Pádraig Rice
Question:859. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if her Department has gathered data on the number of dentists engaged in cosmetic procedures; and if so, to provide said data. [57368/25]
View answerDepartmental Data
Questions (859)
Written answers
My Department is currently working with the Dental Council with a view to reforming the current Register for Dentists. In order to support this, a workforce skills assessment census framework for the oral healthcare sector has been designed.
The workforce census is intended to gather information including the number of registered oral healthcare professionals who are practicing in their registered profession, the location of their practice, services they provide including cosmetic procedures, hours worked and the skills they have.
The information collected from the workforce census will enable the collation of important data to better inform workforce planning for the oral healthcare sector by providing vital insights into the sector's workforce and by identifying the skills that oral healthcare professionals need to provide the new model of service as set out in the National Oral Health Policy.
The Deputy should note that there are currently 3,923 registered dentists of September 2025. This is an increase of 207 since October 2024 and is the highest number recorded. However, this data does not inform us regarding the number of dentists engaged in cosmetic procedures and the workforce census intends to address this and provide this information.
Departmental Investigations
Questions (860)
Pádraig Rice
Question:860. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details with respect to an audit into spinal services and urology referred to at a recent meeting of Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health (details supplied); if she is still expecting this audit to be completed at the end of November or December 2025; if she will commit to publishing that audit when she receives it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57369/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive CEO has commissioned an audit to assess governance and equity in access to care within Children's Health Ireland, especially regarding the balance between public and private patient management. The audit is looking at processes for patient referral pathways, waiting list administration, NTPF participation, waiting list action plan participation, consultant clinic scheduling, and patient billing.
The audit is being augmented with a qualitative element, capturing patients and staff experiences. This qualitative element will inform overall observations and improvement plans.
The audit commenced on 10 June and the outcome is expected in the coming months.
Regarding your request for further details, since the Audit is being carried out by the HSE, I have referred the Deputy's question for direct reply as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (861, 866)
Pádraig Rice
Question:861. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons the four recommendations from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2018 with respect to the development of primary care centres were not implemented (details supplied); if she remains committed to implementing these recommendations; if any progress has been made since mid-2025, at which point the comptroller and auditor general’s examination team last sought an update; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57370/25]
View answerPádraig Rice
Question:866. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason the minimum scope of services that constitutes a primary care centre has still not been defined; if she will commit to implementing recommendation 19.3 from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024 (details supplied); the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57375/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 861 and 866 together.
It is important to acknowledge the significant strategic reforms which have taken place since the previous examination of Primary Care Centres (PCCs). Notwithstanding COVID-19 restrictions, Sláintecare reforms have continued apace, leading to a changing environment for primary care services. Through the ongoing implementation of these reforms, initiatives such as the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) programme, has increased the provision of community healthcare services closer to home and reducing the pressure on hospital services, through the establishment of 96 Community Healthcare Networks and 60 Community specialist teams for older persons and chronic disease management.
Capital investment is also informed by the principles of Sláintecare, with infrastructure investment decisions aiming to support the overarching objective of ensuring that people can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time. For example, the Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) require appropriate facilities and to ensure the HSE provide for this, it has established the ECC Infrastructure Workstream of the Programme. The locations for the CSTs include dedicated spaces in Primary Care Centres and other healthcare facilities. As such, the scope of services that constitutes a primary care centre has been evolving.
Furthermore, the overarching purpose of the primary care centre programme is to provide modern fit-for-purpose healthcare facilities for the delivery of primary care services and to allow for closer coordination between primary care providers. However, increasingly, a number of primary care centres also provide facilities for other community-based healthcare services and health promotion activities. Therefore, the design and utilisation of PCCs is a function of local circumstances, population need and available resources.
However, the Department accepts the recommendation of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024 to define a minimum scope of services. To this end, the Department has established a Project to review the PCC programme, with the following objectives:
• Definition of scope of services provided in Primary Care Centres (PCCs).
• Ensuring that PCC projects progressed yield optimum value for money – including inter alia infrastructure that meets the service needs of the population, regulatory requirements, adaptability, climate and are delivered in most cost-effective manner i.e. SHIF aligned and in line with Infrastructure Guidelines.
This recommendation will be addressed as part of that Project which is expected to be completed in Q4 2026.
I will also respond to the Parliamentary Question 57370/25 in relation to the two recommendations (15.1 and 15.2) of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2018, for which my Department was responsible. The HSE was responsible for the implementation of recommendations 15.3 and 15.4 and I have asked them to respond to you directly in their regard.
In relation to the implementation of Recommendation 15.1 of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2018, I trust that the above addresses this issue.
