Written Answers Nos. 1019-1043
1020. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health , further to previous Parliamentary Questions on the matter, when a person will be scheduled for a hip replacement procedure (details supplied); and if the matter can be expedited. [4268/26]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The Minister for Health is prohibited from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1021. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if an orthodontic treatment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); the plans to tackle the extremely long waiting lists for orthodontic treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4273/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1022. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a report that includes all maps and drawings on the findings and outcomes of the extensive public consultation process undertaken by the estates management section of the HSE (details supplied); the committee or entity that made the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4274/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1023. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed cost estimate for the design, manufacture, delivery, installation and commissioning of a single-storey temporary modular unit intended for use as an emergency department mental health assessment space. [4276/26]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1024. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total annual expenditure on emergency mental health services within hospital emergency departments in each of the past five years, by staffing, infrastructure, agency costs and non-pay expenditure, in tabular form. [4277/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1025. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the proportion of the overall mental health budget which is currently allocated to crisis assessment and intervention services. [4278/26]
View answerThe total allocation for mental health services in 2026 is almost €1.6 billion, which is the sixth year in a row in which the mental health budget has been increased.
This increase in funding for mental health services represents a significant investment which will enable continued policy implementation and service improvement in line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and our national suicide and self-harm reduction strategy Connecting for Life, across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, through to specialist mental health services. This year’s budget provided the opportunity to focus on investing in crisis support and suicide prevention; youth mental health and CAMHS, and expanding the National Clinical Programmes.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions are ongoing with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of implementing the HSE Service Plan 2026, including that for Mental Health. The HSE National Service Plan 2026 is now published on their website. The HSE will operationalise the various service initiatives in 2026 through the national offices for mental health and the new regional health areas.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1026. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount spent annually on agency and locum staff to provide emergency mental health cover in hospitals, by hospital group. [4279/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1027. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the funding which is currently allocated to psychiatric liaison services in emergency departments; and whether this funding is ring-fenced. [4280/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1028. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the health system for prolonged emergency department stays for people in mental health crisis, including security costs, extended bed occupancy and delayed discharge. [4281/26]
View answer1029. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average cost per patient of an emergency department mental health presentation compared with community-based crisis intervention. [4282/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1028 and 1029 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1030. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital cost of providing a dedicated mental health emergency room in each model 3 and model 4 hospital. [4283/26]
View answer1031. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals which are currently without mental health assessment spaces and the estimated cost of bringing each into compliance with Mental Health Commission standards. [4284/26]
View answer1034. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding the role of Model 2 hospitals in providing mental health crisis assessment and short-stay care. [4287/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1032. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of sanctioned mental health posts in emergency and liaison services which remain unfilled and the associated underspend. [4285/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1033. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of expanding child and adolescent mental health liaison services to operate on a 24-basis in emergency departments. [4286/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1035. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount of the mental health budget announced in each of the past three budgets that was not spent; and the reasons for any underspend. [4288/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1036. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify whether personal data held by her Department and its customer-facing sections is subject to processing by artificial intelligence tools (details supplied). [4304/26]
View answerMy Department is piloting Microsoft Copilot to evaluate internal use cases and potential efficiency and productivity benefits, which will guide future Gen AI decisions.
We follow an approved Gen AI policy based on NCSC and DPENDR guidelines. Gen AI is not used for Department business unless supported by an approved business case with completed risk assessments and data protection impact assessment.
1037. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health if she and or her officials have conducted a data protection impact assessment with regards to the use of artificial intelligence tools, and, if so, the dates on which this assessment was conducted. [4309/26]
View answerA pilot implementation project regarding possible use cases of Gen AI internally, including improved efficiency and productivity, is currently under way within my Department. This will inform decisions regarding the potential use of Gen AI in the future. A DPIA was carried out in this regard in Q3 of 2025 and approved on 26 September 2025.
1038. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health , further to the response to Parliamentary Question No. 958 of 18 November 2025, the number of babies that were born alive after abortion procedures in cases where neither major congenital anomaly nor extreme prematurity, at 22 weeks or earlier, were involved; the protocols and actions or interventions which were followed to protect the baby's life and health; the audits or other oversights which have been conducted on these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4313/26]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
1039. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health , further to the response to Parliamentary Question No. 958 of 18 November 2025, to provide a copy of the established national guidance documents mentioned as being followed when a baby is born showing signs of life after abortion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4314/26]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
1040. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of wholetime equivalent, WTE, consultant dermatologists based at Tallaght University Hospital as of 12 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4317/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1041. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in CHO 7 awaiting home help services as of 12 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4318/26]
View answerAs these are operational matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1042. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of wholetime, WTE, consultant paediatric nephrologists based at CHI Crumlin in 2024 and 2025 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4319/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1043. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented to the accident and emergency department at Children's Health Ireland, CHI, Crumlin over each day of the recent Christmas and new year period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4320/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
