Written Answers Nos. 2529-2550
2532. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the total revenue generated from parking charges at public hospitals in each of the past five years; for the breakdown, per hospital; the way in which this revenue is allocated; and whether any portion is ring-fenced for patient services or accessibility improvements, in tabular form. [2336/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2533. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the financial impact of hospital parking charges on patients undergoing long-term or frequent treatment, including cancer patients and parents of children with chronic illnesses. [2337/26]
View answer2536. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that hospital parking charges can place an additional financial burden on families at times of acute stress or illness; and if she will consider alternatives such as capped daily rates or free parking for long-term patients. [2340/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2533 and 2536 together.
Hospitals that charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses. As a result, many hospitals have introduced reduced rate parking for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship, and all hospitals that charge for parking have a fixed maximum daily rate. The majority of hospitals have some form of exemption or allowances in place such as the option of flexible day passes or multi-trip entry passes for regular hospital attenders, and various concessions based on the type of inpatient.
The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future, makes a commitment to explore further ways to reduce hospital car parking charges. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services. Accordingly, in line with this commitment, the HSE continues to keep all fees and concessions under review, in order to progress any opportunities that will ease the burden for those most affected.
2534. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether hospital parking costs have been identified as a barrier to appointment attendance; if any data exists on missed or delayed appointments linked to parking affordability; and if she will outline any measures planned to address this issue. [2338/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2535. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether patients with disabilities, carers, and parents of children with additional needs are entitled to parking exemptions or supports at public hospitals; and if there is a consistent national policy in this regard. [2339/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2537. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the measurable improvements that have been made in national pandemic preparedness since 2023, including in stock levels of PPE, testing capacity, and speed of response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2343/26]
View answerSubstantive Government investment in public health reform and pandemic preparedness has taken place in recent years to ensure Ireland is better prepared for future emerging health threats, following Government approval in September 2020 for significant and permanent additional resources to supplement the temporary resources provided for management of the pandemic.
There is a considerable body of work underway to strengthen Ireland's preparedness for any future health threats. Much of this work is in response to the recommendations contained within the Report of the Emerging Health Threats Function Expert Steering Group. Significant recent developments and current priorities include:
• The establishment of a Health Threats Advisory Group (HTAC) in 2025, chaired by the interim Chief Medical Officer, Professor Mary Horgan, to continually monitor and advise on emerging health threats on an ‘All-Hazards’ and ‘One Health’ basis;
• Strengthening of surveillance capacity through the Health Surveillance Centre (HPSC) with additional staffing and improved data analytics;
• Several Pandemic Preparedness simulation exercises have taken place at national, All-Island and EU level since 2022, building on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic;
• The HSE’s operational pandemic plan, incorporating the lessons learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic, has been drafted and signed off by the HSE Senior Leadership Team. Finalisation of the HSE’s operational pandemic plan will include operational plans for each of the health regions;
• Provision of funding by my Department for the establishment, in early 2026, of an Evidence Synthesis Hub that will serve as Ireland’s national one-stop capability for synthesising evidence on all major health threats;
• Preparations are underway for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) ECDC Mission to Ireland in June 2026 which aims to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response planning across all Member States in the EU by providing evidence-based recommendations;
• A National Health Threats Preparedness Plan will be developed in 2026, drawing on the outcome of the PHEPA assessment, which will ensure that there are clear lines of responsibility, governance and management for future health threats; and
• A national strategy for the stockpiling of crisis medical countermeasures will be developed as part of overall preparedness planning.
Furthermore, at a European level, the European Commission has undertaken several important steps to strengthen the European Union’s Health Security in recent years. These include enhanced mandates for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Medicines Agency, the establishment of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA), and the adoption of the Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health Regulation (2022).
Ireland is supportive of these measures and has actively engaged with the Commission and its Agencies in this work to establish a strong European Health Union. In turn, this engagement strengthens national preparedness for health threats, drawing on EU and international best practice.
In May 2024, the World Health Assembly adopted critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005). The adoption of these amendments will significantly bolster Ireland’s ability to detect and respond to future outbreaks and pandemics, strengthening national capacities and international coordination on disease surveillance, information sharing and response.
Ireland continues to participate fully in the negotiation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The instrument aims to foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global prevention, preparedness, and response to emerging pandemic threats.