In relation to the implementation of Recommendation 15.2 of the 2018 Report, I wish to advise the Deputy that it was not possible to develop a fixed target for the delivery of the full network of planned Primary Care Centres given that several factors outside the control of the Department and the HSE can impact timelines for delivery. These included COVID-19 restrictions and market factors including market interest and capacity, statutory planning processes and construction inflation.
However, as outlined in its response to the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024, the Department accepts the recommendation to set an indicative timeline for the delivery of the PCC network, again also recognising that not all factors that will affect timelines for delivery are within the control of the Department and the HSE. In setting timelines, consideration will also need to be given to any update to prioritisation rankings as also recommended in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024.
The Department has established a project to review the Primary Care Centre (PCC) programme. This recommendation will be addressed as part of that project. The next meeting of the Project Group leading this work is due to take place on 22 October 2025.
I can assure the Deputy that the delivery of the PCC network has remained a priority for my Department and the Government and a commitment to the delivery of the PCC network is reiterated in the Programme for Government (2025) which commits to “open more primary care centres and expedite the delivery of the existing pipeline to construction”.
In terms of healthcare infrastructure, I also wish to advise the Deputy that the Department published the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework (SHIF) in August 2024. This is the first time an overarching framework has been set out for infrastructural investment in the public healthcare service. SHIF uses a four option Intervention hierarchy, underpinned by the principle of the Continuum of Care (Sláintecare vision) and contains six Investment Criteria to guide the development of proposals for capital funding in the public health sector. Application of SHIF will ensure that proposals developed and progressed are in line with national and sectoral strategic and policy objectives, service needs and provide optimum infrastructural solutions to support the provision of healthcare and delivery of value for money.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (862)
Pádraig Rice
Question:862. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will update the priority ranking of locations/communities for development of primary care centres (PCCs), or expansion of existing PCCs, in view of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s finding that the current ranking ‘lacks sound quantification and transparency’; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57371/25]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the service needs driven and evidence based provision of Primary Care Centres, along with their maintenance and operation, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
Primary Care Centres
Questions (863)
Pádraig Rice
Question:863. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health of the €1.56 billion allocation for capital expenditure for 2026, the amount apportioned to the development of primary care centres (PCCs); to list the PCCs to be developed under this allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57372/25]
View answerWritten answers
The purpose of health infrastructure is to enable service delivery. Capital investment decisions must be driven by evidence-based service needs (and on the basis that existing assets are fully utilised) and link back to overall service policy and strategy. The objective must be to ensure that new capital developments are aligned with service needs, to enable the delivery of Sláintecare/Universal Healthcare and deliver optimum value for money.
The overarching vision and long-term policy direction for Ireland’s healthcare system is set out in the Programme for Government. The new NDP funding envelope will support the progression of key health sector priorities including continued investment in community care programmes through the country including the Primary Care Programme and Enhanced Community Care Programme. There are 180 PCCs now in operation with 28 of these are HSE Own Build and the remainder are delivered through the operational lease model, sale and lease back or through PPP arrangements.
I and my Department will be working with the HSE and other stakeholders in the coming period to develop a detailed capital plan for this allocated capital funding. The HSE have a pipeline of PCCs in development including through agreements under discussion with the private sector. The 2026 capital allocation for the development of Primary Care Centres will be determined as part of the overall HSE Capital Plan 2026 that is being developed by the HSE to support the National Service Plan and that I expect to receive in the coming period.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (864)
Pádraig Rice
Question:864. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will conduct a formal cost effectiveness review of primary care centres delivery methods (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57373/25]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Please note that a project is already underway to review PCCs at a strategic level in the Department as referenced in the C&AG report
Primary Care Centres
Questions (865)
Pádraig Rice
Question:865. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason the review of the utilisation of primary care centres has still not been completed, despite being included in the 2019 Sláintecare action plan; the status of that review; the timeline for completion of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57374/25]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the day to day management and operation of Primary Care Centres, particularly in relation to their utilisation, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. It should be noted that a project is already underway to review PCCs at a strategic level in the Department as referenced in the C&AG report
Question No. 866 answered with Question No. 861.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Questions (867)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:867. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the repeated delays to the construction and completion of the new National Children’s Hospital, which has reportedly missed contractual deadlines on 16 occasions; the measures being taken to hold the contractor accountable for cost overruns and schedule slippage; the current projected completion date and final estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57376/25]
View answerWritten answers
Opening the National Children’s Hospital Ireland (NCHI) is a Government priority. Everything possible is being done to ensure this world-class hospital will open as quickly as possible, on behalf of children, young people, and their families. It is expected to open in 2026.
