Written Answers Nos. 2416-2437
2416. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the HSE and her Department first become aware of the V10 national incident report form in relation to the murder of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1473/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2417. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason the existence of the V10 national incident report form in relation to the murder of a person (details supplied) was denied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1474/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2418. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason a reply to a letter dated the 11 August 2025 from the family of a person (details supplied) was not responded to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1475/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2419. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if "open disclosure" was ticked on the V10 national incident report form in relation to the murder of a person (details supplied) the reason serious incident review or file review has never been issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1476/26]
View answer2420. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason section M (quality and patient safety) on the V10 national incident report form in relation to the murder of a person (details supplied), was left blank on a category 1 fatality, therefore bypassing mandatory reporting to HIQA and the Mental Health Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1487/26]
View answer2421. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the Government will issue a public apology in Dáil Éireann to the family of a person (details supplied) for the failures of the HSE in preventing the death of their family member and commit to a full public enquiry into the matter. [1488/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2419 to 2421, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, a review is being conducted by the HSE at present. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2422. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on a CAMHS assessment for a child (details supplied); if the HSE will assess the real urgency to progress this particular case as there has been miscommunication with the family in relation to submission of paperwork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1482/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2423. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 20 November 2025, to provide further details with respect to the small number of proposed amendments to the Dentists Act 1985 (details supplied); the timeline she is working towards in introducing the Bill to provide for continuing professional development for dentists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1496/26]
View answerThe Department of Health is committed to updating the Dentists Act 1985. Ahead of the revision of the wider Dentists Act 1985, a priority is to consider the development of a small number of interim enhancements to the Dentist Act in areas identified as a priority and to proceed with these amendments where appropriate.
The first of priority area to be considered and progressed for amendment was the lack of a statutory basis for the ethical requirement for dentists to undertake Continuing Professional Development CPD). On the 9th of December, following extensive policy development and stakeholder engagement over the course of 2025, I received Government approval for the policy proposal to introduce a statutory basis for CPD for dentists. Permission has also been granted for the Department of Health to proceed to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to provide this amendment to the Dentists Act 1985.
Officials in the Department have commenced work to develop the General Scheme of a Bill to give effect to the agreed policy, and when completed this, along with the required Regulatory Impact Assessment, Small and Medium Enterprise Test and Proportionality Test will be returned to Government requesting their approval to draft the Bill itself. Any legislative change will ultimately be a decision for the Oireachtas.
The Dental Council has requested that other areas of legislation also be considered for priority amendment - these include amending the provisions in the Dentists Act 1985 that relate to dental education and training, bringing them into alignment with regulatory legislation for other Irish health professions, and introducing provisions enabling the Dental Council to check that registration certificates are being appropriately displayed.
The review and updating of the legislation is directly related to the wider implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which envisages a fundamental reform of oral health services. As such, any new legislation, including interim amendments, will also be informed by this work.
The Department welcomes positive engagement from all stakeholders, including the public and wider dental profession, in this regard. I am confident that, informed by this engagement, the Department will be able to deliver a robust, evidence based modern regulatory framework which supports the National Oral Health Policy and the associated reforms targeted for oral healthcare.
2424. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 353 of 10 December 2025, to provide a timeline for handover of each of the seven community nursing units (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1497/26]
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.
2425. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 340 of 10 December 2025, the reason the majority of regional sustainability and energy officers are not on permanent contracts (details supplied); to outline the rational for this over-reliance on contract workers; if these workers will be offered permanent contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1498/26]
View answerWe have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
2426. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to confirm that a new practice is in place in public hospitals with respect to admissions (details supplied); if a memo or directive has been issued to public hospitals instructing them to begin admitting patients in this manner; if so, the date at which this was issued; to provide a copy of said memo or directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1499/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2427. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 970 of 9 December 2025, if a matter (details supplied) was brought to the attention of her predecessor or officials in her Department when appointing a Chair; the reasons they deemed this matter not to impact the Chair’s independence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1500/26]
View answerThe group referred to was established following a decision of the previous Government. The Memorandum for Government was prepared by the Department of Health and circulated to all relevant Departments. This Memorandum outlined the membership of the group, including the proposed chair. No concerns were raised in this regard.
