Written Answers Nos. 872-895
872. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their AON appointment in the HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4343/26]
View answer874. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their AON appointment in all CHO regions, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4345/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 872 and 874 together.
The delivery of an effective, efficient Assessment of Need system is a priority for the Government. There has been intensive work by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE to address delays in the provision of Assessments of Need.
Under the Disability Act, an Assessment of Need is an assessment process carried out by the HSE where a person is of the opinion that he/she may have a disability, for anyone born after 1st June 2002. It first establishes whether the person has a disability (as defined within the Act). It then identifies the health and education needs of the person with a disability and the services required to meet those needs.
It is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
However, demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. The impact of this increased demand has contributed to there being over 18,000 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of September 2025 according to the most recently available HSE data.
More positively, there has been continued improvement in the number of completed assessment of need reports. Over 4,500 reports were completed in the first nine months of 2025 – a 57% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The HSE provides Assessment of Need data on a quarterly basis. In 2025, the HSE moved from reporting on this data at Community Health Organisation (CHO) level to Regional Health Area (RHA) level. As these PQs refer to ‘all CHOs’ and ‘CHO9’, I propose to respond to these questions together.
The following table sets out the requested data by RHA for the first nine months of 2025, which is the latest data available. As it is unclear what is meant by “AON appointment”, the data provided is for the number of assessment reports that were not completed within 6 months of receipt of an application in the 6 Regional Health Areas, including HSE Dublin and North East:
|
AON Data by RHA
|
Number of applications overdue for completion at the end of Q3 2025 |
|
HSE Dublin & North East |
5577 |
|
HSE Dublin & Midlands |
6585 |
|
HSE Dublin & South East |
2752 |
|
HSE South West |
1569 |
|
HSE Mid West |
482 |
|
HSE West & North West |
1132 |
|
TOTAL |
18097 |
In December 2025, Government announced a series of reforms to the Assessment of Need process which will make the process more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment.
This reform includes changes to Part 2 of the Disability Act, 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need. The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025 which outlines these proposed changes was approved by Government on 9 December and will be published on the Department’s website shortly.
Any proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child, nor will they alter the statutory six-month timeline set out in the Disability Act.
Other aspects of the reform include:
• The development of statutory guidelines to ensure that Assessments of Need focus on identifying a child’s needs, engaging in more intensive assessments only where required to identify need. This should help reduce delays and allow therapists to spend more time delivering services.
• The establishment by the HSE of eleven new teams, initially, to support HSE assessment processes, including Assessments of Need. Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and an administrator, providing clinical guidance throughout the process.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government.
873. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their initial CDNT appointment in the HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4344/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
875. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their initial CDNT appointment, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4346/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
876. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department provides transportation funding for children with special education needs who have to travel to attend an early years education setting appropriate for their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4347/26]
View answerThis Department funds both the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) mainstream preschool programme and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) which is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities who are eligible for ECCE can access early learning and childcare. The goal of AIM is to empower preschool providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in, and reap the benefits of, high quality early learning and care.
AIM provides for a series of in-service supports including advice, equipment and additional staffing depending on the individual needs of the child. AIM does not provide funding for transport. General funding through state subsidised fees may at the discretion of the provider be used to support a transport service offer.
The Department of Education and Youth provides a School Transport Scheme, the purpose of which is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remotely from their nearest school. An application for transport may be submitted for a pupil in an Early Intervention class. Early intervention classes for autistic children are preschool classes situated in mainstream primary schools or in special schools.
Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department of Education and Youth will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
877. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to detail her plans to improve the provision of childcare facilities, in particular in areas such as Shankill, County Dublin, where there has been significant demographic growth in recent years and demand for services due to new housing development, and if she will consider the Shankill area to trial a new State-based model for childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4384/26]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by over 25% from the 2021/22 programme year. In Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, enrolments have increased by 26% over that period.
However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
A forward planning model is in development which will be central to plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available. This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service.
For the third programme year (2024/25), the allocation for Core Funding allowed for a 6% increase in capacity. Budget 2025 secured funding for the fourth programme year (2025/6) to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025. Budget 2026 has made provision for the fifth programme year (2026/7) for a further expansion in supply of 4.2%.
This increased investment will allow increases in the natural growth of the sector driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places and/or longer hours to families.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. This allows existing Core Funding Partner Services to extend their existing premises or, in the case of community services, to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds which will begin to come on stream this year.
The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand. This work will be supported through capital investment under the revised National Development Plan.
A number of models of ownership and delivery are intended to be trialled in the early part of the capital programme and a number of specific sites are under active consideration by officials although no definitive decisions have yet been made.