Two satellite centres delivered by the project at Tallaght University Hospital and Connolly Hospital are complete and open, delivering care to the children of the Greater Dublin Area. In 2024, there were combined attendances at Tallaght and Connolly of over 60,000 for urgent/emergency care and over 29,000 outpatient appointments. Earlier this year, since opening in the summer of 2019, the facility at Connolly hit the milestone of 100,000 children having been treated there.
At the St. James’s site, work towards substantial completion of the hospital is continuing and approaching its final stages. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is focused on ensuring all rooms and spaces within the hospital are completed to the high-quality standard set out in the Contract and befitting a world class healthcare facility. In addition, the technical commissioning of the hospital’s mechanical and electrical systems is well underway and will continue until substantial completion.
A realistic date of substantial completion is within the gift of the main contractor, BAM, to both commit to and deliver on. Unfortunately, BAM has shifted its anticipated Substantial Completion date 16 times over the last 5 years.
Ultimately, substantial completion is informed by the main contractor BAM’s programme of works and its delivery against that programme. BAM’s latest programme of works provided to the Employer’s Representative and the NPHDB on 28 August 2025, set substantial completion as 24 November 2025. The Employer’s Representative-(ER) the independent third party responsible for administering the contract, has since deemed this not to be compliant with the contract.
The NPHDB has advised that BAM has committed to provide a further programme update later this month which will confirm the dates for phased additional early access and substantial completion and set out how it will achieve those dates.
The NPHDB has consistently advised that the largest factor contributing to delay on the project is BAM’s continued failure to manage and supervise project execution on site and its failure to resource the project appropriately. The NPHDB reports that productive resources were fewer than 500 in July, August and September 2025, compared to 900 at the start of December 2024. BAM continues to fall behind its own programme and has not been delivering against the additional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) monitored by the NPHDB. Slow progress by BAM on site has meant that the average payments to BAM are down to less than €3m per month (excl. VAT/RCT) for 2025.
I have been clear that BAM’s focus should now be on enabling phased and methodical additional early access to the appropriate completed parts of the building as soon as possible. This will enable Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to minimise potential challenges during the post substantial completion phase by easing operational commissioning pressure.
In September, BAM committed to new dates to provide additional early access beginning on 3 November for Phase 1. BAM also committed to provide the balance of the 30% of additional early access areas in the Hot Block (Phase 2) by the end of November. NPHDB is actively working with BAM to identify all the matters that BAM must resolve to achieve its new stated additional early access dates.
I welcome the fact that BAM has now committed to enabling additional early access for CHI in November. I expect them to honour this commitment and to substantially complete the hospital soon thereafter.
The NPHDB continues to engage with BAM and to apply all possible contractual levers available to it to ensure substantial completion can be achieved with minimal further delays. The NPHDB has previously and more recently exercised its contractual entitlement to withhold 15% of payments to BAM because of its failure to supply a compliant programme - a realistic and credible plan of how it will compete the hospital. A total of €1.14m has been withheld from BAM in respect of August and September 2025 invoices. Separately, the NPHDB has issued a claim under the Contract seeking to exercise its entitlement to liquidated damages.
The NPHDB has also used the contractual levers available to it to encourage BAM to progress claims that are currently before the Courts. Whilst these claims will not delay the opening of the hospital, the NPHDB considers it important to resolve any outstanding claims where it considers the contractor not to have a contractual entitlement.
Once substantial completion is achieved, the rest of the hospital will be handed over to CHI for onsite operational commissioning. In preparation for this operational commissioning phase, CHI started the pre-commissioning phase in July 2023. There is a significant and ongoing programme of work to prepare for the opening, which includes the merge and integration of the three existing hospitals and workforces into one, commissioning of the new hospital site, the build and integration of extensive ICT systems and the electronic healthcare record and migration of staff and services over to the new digital facility on the St James’s campus.
The current budget, approved in February 2024, is c.€2.24 billion: c.€1.9billion for capital construction projects and c.€360m for Children’s Hospital Programme. In 2018 it was recognised there would be additional costs outside of the then approved €1.433 billion budget. This was clearly set out in the 2019 PwC report into the matter.
While much focus has been on the challenges faced by the project, it is important to note that once open and operational, the hospital will provide world class facilities to its patients. NCHI will be transformational in how we treat and deliver care to children and their families for decades to come.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (868)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:868. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to address the over-subscribed and closed GP waiting lists in Tubbercurry, County Sligo; the arrangements that will be made when a local GP retires in three months; whether locum GPs will provide services in HSE premises or additional clinics in local GP practices to ensure all residents have access to GP services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57387/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (869)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:869. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department is progressing work to make the second busiest level 3 hospital here, Letterkenny University Hospital a level 4 hospital, in view of the hospitals geographical and roads/ rail infrastructure isolation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57394/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Health, I am committed to the ongoing development of Letterkenny University Hospital. This Government has allocated significant resources to Letterkenny which will benefit patients:
• The hospital budget has increased from €157 million in 2020 to €247 million in 2025, this is a 57% increase in 4 years.
