Written Answers Nos. 670-689
670. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of community-based chronic pain programmes in operation nationwide; and the way in which the findings of the iPainCentre pilot have informed national service planning. [68067/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
671. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy figures for occupational therapy posts in Cork, by network and grade; and the expected timeline for filling these posts. [68068/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
672. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her Department’s formal targets for reducing occupational therapy waiting times in Cork; and when waiting times in each network are projected to fall below 12-weeks. [68069/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
673. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the funding allocation for occupational therapy services in Cork for 2026, including development posts, replacement posts and planned waiting-list initiatives. [68070/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
674. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists who left HSE posts in Cork in 2024, and to date in 2025; and the recorded reasons for exit. [68071/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
675. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy rate across the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, by hospital and specialty, including the number of approved posts versus filled posts. [68072/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
676. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited in 2024 and to date in 2025 in the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare under the Department’s recruitment and retention initiatives, including graduate retention, targeted campaigns and agency conversions. [68073/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter we have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter
677. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national spend on chronic pain services in each of the past five years; and when full and consistent reporting for chronic pain services will be in place across all hospital groups and community healthcare organisations. [68074/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current number of consultants in pain medicine working in the HSE; the number of approved posts that remain vacant, and the steps planned in 2025 and 2026 to strengthen the workforce for chronic pain services. [68076/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to list all community-based chronic pain programmes funded by the HSE; the budget for each; and the date on which the evaluation of the iPainCentre pilot will inform national service planning. [68077/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current number of unfilled occupational therapy posts in Cork, by network and grade; and the expected dates for filling these posts. [68078/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
682. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the targets set for reducing occupational therapy waiting times in Cork; and the date by which each network is expected to reach a waiting time of under 12 weeks. [68079/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
683. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the level of funding assigned to occupational therapy services in Cork for 2026, including new posts, replacement posts and resources for waiting list work. [68080/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
684. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who left occupational therapy posts in Cork during 2024 and 2025; and the recorded reasons for their exit. [68081/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
685. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant community health posts in Cork, by discipline and whole-time equivalent; and the expected recruitment timeline for each. [68082/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
686. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy rate in the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, by service and grade; and the number of approved posts and filled posts as of the most recent reporting period. [68083/25]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
687. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish the current waiting times for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy in Cork, broken down by network; the number of unfilled posts across these services; and the targets and timeline for bringing waiting times below 12-weeks in 2026. [68084/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
688. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the vacancy rate across all community health disciplines in Cork, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social work and social care work; the number of approved posts versus filled posts; and the recruitment timelines for 2026. [68085/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
689. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited in 2024 and 2025 within the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare; the number of staff who left during the same period; the number of posts currently dependent on agency workers; and the actions planned for 2026 to increase permanent staffing and reduce reliance on agency contracts. [68086/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