2538. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the increase there has been in the number of community-based healthcare facilities and the services they provide over the period of her Department’s strategy statement 2023 to 2025, based on the commitments contained in that statement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2344/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2539. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health based on her Department’s strategy statement 2023 to 2025, the number of patients that were treated in community settings in 2025 compared to 2022; the impact has this had on hospital admissions and waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2345/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
2540. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health based on her Department’s strategy statement 2023 to 2025, to outline progress, including clear data, as to improvements to equitable access to healthcare services across regions and socioeconomic groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2346/26]
View answerUpdates on progress in the provision of health services are available in the Department of Health Annual Reports, which can be found on the Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/department-of-health-annual-reports/
The Department's Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2028 is available at: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/ba6c4270/DoH_Statement_of_Strategy_2025-2028.pdf
2541. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators or performance metrics in place where partnership frameworks are established involving her Department, the HSE, other Departments or agencies and public, private and charitable service providers; what formal evaluation measures of those KPIs or metrics occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2347/26]
View answerHSE National Service Plan (NSP) performance reporting
The Department assesses HSE performance against the targets and objectives in the NSP using a comprehensive Performance Engagement Model. Through this model, performance is monitored across four domains—Quality, Access, People, and Money—against the key performance indicators set out in the NSP. The National Service Plan is published here: about.hse.ie/publications/hse-national-service-plan-2026/
The HSE reports monthly on these indicators through the National Performance Report, and the Department and HSE engage in structured discussions to review performance, address challenges, and agree any required actions. The National Performance Report is published here: www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/performancereports/
Performance metrics outside of the HSE National Service Plan
In some cases, performance is measured against KPIs that are not captured in the HSE National Service Plan. For example, through the joint Department-HSE Productivity and Savings Task Force, KPIs covering demographics, expenditure, hospital activity, and waiting lists are monitored and data is updated throughout the year. The indicators monitored are available via a dashboard: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/productivity-and-savings-taskforce-and-medicines-taskforce/#terms-of-reference
The Department also compiles data from across the health system for the purpose of reporting on health statistics to Eurostat and the OECD. These are published online, and the third-party sources are referenced by name: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/collections/national-healthcare-statistics-2025/#physicians
Capital performance reporting
The HSE Capital Plan provides details of funding, as well as various health infrastructure programmes to be progressed in a given year. Performance of the Capital Plan is tracked via regular performance management engagements with HSE Capital & Estates, regular reporting as part of the NPR and quarterly tracking of specific construction deliverables. For non-HSE agencies, capital project performance is conducted in consultation with the appropriate service/policy unit whose remit includes oversight of the agency in question.
The HSE 2025 Capital Plan is available here: about.hse.ie/publications/hse-capital-plan-2025/
Section 38 and 39s
Sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act provide that the HSE may enter into an arrangement with a service provider for the provision of a health or personal social service on the HSE’s behalf and may make arrangements to monitor the provision of those services by such service providers.
As part of the HSE’s Performance Accountability Framework, Section 38 and 39 Agencies are accountable under the terms of their Service Arrangement, to deliver services as outlined in the National Service Plan and to Identify and address underperformance, putting in place measures to improve performance, reducing variation against the standard of the highest performing peers in a graduated approach. The HSE Performance and Accountability Framework is available here: about.hse.ie/publications/performance-and-accountability-framework-2026/
Partnership frameworks with other Departments
The Department of Health collaborates with various other Departments and agencies in monitoring performance of interdisciplinary policy areas using agreed KPIs. The below are examples and not an exhaustive list.
This includes leading on monitoring health and wellbeing indicators through the Healthy Ireland (HI) Survey: www.gov.ie/en/healthy-ireland/collections/healthy-ireland-survey-documents/;
the WHO Health Behaviour in School Aged Children Study (HBSC), currently delivered by the University of Galway: www.universityofgalway.ie/hbsc/;
and the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework: www.gov.ie/en/healthy-ireland/publications/healthy-ireland-outcomes-framework/ .
The HI Survey, HBSC and the HI Outcomes Framework are all overseen with input from groups of experts, including, variously, the Central Statistics Office, Health Research Board, Institute of Public Health, Economic and Social Research Institute, HSE and other Government Departments, as required. The Departments of Children, Disability & Equality and Education & Youth are consulted and involved with regard to HBSC, which is relevant to their remits.
The Department of Health is represented in the Department of the Taoiseach-led Government Well-Being Framework. This includes representation from most other Departments on its Steering Committee and includes a significant focus on wider and more economically-oriented measures of wellbeing. The performance metrics monitored through this work can be found here: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/hubs/p-wbhub/well-beinginformationhub/
The Department also contributes data for monitoring of the Zero Tolerance Strategy, Ireland’s national plan to combat domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. Coordinated by the Department of Justice and Cuan, Zero Tolerance involves input from several Government Departments, including Health, in addition to bodies such as An Garda Síochána, the Higher Education Authority, Tusla and the Irish Defence Forces. The metrics tracked for this work are available here:
assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Zero_Tolerance_Implementation_Plan_2025-2026.pdf
Partnership frameworks with other agencies
The Department works with, and has oversight of, a number of agencies through differing agreements.
