Written Answers Nos. 406-428
406. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health to outline the outsourcing of hospital services at University Hospital Kerry, broken down by department, procedure and cost, in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72949/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
407. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of people on occupational therapy waiting lists in Kerry, by area and by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72971/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
408. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting dental appointments in Kerry, by area and by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72972/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
409. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to reform the fair deal scheme by reducing the five-year land or business transfer clause to three years to allow more farmers to benefit from the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72974/25]
View answer411. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health given the centralisation of surgeries to Dublin children's hospitals because of the anaesthesiologist issues with cranial paediatrics, if there is a plan in place to deal with increased surgical waitlists if they occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73063/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
412. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if she will consider expanding the Shannon Doc Service in the mid-west region so that it would also include out of hours access to paediatric doctors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73068/25]
View answerGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
GPs contracted under the GMS scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for urgent GP care outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation to do so, most GPs participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting this contractual requirement. Although the HSE provides funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements, GP out of hours co-operatives are private organisations.
GPs are expert medical generalists, the first point of contact for most medical issues, and they diagnose and treat patients of all ages. GPs refer patients where clinically appropriate to other healthcare professionals, including to paediatric services.
GP out of hours co-operatives provide GP care where urgently needed outside of normal surgery hours. Patients who are seriously ill or injured should attend their nearest Emergency Department (ED). Patients availing of GP out of hours services may be referred to their nearest ED based on the severity of their condition as appropriate.
413. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health in light of the deferral of alcohol labelling to 2028, the additional funding that has been allocated to raising awareness and educate the public about the risk of prenatal alcohol exposure, specifically at this time of year, when alcohol consumption is known to increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73073/25]
View answerThe HSE Alcohol Programme is part of HSE Health and Wellbeing under Public Health. It was created as a policy priority programme under Healthy Ireland, and aims to prevent and reduce alcohol use and its related harms in Ireland. On the team, there is a Programme Lead who also oversees the HSE Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme and one full-time project manager.
In order to increase capacity, a second project manager has recently been assigned an Alcohol Programme brief on a part-time basis. There is ongoing development of the HSE’s alcohol public communications website and campaign ‘Ask About Alcohol’. A 3-year review of all website content is almost completed. Following this review, minor and major factual updates have been made, as well as consolidation of content (e.g. navigating services) and the development of new content e.g. sober curious.
The current campaign focus is on cancer, in partnership with National Cancer Control Programme, with new creative assets being promoted across social media platforms. There is also new creative content currently in development on alcohol and pregnancy, which is undergoing testing with target groups and people with lived experience of prenatal alcohol exposure. This new creative will be a significant focus in 2026, in addition to planned developments in relation to alcohol and parents, and alcohol and the brain.The HSE Alcohol Programme updates and develops public and patient leaflets and posters in multiple languages on an ongoing basis.
The team is currently working on the development of new resources for healthcare and community workers to support conversations about alcohol in collaboration with HSE SPARK Innovation; these include a new alcohol standard drink cup, a standard drink wheel, and cards on standard drinks. A new resource pack for healthcare professionals on the prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure is also almost completed, and will be disseminated throughout 2026.
414. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the full list of funding options available to Tiglin Lighthouse Project in Dublin north city, given the significant engagements it delivers each year and rising staff costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73074/25]
View answerAs this refers to possible funding for a project located in HSE Dublin and North East, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response.
415. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the total number of vacant beds in each community hospital in County Donegal; the reason in each case they are vacant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73075/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
416. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if there can be an intervention to allow a person (details supplied) to remain in the care of the district hospital in Killarney; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73077/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible
417. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the concerns raised by an association (details supplied) regarding the recent statement of the Irish Medical Council on the prescribing and administration of Botulinum Toxin which asserts that this medicine may only be prescribed by a registered medical practitioner or dentist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73078/25]
View answerHealthcare regulators in Ireland are independent statutory organisations who work to protect the public through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct and ensuring the safety and quality of health products. Certain areas of healthcare are multi professional and multi sectoral, requiring all regulators to work together to meet these aims.