• Staffing at the hospital has grown by 437 since January 2020, an increase of 25%. This includes 30 more medical staff and 137 more nurses and midwives.
• Under our hospital bed expansion plan a total of 122 beds are aimed to be delivered at Letterkenny University Hospital by 2031.
The Report of the National Acute Medicine Programme (2010) defined four generic hospital models and delineated which services would be expected in each model and how patients would move between them. Letterkenny University Hospital is defined as a Model 3 hospital and it has a 24-hour Emergency Department, an Intensive Care Unit and additional speciality units.
Model 4 Hospitals provide the same as Model 3 hospitals however would also be expected to have tertiary care for specialised services and these typically serve the population at a national level. University Hospital Galway (UHG) is designated as the Model 4 Tertiary Referral Hospital for the HSE West North West.
The Programme for Government committed to establishing six new elective surgical hubs (South Dublin, North Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford) and exploring the feasibility of a hub in the northwest. In July, the Minister for Health announced two additional surgical hubs for the northwest will be delivered in Sligo and Letterkenny. The new hubs will be open 6 days a week, from 8am to 8pm and once operational each hub will deliver over 28,000 day-cases, minor operations and outpatient consultations annually.
In relation to Letterkenny, the HSE notes that work is underway to finalise the Design Brief, including the Schedule of Accommodation, for a Letterkenny development which includes a Surgical Hub, oncology accommodation and inpatient beds. Once this is complete, a tendering process will be undertaken to establish a Major Design Team Framework for the West & North West region. This will facilitate the engagement of a Design Team for the Letterkenny development. It is planned to commence this tendering process in the near future and the aim is to have a Design Team appointed and commencing the design phase in early 2026.
Models of care are, in the first instance, determined by the HSE including service delivery and design. Any amendments to the provision of care in Letterkenny University Hospital, including any expansion that would change the Model of Hospital, should be led by the HSE, based on service need.
Research and Development
Questions (870)
John Lahart
Question:870. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of a rehabilitation programme based at DCU involving the use of exoskeleton technology to support individuals with mobility impairments; and if she will engage with the programme lead (details supplied) to explore potential funding options to sustain and expand this initiative. [57397/25]
View answerWritten answers
The HRB is the funding agency of the Department of Health, focused on funding and supporting health and social care research in Ireland. There are a range of grant opportunities to fund research in high priority areas to inform health practice and policy. Any researcher or research group can submit research applications to the HRB in response to publicly launched schemes. Researchers apply via their host academic institution and applications are subject to a competitive process, which is decided by international peer review.
In addition to the HRB there are other funders whose objective it is to support the development of new technologies (e.g., Research Ireland, Enterprise Ireland).
In recent years, the HRB has funded a feasibility trial submitted to its clinical trial funding programme - Exoskeleton Training for Spinal Cord Injury Neuropathic Pain: A Phase 2, which is led by University College Dublin. This study is underway and is testing exoskeleton-based walking 3 times per week as a mechanistic-based intervention for neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. The HRB has also funded a summer scholarship award (led by UCD) aimed at developing a low-cost and lightweight robotic hand exoskeleton for rehabilitation following stroke.
It is also noted and confirmed that an application to the HRB has been received from the team in DCU through the clinical trials funding programme, which is aimed at exploring the feasibility of a rehabilitation exoskeleton for cerebral palsy in children. The international peer review process is underway, and the outcome will not be known until Spring 2026. In the spirit of fairness, transparency and a focus on excellence, the HRB will, as always, engage with all applicants in the appropriate manner and according to the processes set out in the relevant funding programme.
Traveller Community
Questions (871)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:871. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on reports that research commissioned by the HSE regarding Traveller health outcomes in homelessness will not be published, despite the report having been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57398/25]
View answerWritten answers
I am referring this PQ for direct referral to the HSE as they are directly involved in this issue.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (872)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:872. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the plans to develop the long overdue type 1 diabetes centre of excellence building in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57408/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (873)
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:873. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if she will sanction the appointment of a second WTE advanced nurse practitioner for the type 1 adult diabetes clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital for continuity of service to support the recently appointed consultant endocrinologists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57409/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Cross-Border Co-operation
Questions (874)
Martin Daly
Question:874. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health to outline the co-operation that exists with Northern Ireland in relation to organ donation and transplantation; if there are any specific protocols or processes in place with regard to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57421/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (875)
Colm Burke
Question:875. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current status of a medical card appeal for a person (details supplied); if serious consideration will be given to urgently awarding the medical card as the person is suffering from breast cancer and a medical card will be required for their treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57427/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.