Agency performance is generally monitored against the business plan and the performance delivery agreement as per the Letter of Allocation, which confirms the agency’s yearly budget and outlines key requirements for governance, staffing, financial reporting, and compliance with national strategies. Performance and appropriate governance are monitored throughout the year and differs according to agency.
Agencies include the Health Research Board, Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Health Products Regulatory Authority, as examples. Oversight is governed through formal Oversight Agreements and Performance Delivery Agreements, and performance is assessed against the deliverables and key performance indicators set out in the respective Agency’s annual service plan and Performance Delivery Agreements.
2542. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the developments that are occurring within her Department and the HSE on the use of e-health and telemedicine. [2348/26]
View answerDigital transformation is a core enabler of Sláintecare, supporting care that is more timely, integrated and equitable. As set out in the Programme for Government, the Government has made the modernisation of health information systems — including the delivery of digital health records — a national strategic priority.
Digital for Care – A Digital Health Framework for Ireland (2024–2030) provides the foundation for this work and now guides the HSE’s implementation roadmap and capital planning. This strategic approach ensures that investment is directed toward initiatives that genuinely improve access, safety, quality and efficiency across the health system.
Our focus in 2026 is to continue to leverage system-wide, sustainable, digital health services that deliver measurable improvements for patients whilst supporting the health workforce and enabling staff to deliver the best care and service possible.
Digital Health Records for All
A central focus of Digital for Care is the phased delivery of digital health records, through the HSE Health App, the National Shared Care Record and the National Electronic Health Record programme, all of which will underpin safer, better-coordinated care. The HSE Health App was released in Q1 2025 and its functionality, utility and the data that patients will be able to access directly via the App will be expanded through regular releases on the App stores in 2026 and beyond. The National Shared Care Record technology platform was procured in Q1 2025 and configured for beta release in Q4 last year. The preliminary business case for the National HER was developed in 2025 and should progress to re tender phase in Q1 2026.
ePharmacy and Medicines Modernisation
The HSE’s ePharmacy programme will make significant progress in 2026, including concluding procurement for the new National ePrescribing Service. This will pave the way for a safe, fully digital system that replaces handwritten prescriptions and ensures medicines are prescribed and dispensed accurately. These measures will reduce prescribing errors, support more efficient dispensing, and generate better medicines data to guide safe practice and national policy. Digital prescribing and medicines information will reduce errors and support safer medication management, especially for older people and those with complex conditions. For clinicians and staff, shared records and ePharmacy will significantly reduce time spent retrieving information or managing manual processes, allowing more time for direct patient care.
Telemedicine and Virtual Care
Beyond digital records, significant progress is also being made in medicines safety and virtual care. Telemedicine continues to expand across acute and community services. In addition to the first two Acute Virtual Wards established at St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin and University Hospital Limerick, 4 further sites for Acute Virtual Wards were established in 2025, at the Mercy Hospital Cork; Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore; Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda; St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny. A 7th Acute Virtual Ward (AVW) is due to launch in January 2026 in University Hospital Galway.
In 2026, all six Health Regions will operate Acute Virtual Wards, and regional teams will continue to implement community virtual care models, with ongoing evaluation of outcomes guiding future investment and wider scaling across Health Regions. Virtual consultations, remote monitoring and digitally supported pathways will allow patients — particularly those with chronic conditions or mobility challenges — to receive care closer to home, reducing travel and supporting better management of chronic conditions. For the health workforce, these models help manage demand, reduce pressure on acute settings, and enable clinicians to provide proactive and timely interventions.
Cybersecurity and Safe Foundations
All of this work is grounded in strengthened cyber resilience. The Department and the HSE continue to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities following the 2021 cyberattack. This includes significant investment in multi-layered cyber defences and the ongoing development of a dedicated cybersecurity function within the HSE. These secure foundations are essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring that digital services operate safely and reliably. The HSE have now addressed all the recommendations arising from the criminally motivated ransomware attack in 2021 and continue to invest in building cyber resilience as the global threat landscape develops.
In Summary
A great deal of important groundwork in digital transformation has already been delivered through the continued implementation of Digital for Care, and this progress provides a strong foundation for the next phase of Ireland’s digital health transformation. From shared care records and electronic prescribing to virtual care services and the development of a national Electronic Health Record, the Department of health and the HSE are advancing a coherent, system-wide programme of reform through Digital for Care implementation.
These strategic initiatives—many of which have already reached key milestones—will deliver clear and tangible benefits for patients: safer care, better coordination between services, and more convenient access to information and support. They will also strengthen and modernise the health service by supporting a digitally enabled workforce, reducing administrative burdens, and giving staff the tools they need to provide efficient, high-quality care to patients across all care settings.
2543. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health based on her Department’s strategy statement 2023-2025, the internal process improvements and cost-efficiency measures have been rolled out since 2023; the savings or performance enhancements that have been realised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2349/26]
View answerAs set out in the Department’s Statement of Strategy 2023-25, the Department regularly reviews its internal procedures with a view to identifying and implementing improvements.