I understand that the relevant regulators, i.e. the Medical Council (MC), the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), the Dental Council, and the Health Products Regulatory Authority, have collaborated closely in the development of guidelines for regulated professionals in relation to the prescribing and administration of Botulinum Toxin products. I am reassured that these statements accurately set out the current position and are mutually aligned. [NMBI] guidance and the [MC] statement can be accessed on their websites.
418. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the legal basis, if any, for the Irish Medical Council to issue guidance that appears to restrict or contradict the prescriptive authority of Registered Nurse Prescribers as provided for under Regulation 5A of the Medicinal Products Prescription and Control of Supply Regulations 2003 to 2020 and related amendments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73079/25]
View answerHealthcare regulators in Ireland are independent statutory organisations who work to protect the public through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct and ensuring the safety and quality of health products. Certain areas of healthcare are multi professional and multi sectoral, requiring all regulators to work together to meet these aims.
The Minister understands that the relevant regulators, i.e. the Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the Dental Council, and the Health Products Regulatory Authority, have collaborated closely in the development of guidelines for regulated professionals in relation to the prescribing and administration of Botulinum Toxin products. She has been reassured that these statements accurately set out the current position and are mutually aligned. [NMBI] guidance and the [MC] statement can be accessed on their websites.
419. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm that the regulation of nursing practice including nurse prescribing and the scope of practice for nurses administering prescription only medicines such as Botulinum Toxin is a matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as the statutory regulator (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73080/25]
View answerHealthcare regulators in Ireland are independent statutory organisations who work to protect the public through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct and ensuring the safety and quality of health products. Certain areas of healthcare are multi professional and multi sectoral, requiring all regulators to work together to meet these aims.
The Minister understands that the relevant regulators, i.e. the Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the Dental Council, and the Health Products Regulatory Authority, have collaborated closely in the development of guidelines for regulated professionals in relation to the prescribing and administration of Botulinum Toxin products. She has been reassured that these statements accurately set out the current position and are mutually aligned. NMBI guidance - see www.nmbi.ie/Standards-Guidance/More-Standards-Guidance/Guidance-for-Registered-General-Nurses-Who-Perform- and the MC statement - see www.medicalcouncil.ie/news-and-publications/position-statements/statement-from-the-medical-council-on-the-prescribing-and-administration-of-botox.html - can be accessed on their websites.
420. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs and other termination of pregnancy service providers reimbursed (PCRS) for the year 2023, in tabular form, for first and second consultations for terminations of pregnancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73081/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
421. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the cost to fully restore the cuts made from 2010 to the DTSS and DTBS schemes and to the public dental service for children and people with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73084/25]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides oral healthcare, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, additional fillings and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients, are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon. A package of measures was introduced in 2022 to expand the care available under the Scheme and significantly increase the fees paid to contractors.
These measures are having an impact, with access to care continuing to increase each year since they were introduced. In 2025, over 240,000 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, supporting over 50,000 extra patients compared with 2022. Fees paid to dentists for DTSS care are now aligned with other European countries which provide comparable public dental care, noting that many European countries, especially in the southern and eastern regions, don’t have any scheme in place for adults, which is free at point of access.
Having been suspended in 2010, the scale and polish item was re-introduced for all medical card patients in 2022 along with an expansion of the oral examination to include provision of preventative advice, using €10 million awarded in Budget 2022. The cost of providing free dental care at the pre 2010 level would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population and the level of take-up of such services.
At present, the HSE Oral Healthcare Service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for children at up to three intervals, targeting ages approximating to second and sixth class and, in some cases, fourth class. However, there are access issues within this service at present and the HSE has had to prioritise patient groups, to ensure emergency care remains available for all eligible HSE patients. Within the three childhood appointments, the sixth-class appointment is currently prioritised by HSE. This is to ensure that children receive preventative fissure sealants on their permanent molars and, for those children who require it, a referral for orthodontics assessment. It is important to note that the numbers of examination appointments being provided by HSE to their target groups is increasing.
In 2022 just over 99,000 such appointments were provided nationally. Last year, this increased to almost 107,000 appointments provided.To support the HSE to provide care under the current model of service, additional investment of €2m was made in Budget 2025 to, among other things, enable the HSE to recruit 15 additional whole-time equivalents (WTEs) in oral healthcare. Furthermore, the HSE has sanctioned the filling of 34.7 existing WTE vacancies across dental and orthodontic services. This additional capacity supports access to HSE dental clinics for children and special care patients.
