Written Answers Nos. 633-657
633. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish the clinical guidelines governing the management of live births following termination of pregnancy, including required staff presence, escalation procedures, and neonatal care responsibilities. [64910/25]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
634. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department requires maternity hospitals to report all cases where a baby is born alive following a termination of pregnancy, and if not, the reason such reporting is not mandatory. [64911/25]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
635. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of live births following termination of pregnancy reported by maternity hospitals in each year since 2019, and the number of those babies who survived beyond four weeks. [64912/25]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
636. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a neonatologist must be present or on call in all cases where a live birth is clinically possible during a termination of pregnancy, and if national policy requires this. [64913/25]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
637. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of maternity hospitals that currently have written protocols for responding to live births following termination of pregnancy, and if she will provide copies of these protocols. [64914/25]
View answerAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
638. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if clinical staff involved in terminations of pregnancy receive specific training on the management of live births, including resuscitation and neonatal stabilisation procedures. [64915/25]
View answerAs the deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
639. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of internal reviews, audits or incident reports completed by the HSE or maternity hospitals relating to live births following termination of pregnancy since 2019, and if she will publish the findings. [64916/25]
View answerAs the deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
640. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to ensure consistent national practice in responding to live births following termination of pregnancy, including the role of the National Women and Infants Health Programme. [64917/25]
View answerAs the deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
641. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will establish a statutory reporting requirement for maternity hospitals to notify the HSE and her Department of all live births following termination of pregnancy, including clinical outcomes. [64918/25]
View answerAs the deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
642. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of cases since 2019 in which palliative care pathways were used for babies born alive following termination of pregnancy, and the criteria applied in those decisions. [64919/25]
View answerAs the deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
643. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will publish all governance reviews, financial audits and compliance assessments completed in the past three years for voluntary hospitals or HSE-funded private providers, and the dates on which each review was finalised. [64920/25]
View answerThe governance of voluntary hospitals and HSE-funded providers, including the completion of governance reviews, financial audits and compliance assessments, is a matter for the HSE. These providers operate under Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the HSE, which set out requirements for governance and compliance.
The Department of Health does not conduct these reviews of this nature directly. In line with the 2026 Letter of Determination, the Department sets policy, determines investment, and engages with the HSE on its Performance and Accountability Framework (PAF). This framework places responsibility on the HSE to ensure robust governance and compliance arrangements for funded providers.
This PQ has been referred to the HSE to respond with the requested details.
644. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of outstanding audit recommendations across all HSE-funded service providers as of the most recent reporting cycle, and the number rated as high risk. [64921/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
645. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of Section 38 and Section 39 organisations that have not yet adopted the full suite of HSE governance standards, and the timeline for achieving full compliance. [64922/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
646. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the external oversight mechanisms in place for private providers delivering State-funded health or social care services, and the number of providers subject to sanctions or enhanced monitoring in the past five years. [64923/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
647. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of internal warnings, escalation notices or risk flags issued by the HSE to funded agencies since 2020, and the number that remain unresolved. [64924/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
648. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the process by which her Department verifies financial transparency and accountability in non-statutory bodies receiving public health funding, and if she will outline recent compliance issues identified. [64925/25]
View answerThe Department of Health makes very limited payments to non-statutory bodies as the vast majority of external payments are made to statutory bodies.
Where payments are made to non-statutory bodies, the Department certifies all payments to the bodies prior to approval and monitors the overall level of expenditure.
The Department is not currently aware of any compliance issues identified arising from payments to non-statutory bodies.
649. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps each Department is taking to improve data sharing, risk assessment and governance coordination for services involving children, vulnerable adults and high-risk health environments. [64929/25]
View answerRegarding adults who may be at risk of abuse, safeguarding against abuse is a key objective for me and my Department, every statutory body under its aegis, and for all health and social care services.
A framework of standards, policies and procedures for safeguarding adults in the health and social care sector is already in place. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector, containing further measures. I hope to bring this policy to Government shortly. This is a very significant development and will provide a framework for strengthening safeguards across all care settings. Importantly, the new policy will commit to the introduction of safeguarding legislation in the sector and will set out, at a high level, proposed new legislative provisions.