In relation to the particular area raised by the Deputy, I wish to acknowledge his engagement and commitment to progressing delivery in this community. I can advise that advanced discussions are ongoing with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in relation to the creche facility at the Shangannah Castle Estate but note this remains subject to further negotiation and internal decision making processes in both the Council and the Department.
878. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with Coimisiún na Meán in relation to implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3820/26]
View answer879. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health his views on the merits of creating a regulatory framework that addresses digital marketing and influencer promotion of follow-on milks for 6+ months; if he will engage directly on this matter with Coimisiún na Meán; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3821/26]
View answer880. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the World Health Assembly Resolution (May 2025) that supports the regulation of the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes; the actions he will take to consider and implement these recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3822/26]
View answer881. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will facilitate a meeting with an advocacy group (details supplied) in relation to the regulation of the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3823/26]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos 878, 879, 880 and 881 together.
In alignment with international best practice and evidence-based research, national health policy (including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy) emphasises the importance of supporting mothers to breastfeed as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
The Department of Health has engaged with Coimisiún na Meán, as the competent authority to establish a regulatory framework for online safety, update the regulation of television broadcasting and audiovisual on-demand services, and transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive into Irish law.
In 2023, the Department set up an inter-departmental group with Coimisiún na Meán and other agencies to ensure online safety codes relating to the marketing of foods high in fat, salt and sugar and also follow on formula, where there is a public health concern with regard to the health of children remains a priority for an Coimisiún. Officials in the Department of Health have engaged with the Coimisiún na Meán to discuss developments in relation to such codes. The Department has also made two submissions to the public consultations held by Coimisiún na Meán in January and December 2024. Coimisiún na Meán have indicated that the restriction of advertisement of infant formula and breastmilk substitutes is included in their work plan for the future and the Department expects to be involved in further discussions around this area in due course.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) established the WHO International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes to promote safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast-milk substitutes. The Code applies to breast milk substitutes (infant formula) when marketed or otherwise represented to be suitable, with or without modification, for use as a partial or total replacement of breast milk.
Under EU legislation, the requirements for promotional and commercial practices for infant formula are set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127. These measures are designed so that the marketing and distribution of infant formula does not interfere with the protection and promotion of breastfeeding. The Health Service Executive (HSE) Breastfeeding Action Plan Progress Report action 3.13 regarding strengthening compliance with the international Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes noted that provisions in relation to the marketing of commercial milk formula have been included in clinical infant feeding polices for maternity and primary care services and within the National Standards for Infant feeding in Maternity Services. In 2021, the HSE launched a national policy on the marketing of breast milk substitutes to protect parents and staff along with a guidance document for working within the code.
In 2025 the Department of Health formed a breastfeeding steering group to research and design the development of a new whole of government breastfeeding policy. While there has been a significant amount of implementation of the actions under the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan, further implementation of these actions is required under the development of a new whole of government breastfeeding policy, including implementation of the WHO Code.
The Department has engaged independent strategy company MCCP to oversee the consultation process to assist the development of a new national breastfeeding strategy. In November 2025, the Department hosted a large multistakeholder event which included members from academic, advocacy and interdepartmental groups alongside colleagues from Northern Ireland. These groups included a member from Baby Law Feeding Group Ireland (BLFGI). The outcomes of this consultation will inform the development of a national breastfeeding strategy. In addition to this consultation, the department will further engage with BLFGI in future consultations that will be conducted through the All-Island Breastfeeding Network.
In addition to stakeholder engagement, consultation with Coimisiún na Meán is ongoing in the development of the new Obesity Policy and Action Plan and the new Breastfeeding Strategy in respect to regulation of marketing of High fat salt and sugar foods and for breastmilk substitutes.
The Deputy will be aware of the recommendations from the seventy-eight World Health Assembly Resolution entitled: “Regulating the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes” published on the 27th of May 2025. The recommendations include engaging all government agencies responsible for implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, the Guidance on ending the inappropriate promotion of foods for infants and young children and the Guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes. The recommendations made in the WHA resolution are being addressed in the ongoing consultation with Coimisiún na Meán and will be considered by the Breastfeeding Steering group in the development of a national breastfeeding strategy.
The Department intends to build on the work of the HSE Breastfeeding Plan through the development of this new Breastfeeding Strategy and remains committed to increasing breastfeeding supports to all mothers and families in Ireland. A new national Breastfeeding Strategy is expected to be published this year.
882. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if his Department will consider abolishing levies on private health insurance for old age pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4158/26]
View answerAs Minister for Health, I have responsibility for the legal framework governing the health insurance market in Ireland. This is a voluntary market operating under the principles of community rating, open enrolment, lifetime cover and minimum benefit. Community rating ensures that everyone can buy the same policy at the same price, regardless of age, gender or health status. In a risk-rated market, older and sicker people would pay much more for health insurance than they do in a community-rated market.