2428. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to clarify if there are plans to reopen a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1503/26]
View answerDual diagnosis means a person experiences both a substance abuse problem and a mental health issue such as depression or an anxiety disorder.
Treatment options must address both issues, and as such the HSE have developed a Model of Care which recommends the development of 12 Adult Specialist Dual Diagnosis Teams nationally, four Adolescent Hub Teams, and the National Dual Diagnosis Rehabilitation Centre. To date funding of over €5 million has resulted in the roll out of the Dual Diagnosis teams. Five Dual Diagnosis teams are being recruited into and developed at present – adult teams in Limerick and Cork commenced services in 2024, and a team in Waterford is in recruitment. Two Adolescent hub teams in Dublin have also been developed, supported by funding from HSE Social Inclusion. A further team has been funded under Budget 2026.
I can also confirm that under Budget 2026, I have allocated funding to commence a Dual Diagnosis Day Programme at Keltoi in Dublin, as the first phase of a reopening of the Keltoi service.
As your question relates to service matters, I have also referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
2429. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if it has been brought to her attention that there is a gap in the recruitment for Irish Edical Internship Training Programme for Irish citizens who were educated abroad, despite being fully competent in English and trained in comparable medical education systems, but who did not sit the leaving certificate or A levels; if her Department will close this gap; if she will comment on the case of an individual in this gap (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1505/26]
View answerWe have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as this is a recruitment issue.
2430. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1506/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2431. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health crisis presentations to emergency departments in each of the years, 2023, 2024 and 2025. [1507/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2432. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if recent offers have been brought to her attention, reportedly made by or on behalf of the HSE to claimants affected by the May 2021 cyber-attack in the region of €750 in damages plus €650 towards legal costs per claimant; if these figures reflect the HSE's general approach to settlement in these cases; and the estimated total cost to the taxpayer if offers at this level were extended to all similarly affected individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1508/26]
View answer2433. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the estimated total current and projected cost to the taxpayer of defending and settling claims arising from the May 2021 cyber-attack and data breach affecting HSE IT systems, including damages, legal costs and any expert or administrative costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1509/26]
View answer2434. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the HSE and/or the State Claims Agency has produced low, central and high estimates of the potential total liability to the State from claims arising from the May 2021 cyber-attack; if she will publish those estimates and the assumptions on which they are based; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1510/26]
View answer2435. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of claims and legal proceedings currently notified or issued against the HSE in respect of the May 2021 cyber-attack and data breach; the number settled to date; the total sums paid in (i) damages and (ii) legal costs to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1511/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2432 to 2435, inclusive, together.
As of November 2025, there have been approximately 620 legal proceedings issued against the HSE arising from the criminally motivated cyberattack in May 2021. The HSE has begun the process of issuing letters to those who have issued legal proceedings against the HSE arising from the criminally motivated cyberattack in May 2021. The HSE continues to work closely with the State Claims Agency in relation to this matter and is engaging with legal representatives accordingly. These legal matters between the HSE and affected individuals are confidential.
Since the criminally motivated cyberattack, the HSE has invested significantly in its cyber capability. There are multiple ongoing programmes of work focused on addressing all issues highlighted in the wake of the attack. These range from reducing risk, building cyber resilience, and building additional cyber security capability and capacity and Security Operations Center (SOC) through the establishment of a dedicated cyber security function under the leadership of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) within the HSE.
The HSE manages and responds to thousands of cyber threats annually and takes appropriate action to identify and develop responses to cyber risks and ensure awareness of current threats. The HSE continues to invest significantly in multi-layered cyber defences, including technology, processes, and people, to strengthen resilience and reduce the risk of future attacks.
2436. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the HSE held any cyber insurance or other relevant insurance cover at the time of the May 2021 cyber-attack; if so, the extent to which such policies are expected to offset compensation or legal costs; if not, why such cover was not in place and what the consequent additional cost to the taxpayer is likely to be; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1512/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, this PQ has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2437. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting for primary care psychology, by CHO, at the end of November and December 2025, in tabular form. [1520/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