Regarding high-risk activities in the health sector, the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill will, for the first time, introduce a licensing requirement for all acute hospitals, public and private, and certain designated high-risk activities in the community.
The Licensing Bill builds on existing patient safety legislation to ensure that hospitals in Ireland are operating to minimum core standards so that we can have confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of the services that are being provided, whether in the public or the private sector. The Bill will also apply to certain designated high-risk activities which are conducted in other settings, such as private clinics. This licensing legislation is intended to strengthen current regulation of health services and will not duplicate existing controls.
Regarding data sharing, the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation will provide a common governance framework and harmonised infrastructure for both the primary and secondary use of electronic health data in and between EU Member States.
The Health Information Bill, which completed Fifth Stage in the Dáil on 19th November 2025, and will proceed to the Seanad shortly, is part of a suite of planned legislative measures to give full effect to the EHDS Regulation. It will provide a legislative basis for the introduction of electronic health records for all patients in Ireland as well as introducing a statutory duty to share personal health data across healthcare settings (public, private and voluntary) for the purposes of care and treatment. It also empowers the HSE to request, from health services providers, health information for specified public interest purposes, including public health and policymaking.
650. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the status of the long covid special leave with pay scheme; if it will be extended passed December 2025; if the Government will recognise long covid as an occupational illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64944/25]
View answerAfter a hearing in the Labor Court in June, it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025, at which point 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. While the EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety recommended the recognition of COVID-19 (not long-COVID) as an occupational illness in health and social care settings, recognition of COVID-19 nationally as an occupational illness falls under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection. After reviewing the EU recommendation, the Minister for Social Protection found that COVID-19 did not meet the requirements to be recognised as an occupational illness in the context of the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
651. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the current regulatory status of naloxone and consider allowing approved formulations to be made available over-the-counter in order to improve timely access to this emergency medication, in line with international practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64949/25]
View answerNaloxone services, including training, are part of an integrated approach to reducing drug harm under the National Drugs Strategy.
Under existing legislation, naloxone can be prescribed to an individual by their doctor, however it can also be supplied under certain conditions without a prescription for the purposes of administration by appropriately trained individuals in emergency situations.
The regulations provide for the supply and administration of naloxone, without a prescription, by an individual appointed by a listed organisation, for the purpose of saving life or reducing severe distress in emergency situations, where that individual has successfully completed an approved training course on the administration of such medicines and on the management of any adverse reaction.
The regulations also provide for the creation of a list of organisations that may procure naloxone without a prescription for supply and administration in an emergency by trained persons in the organisation. For context, ‘listed organisation’ means an organisation or emergency rescue organisation listed in the list of organisations maintained by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The HPRA website provides detailed information on emergency medicines, including what they are, who can use them, and how they are regulated. This can be found at the following link [Emergency medicines]. The HPRA may be contacted directly for further guidance on emergency medicines.
There are therefore no legislative restrictions on organisations applying to the HPRA to become a ‘listed organisation’, including An Garda Síochána, The Irish Prison Service, private, public, NGO’s, voluntary and charitable organisations.
652. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the current supply pathways through which community and voluntary organisations can access and distribute naloxone; if consideration is being given to expanding these pathways to reduce delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64953/25]
View answerNaloxone services, including training, are part of an integrated approach to reducing drug harm under the National Drugs Strategy. In 2024, the HSE supplied 6,944 units of naloxone to services nationwide and trained 2,330 people in overdose awareness and naloxone administration in collaboration with community partners.
Promotion by service providers to encourage uptake of existing training and roll out of existing mechanisms and initiatives on naloxone access is resulting in greater awareness and availability of naloxone in the community.
Under existing legislation, naloxone can be prescribed to an individual by their doctor, however it can also be supplied under certain conditions without a prescription for the purposes of administration by appropriately trained individuals in emergency situations.
The regulations provide for the supply and administration of naloxone, without a prescription, by an individual appointed by a listed organisation, for the purpose of saving life or reducing severe distress in emergency situations, where that individual has successfully completed an approved training course on the administration of such medicines and on the management of any adverse reaction.
The regulations also provide for the creation of a list of organisations that may procure naloxone without a prescription for supply and administration in an emergency by trained persons in the organisation. For context, ‘listed organisation’ means an organisation or emergency rescue organisation listed in the list of organisations maintained by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The HPRA website provides detailed information on emergency medicines, including what they are, who can use them, and how they are regulated. This can be found at the following link [Emergency medicines]. The HPRA may be contacted directly for further guidance on emergency medicines.
