Paul Lawless
Question:2368. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health when the five new surgical hubs are expected to open; the locations of these hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1148/26]
View answerHospital Services
Questions (2368)
Written answers
I have asked the HSE, as sponsoring agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the surgical hubs to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.
Disability Services
Questions (2369)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:2369. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapist posts, by grade that were filled at Tramore Primary Care Centre in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [1155/26]
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.
Departmental Data
Questions (2370)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:2370. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that attended each outpatient clinic at University Hospital, Waterford, in 2025; the frequency in which each clinic is held; and if the clinics are consultant or nurse led, in tabular form. [1156/26]
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (2371)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:2371. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dietitians posts filled at Ferrybank Primary Care Centre, Waterford, in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [1157/26]
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 (2372)
Michael Murphy
Question:2372. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to confirm that the Health Service Executive remains fully committed to engagement with the established working group comprising the HSE, and organisations in relation to the provision of three level 2 palliative care beds at (details supplied); and if she will outline the proposed schedule and format for ongoing engagement with these groups. [1185/26]
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.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Questions (2373)
Michael Murphy
Question:2373. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will request the HSE to provide the most up-to-date room fit-out designs, architectural plans and technical specifications for the three level 2 palliative care rooms at a hospital (detail supplied); and if she will confirm whether these designs fully meet national standards for level 2 palliative care provision. [1186/26]
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 (2374)
Michael Murphy
Question:2374. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current status of the governance model for the three dedicated level 2 palliative care suites at a hospital (details supplied); and if she will outline how clinical governance, operational oversight and integration with specialist hospital-based palliative care services will be structured. [1187/26]
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 (2375)
Michael Murphy
Question:2375. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to confirm that the three dedicated level 2 palliative care rooms at a hospital (details supplied) will be co-located within the same area of the building; and if not, to outline the rationale for any alternative configuration. [1188/26]
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 (2376)
Michael Murphy
Question:2376. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to specify where within a hospital (details supplied) the three level 2 palliative care rooms will be located; and if she will confirm whether their location has been agreed with relevant clinical stakeholders, including specialist palliative care providers. [1189/26]
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (2377)
Louis O'Hara
Question:2377. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if a 24 hour rapid response vehicle will be introduced at Tuam ambulance base; if there is provision for such a service in the 2026 HSE National Service Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1197/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Homeless Persons Supports
Questions (2378)
Donna McGettigan
Question:2378. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the options available for a person (details supplied) who needs to avail of homeless services but has complicating factors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1199/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (2379)
Michael Cahill
Question:2379. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason there is only one oxygen supplier under the DPS scheme; if she is considering approving more suppliers to improve competition and access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1216/26]
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.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (2380)
Michael Cahill
Question:2380. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the electronic reimbursement system for oxygen will be introduced; the reason oxygen reimbursement is still lagging other medical services under the DPS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1217/26]
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.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (2381)
Michael Cahill
Question:2381. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who are currently unable to get reimbursement for oxygen due to the fact that payments can only be made by cheque; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1218/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
Currently, under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances. This includes the rental costs for oxygen. Further information can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/drugs-payment-scheme/card/.
Patients registered under the DPS can apply for a refund where they opted to use more than one pharmacy to supply their family medicines needs or where they received items from their community pharmacy and other approved services provided by a supplier other than a community pharmacy (e.g. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or Oxygen treatment), and have paid in excess of the DPS threshold. The HSE do have data on the number of patients who do not avail of these services.
The HSE is committed to continuously improving its services and recognises that the provision of digital services offers significant advantages both for patients and the HSE. The HSE is developing an easy-to-use online refund application with upload capabilities to support the delivery of refunds by electronic fund transfer. This is one of several ICT initiatives that the HSE is working on developing during 2026.
Departmental Data
Questions (2382)
Michael Cahill
Question:2382. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if her Department has statistics on the number of patients who need oxygen but who do not hold a medical card; the number of patients who apply each year for reimbursement of oxygen costs through the DPS scheme without a medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1219/26]
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 Staff
Questions (2383)
Louis O'Hara
Question:2383. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant community ophthalmologists for east County Galway that have been filled in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [1261/26]
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.
Departmental Data
Questions (2384)
Louis O'Hara
Question:2384. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of dental treatments provided through PRSI and the medical card. [1262/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Equipment
Questions (2385)
Louis O'Hara
Question:2385. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health for a detailed report on the timetable for radiation oncology equipment replacement and expansion, by machine type per hospital. [1263/26]
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.
Hospital Staff
Questions (2386)
Louis O'Hara
Question:2386. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant in infectious disease posts filled at Galway University Hospital as of 5 January 2026, in tabular form. [1264/26]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (2387, 2388, 2389)
Martin Kenny
Question:2387. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of patients presenting to Sligo University Hospital accident and emergency department with mental health issues and how many of those were admitted to mental health unit, by month for 2025. [1267/26]
View answerMartin Kenny
Question:2388. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of mental health service users in Sligo, Leitrim and the number of repeat visits to Sligo University Hospital accident and emergency department; the number of times they were admitted to the mental health unit; and the number of times they were sent home, by month for 2025. [1268/26]
View answerMartin Kenny
Question:2389. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the breakdown, by month for 2025 of the number of vacant beds there were in the Sligo University Hospital’s mental health unit. [1269/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2387 to 2389, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Question No. 2388 answered with Question No. 2387.