Various measures have been taken in recent years that have led to increased productivity and efficiency across the Department, for example relating to areas such as Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information requests and Ministerial Correspondence. A full suite of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) has been developed and published internally to guide this work.
2544. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if an independent evaluation of the implementation of goals and commitments set out in her Department’s strategy statement 2023 to 2025 has been carried out; if this has been or will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2350/26]
View answerThe Department has not arranged an independent evaluation of the implementation of goals and commitments set out in its Statement of Strategy 2023-2025.
The Department’s Annual Reports outline the main achievements for each year, and are set out across five chapters, each reflecting one of the five strategic priorities in the Statement of Strategy.
2545. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the programmes in place in her Department or in the HSE to encourage greater uptake of physical exercise, gym membership, resistance training, running, walking or other such activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2351/26]
View answerIreland has adopted a cross-sectoral approach to the promotion of physical activity under the Healthy Ireland Framework. My Department co-chairs action under the National Physical Activity Framework 2024 – 2040 aimed at increasing opportunities for people to be active in ways that fit into everyday lives and which suit individual needs, circumstances and interests. This Framework seeks to achieve a vision for Ireland to have the most physically active population in Europe by 2040, across all age groups and sectors of society. Achieving this vision relies on:
- Removing the barriers which people face to being active and encouraging people to recognise how to overcome these barriers;
- Enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration at national, local and community level to encourage physical activity across all population cohorts;
- Encouraging a supportive environment where physical activity becomes the norm; and
- Promoting good practice and finding new models of participation which get more people active.
The achievement of the objectives of this Framework will be driven by a series of National Physical Activity Action Plans, the first of which covers the period to 2029. This Action Plan builds on progress made under its predecessor, the 2016 National Physical Activity Plan, through greater alignment with a range of broader national policies and strategies, along with 59 actions to continue to further enhance the governance and delivery of measures to promote physically active lifestyles.
2546. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the total costs to date of addressing the cyberattack on the HSE in May 2021; the measures that have been put in place to update ICT systems; her views on the extent of resilience now against potential future attacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2352/26]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) was the target of a serious and criminally-motivated cyberattack in May 2021. This ransomware incident had a profound impact on the delivery of health services across the country. While the degree of disruption varied depending on each service’s level of digital dependency, the overall effect was severe, with significant implications for patient care and service continuity.
Following the attack, the HSE undertook extensive remediation work. An independent Post-Incident Review (PIR), commissioned by the HSE Board, identified a series of recommendations requiring both urgent and longer-term action. The HSE has made substantial progress in implementing these recommendations, prioritising those that delivered the greatest immediate risk reduction and operational impact.
In response to the PIR, the HSE established multiple programmes of work aimed at strengthening cyber resilience. These include large-scale remediation activities, the modernisation of key systems, and the development of enhanced cybersecurity capabilities across technology, processes, and staffing. A dedicated cybersecurity function has been created within the HSE, led by a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), to provide ongoing governance, strategic leadership, and operational oversight.
The cost of remediating services in the aftermath of the 2021 cyberattack was estimated by the HSE to be €102 million as of November 2024. This figure will be further updated to take account of settlements arising from legal cases recently concluded.
The HSE continues to invest in multi-layered cyber defences to reduce both the likelihood and impact of future cyber incidents. Funding has also been allocated to strengthen cybersecurity across the voluntary sector, recognising the need for system-wide resilience. In recent years, the Government has provided substantial dedicated investment to support this work, including €40 million in 2023, €55 million in 2024, and €70 million in 2025 for the ICT & Cyber Programme, which is now part of the HSE’s core funding.
In addition to this ongoing work, Ireland is actively preparing for the implementation of the EU NIS2 Directive, which establishes strengthened requirements for cybersecurity risk management across essential sectors, including the health sector.
While no system can be entirely immune to cyber threats, the combination of continued investment, enhanced governance, and the strengthened regulatory environment under NIS2 will significantly improve cybersecurity resilience across the health sector. The Government remains committed to supporting the HSE and the wider health system as this work progresses, ensuring that Irish health services continue to strengthen their protection against future cyber threats.
2547. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a dental appointment for medical card holders, broken down by RHA; the number of medical card holders currently awaiting dental treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2361/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2548. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for dental treatment for medical card holders compared with private patients. [2362/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2549. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the total number of new acute inpatient beds delivered in 2025; the number of replacement acute inpatient beds delivered in 2025; the total current number of operational acute inpatient beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2369/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
2550. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the total number of new community long stay beds delivered in 2025; the number of new community short stay beds delivered in 2025; the number of replacement short and long stay community nursing home beds; and the total current number of operational community short and long stay beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2370/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