In the longer term, the Government is committed to reforming oral healthcare services, including the DTSS, through the implementation of the service reforms set out in the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP), Smile Agus Sláinte. The Policy also contains a range of strategic workforce planning actions to increase national workforce capacity, in support of improving patient access to care. The Programme for Government contains commitments to implement the National Oral Health Policy, reform oral healthcare services for medical card holders and address workforce capacity.
The National Oral Health Policy has two key goals: to provide the supports to enable every individual to achieve their personal best oral health; and to reduce oral health inequalities across the population, by enabling vulnerable patients to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health. These new oral healthcare services will be prevention-focused and will be tailored to each age group across the life course from birth to old age. Patients with additional needs will be supported to mainstream to a local general dental practice of their choosing as much as is possible, while the HSE Oral Healthcare Service will reorient to provide the additional time, technology and skills to provide care for those who can't receive the entirety of their care in a general dental practice.
The HSE will also develop the necessary models of care, clinical guidelines and care pathways to support provision of services.The implementation plan for the first phase of the Policy is currently being finalised by my Department and the HSE. The plan includes reform of services for children and adult medical card holders among the initial priorities.
The Treatment Benefit Scheme funded by PRSI contributions to the Social Insurance Fund is under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection.
422. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the cost to equalise the treatment of PRSI contributors with that of medical card holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73085/25]
View answerThis is a matter for Department of Social Protection and should be redirected to that Department.
423. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to ensure that a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission pay agreement is urgently implemented for staff employed by an organisation (details supplied); the engagements she has had with unions, the HSE and Caredoc to resolve this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73110/25]
View answerCaredoc staff represented by SIPTU and the INMO recently announced their intention to undertake industrial action with a series of work stoppages commencing on the 18th December 2025, as the organisation has refused to pass on a settlement to their staff that was reached under the auspices of the WRC in March 2025.
There were two pay deals for community and voluntary workers agreed in the WRC, firstly in October 2023 (8%) and secondly in March 2025 (9.25%). Co-operatives established to provide GP out-of-hours services, such as Caredoc, do not receive their funding from the HSE through section 39 grant arrangements, and were therefore not in scope of the WRC agreements. This was accepted by the unions in finalising the deal at the WRC. GP Out of Hours services are provided under the terms of the GMS contract between the HSE and individual GPs. This contract is governed by Section 58 of the Health Act. It was made clear that the model of funding, including pay funding for staff in these organisations, will be determined as part of the Strategic Review of General Practice that is currently underway.
However, in the interim the HSE committed under the auspices of the WRC in March 2025 to provide an additional funding allocation of €1.7m to Caredoc (South-East), ShannonDoc and Southdoc to ensure the maintenance of a sustainable workforce, of which €647,000 was allocated to Caredoc (South-East). This commitment has been fully honoured, and the additional funding has already issued to these organisations. It is regrettable that Caredoc has to date refused to pass this funding on to its employees.
The most straight forward resolution of the strike action is that Caredoc immediately pay over the funding provided for the staff in Caredoc South-East, as the failure to comply with the WRC settlement is the basis of the unions industrial action. CareDoc have agreed to return to mediation with the HSE, and I would urge them to continue to engage through this process to bring this matter to a resolution as quickly as possible in the interest of the service users.
424. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details with respect to the interim care options being examined for trans healthcare, which she referenced during a recent debate (details supplied); if consultation with the trans community will be carried out ahead of any options being implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73111/25]
View answer425. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the interim care options being examined for trans healthcare, a proposal is being considered (details supplied); if so, to provide further details in respect of this proposal; if this would include youth services; if agreement from the trans community will be sought prior to progressing this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73112/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
426. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if pharmacists participating in the free HRT scheme have been advised on a matter by the PCRS (details supplied); if so, the legal basis on which this is done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73113/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 338 of 26 November 2025, the reason all areas within the National Ambulance Service are not offering overtime to a staff group to achieve minimal numbers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73114/25]
View answer428. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if private ambulance companies are being tasked to emergency calls by National Emergency Operations Centre; if so, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73115/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
