that will deliver the best outcomes for person with gender incongruence or dysphoria.
625. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting a home help package in Donegal, by area and by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49937/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
626. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE audiologists, by grade that were based within older persons services in Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [49945/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
627. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE cognitive behaviour therapy posts that were actually filled at University Hospital Waterford in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [49946/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
628. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dentists and dental nurses, by grade based at Dungarvan primary care centre in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [49947/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
629. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of persons within CHO5 awaiting podiatry appointments within primary care service on 12 September 2025. [49948/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
630. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE psychologists, by grade based at Waterford primary care centre in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [49949/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, this PQ has been referred to the HSE for direct response to the deputy.
631. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to extending the special leave with pay scheme (SLWP), and that some form of long term support will be put in place for these workers, particularly given that approximately 166 employees of the HSE are affected by long-Covid since 2020 as a result of working on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49967/25]
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, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation a number of times, on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it.
The Special Scheme was due to conclude on 30th June 2025. After a hearing in the Labour Court in June, it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025 and there will be no further extension. Anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.
Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme. The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted.