Community rating is enabled through the Risk Equalisation Scheme. Under the Scheme, funds are redistributed in the form of credits to compensate insurers for the additional cost of insuring older and less healthy members. The credits are funded by a stamp duty levy paid into the Risk Equalisation Fund by health insurance providers for each policy issued. Risk equalisation credits and stamp duty levies are carefully calibrated to ensure that the Risk Equalisation Fund is self-funding and does not require funds from the Exchequer.
Removing the levy for old age pensioners would undermine the principle of community rating and could result in higher premiums for other policyholders. Premium setting is a matter for insurers, who consider multiple factors including claims experience, benefit changes, and operating costs. While stamp duty may influence premium costs, it is a ring-fenced contribution to the Risk Equalisation Fund and supports the credits needed to enable fairness and sustainability in the voluntary private health insurance market. Stamp duty is not automatically applied to each health insurance premium. Insurers decide how to build it into their pricing structures across their portfolio of policy types.
883. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a one-year wait for people who are citizens outside of the EU to be called for an interview to be married in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4296/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
884. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists awaiting a speech and language therapy assessment in HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4339/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
885. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a physiotherapy appointment in HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4340/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
886. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting their occupational therapy assessment in HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4341/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
887. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting their initial psychology assessment in HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4342/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
888. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists providing care to medical card patients, by county from 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4368/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
889. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason an Irish citizen cannot gain employment to carry out dyslexia assessments for young students in Ireland because they trained in the UK (details supplied); if she will urgently review these requirements to ensure that those who have the appropriate qualifications and want to work in Ireland can do so to help reduce waiting lists here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3315/26]
View answerThis is a matter for Department of Education and should be redirected to that Department.
890. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies of public health nurses in CHO Area 7 (CCA3), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3316/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
891. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses employed in CHO Area 7, in tabular form. [3317/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
892. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health the process by which convalescence and egress beds for patients exiting hospitals are assigned to nursing homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3318/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
893. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the latest projected timeline for the delivery of the surgical hub at Letterkenny University Hospital. [3333/26]
View answerI 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.
894. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to increase GP recruitment and retention in rural and commuter-belt areas, including Wicklow and Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3383/26]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients, and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in any area.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,598 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. A further 634 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but hold some other contract(s) with the HSE for the delivery of health services. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. While recruitment is ongoing, the HSE put a locum or other suitable arrangement in place to provide continuity of care for the area concerned.
Work is ongoing to increase the number of GPs practicing across the country and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients.
Over €340 million in additional annual investment in general practice has been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP GMS Agreements. The Agreements provide for increased GP capitation fees, increased and new supports for practices, as well as new fees for additional services. Specific supports are available for eligible practices in rural areas and in areas of urban social deprivation. These measures make a career in general practice here more attractive. The 2023 Agreement also provided for the expansion of GP visit card eligibility in 2023 to all children under 8 years of age and all those who earn up to the median household income.
The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available in 2024 and again in 2025. The number of new entrant training places is to increase again this year by 50 places to 400. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years.
In addition, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. As of end of Q3 2025, there were 115 IMG GPs within the programme placed in general practice and a further 39 had completed the 2-year programme. The placement of IMG GPs is targeted to rural and underserved areas.
895. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand general practitioner training places to meet growing population needs and to ensure adequate GP coverage in areas experiencing shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3384/26]
View answerIt is acknowledged that more GPs are needed to improve access to services in certain areas. To meet this need, the Programme for Government has committed to increasing the number of practising GPs through a combination of increased training places and international recruitment.
In part, to attract doctors to practice as GPs here, the Government has significantly increased expenditure on general practice, primarily through the 2019 and 2023 GP Agreements. The Agreements provide for increased fees for GPs, increased and new practice supports, and new services for patients including the GP Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme, making general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors.
The positive impact of these measures is being seen in the increased number of doctors both applying for and undertaking GP training.
The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available in 2024 and again in 2025. The number of new entrant training places is to increase again this year by 50 places to 400. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years.
In addition, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. Under the programme, GPs work in general practice while undergoing a 2-year training programme following which they can take up a GMS contract (normally training for 4 years is required). Placement of these GPs is targeted to rural and underserved areas. As of end of Q3 2025, there are 115 IMG GPs within the programme placed in general practice and a further 39 have completed the 2-year programme.
Further potential measures to support GP practices are being considered under the Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, currently underway, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity and will consider possible mechanisms to attract more GPs to rural and underserved areas. Following its completion, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.