There are therefore no legislative restrictions on organisations applying to the HPRA to become a ‘listed organisation’, including An Garda Síochána, The Irish Prison Service, private, public, NGO’s, voluntary and charitable organisations.
653. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the locations of all community nursing units in CHO2; e the bed capacity of each unit; the current occupancy of each unit, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65006/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
654. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the bed capacity of the community nursing unit (details supplied); the current occupancy of the unit; the staffing cohort currently employed at the unit; the future development plans for the unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65007/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
655. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health her views on the proposed sale of the Baggot Street Hospital.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65028/25]
View answerFollowing extensive review, the former Baggot Street Hospital was identified by the HSE a number of years ago as surplus to health service requirements, and it decided to dispose of the property. The disposal of Baggot Street Hospital has been carried out in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 11/2015, Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets (the “Protocol”).
The Protocol requires all State bodies to update the State Property Register with details of all properties which are surplus to requirements and available for occupation or disposal.
A portion of the property adjoining Haddington Road is being retained by the HSE for redevelopment as a new primary care centre for this area. Planning permission for this new primary care centre was applied for in April 2024 and the HSE is engaging with Dublin City Council on this.
The remainder of the property was offered by the HSE to all State bodies, including Department of Housing, via the State Property Register on 10 April 2024. Under the Protocol, properties owned by State Bodies may not be sold on the open market unless there is no timely expression of interest received from another State Body.
The HSE engaged with all expressions of interest from State Bodies in relation to the property. However, after this engagement process, no other State Body chose to acquire Baggot Street Hospital from the HSE. Following this engagement process, the HSE proceeded to prepare Baggot Street Hospital for disposal on the open market, with the property being advertised for sale in October 2025.
A formal Section 53 Notice was submitted to LDA as of 15th October 2025. On 12th November 2025, the LDA formally notified the HSE of their decision to not acquire the former Baggot Street Hospital.
The HSE continue to have regular engagements with the LDA on other surplus relevant properties nationwide.
656. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a further update on the implementation of the Model of Care for Hereditary Cancer, the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65039/25]
View answerThe Hereditary Cancer Steering Group oversees the implementation of the NCCP Hereditary Cancer Model of Care.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) published the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland (the Strategy) in December 2022. In alignment with Sláintecare, the Strategy outlines a vision for a sustainable, patient and family centred genetics and genomics service that is equitable and available to patients throughout their lifespan, across the country.
The National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO) was established in 2023 to implement the Strategy. The NGGO identified six priority deliverables for 2024 that were aligned to the Strategy’s themes and the related areas of focus.
Working groups have been developing networked services, including a pathway to a national multi-disciplinary team; agreeing template job descriptions for new roles and seeking funding via the service planning process; working to operationalise mainstreamed genetic testing; developing e-learning to support health care professionals; and developing patient information material.
Two of the eight designated cancer centres now have established mainstreamed pathways. Available data shows that to date in 2025 at least 446 patients have availed of cancer genetic testing through these new pathways. This makes pre-test counselling and genetic testing available through the treating oncology team, for certain patients with a diagnosis of cancer, including breast cancer. Previously patients would have to wait up to 33 months wait for a routine specialist cancer genetics appointment prior to testing. A key priority for the NCCP for for 2026 will be the roll out of mainstreamed cancer genetic testing to other regions.
A national multi-disciplinary meeting (MDM) is established in CHI Crumlin. Development is underway of a national MDM for hereditary cancer in adults which is due to commence in January 2026. These MDMs provide access to a specialist cancer genetics opinion where required, reducing unnecessary referrals.
Targeted workforce investment by the NCCP has included expansion of the specialist cancer genetics service at St James's Hospital, including the appointment of additional genetic counsellor and MDM coordinator to the specialist cancer genetics services to support a national MDM. Regionally, appointments such as genetic counsellor, data manager and medical oncologist with a special interest in genetics to lead the delivery of the mainstreamed service.
657. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the urgent need for improved facilities and additional space for the rheumatology outpatient department in CUH; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65049/25]
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.
