Wednesday, 21 Jan 2026

Family Resource Centres

Questions (257)

Aisling Dempsey

Question:

257. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of new family resource centres delivered in 2025. [4775/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

The Family Resource Centre Programme expanded from 121 to 126 members in 2025, in line with the Government’s commitment to its growth. This is the first expansion of the Programme since 2018.

The five successful services joining the Programme were announced in a press release from my Department on 29 August 2025. They are:

South Monaghan FRC Advisory Group, 1 Oriel Way, Mullaghmatt, County Monaghan

Dundalk Counselling Service, Oakdene, 3 Seatown Place, Dundalk, County Louth

Cabra Family Community Development Group, St Finbarr's GAA Club, Faussagh Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7

Leixlip Youth and Community Centre, Newtown House, Captains Hill, Leixlip, County Kildare

Bru Bhride, Churchview, Tuam, County Galway

A comprehensive national application and assessment process was undertaken, which was led by Tusla and independently chaired by a representative of the University of Limerick. All applications were reviewed and scored against the clearly defined and published criteria, including population need, level of deprivation, child population data, existing service provision and existing service gaps. Decisions on the successful services were made by the assessment panel.

I would once again like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to the successful applicants.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (258)

Aisling Dempsey

Question:

258. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if new providers entered core funding in 2025; and details of same. [4776/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

While the Department cannot mandate providers to participate in Core Funding, every effort has been made to carefully design the scheme to meet the policy objectives including to achieve high levels of participation by providers.

In the current programme year (September 2025 – August 2026) the scheme has continued to support increases to capacity and accessibility for parents whilst also ensuring improved quality and sustainability for Partner Services.

Between 01/01/2025 and 31/12/2025 the number of childcare providers in receipt of Core Funding increased as per the below:

	Eligible Services	Contracted to Core Funding
01/01/2025	4745	4378
31/12/2025	4937	4586
Increase	192	208
% Increase	4%	5%

It should be noted that both the cohort of eligible services, and those services in receipt of Core Funding, have increased year-on-year:

The table below compares the number and percentage of services in Core Funding at comparable times across each programme year.

Date	Number of services signed up to Core Funding	Number of services eligible for Core Funding	Uptake (percentage)
19/01/2023	4191	4463	93.91%
22/01/2024	4339	4606	94.20%
20/01/2025	4385	4752	92.28%
19/01/2026	4595	4952	92.79%

As of 20 January 2026, 4,595 services, out of a total of 4,952 eligible services, are signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding (September 2025 – August 2026). This represents 93% of all eligible services. This is the highest number of services signed up to Core Funding since it was launched in 2022.

As per my response to the Deputy’s related PQ (4777/26), these numbers would include those services who have left Core Funding and then returned, in addition to those who are entirely new to the sector/scheme. Core Funding is a supply-side payment to early learning and childcare services to support them with their operating costs, and is designed to support affordability, quality and sustainability in the sector.

The Scheme has seen consistent increased State investment to the sector year-on-year, with a full-year allocation of over €480 million secured through Budget 2026. This represents an increase of over €87 million on the current full-year allocation. This will support a range of important priorities, including:

• Quality through support with the costs of the new Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) that commenced on 13 October through which approximately 67% of staff working in the sector will see an increase in pay.

• Affordability for families through funding to cover the cost of increasing non-staff overheads in order to maintain the fees at 2021 levels.

• Accessibility for families through funding for natural growth in the sector at 4.2%.

• Brand new funding to support services to maintain fee management conditions and new maximum fee caps supporting affordability for parents, particularly those faced with the highest fees across the country.

Core Funding remains open to all Tulsa registered providers, subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Core Funding Agreement.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (259)

Aisling Dempsey

Question:

259. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any providers returned to core funding, having previously left, in 2025; and the details of same. [4777/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

In the interest of clarity, transparency and consistent reporting, I have defined a service that left Core Funding as any service that had a gap between contracts for Core Funding of 4 or more weeks. There are a number of reasons that a service might fall into this definition. For example, a service could have withdrawn from the scheme, been removed from the scheme for breach of rules, or experienced a delay in re-contracting following a change of circumstance application or between programme years. Many services have left and later re-joined the scheme. There may be a small number of services who left the scheme and subsequently closed at a later date and are not captured in the figures below.

As of 3 November 2025, there were 5,035 services listed as being open on the Early Years Platform, of which 177 (4%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date and continue to operate outside of this scheme. A further 415 services (8%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date but later rejoined and were signed up to the fourth year of the scheme on this date. The overwhelming majority of services, 4,157 or 83%, have continued to participate in Core Funding from the date on which they first signed up for the scheme.

It should be noted that of the 592 services that have left the scheme at one point, some 415 services were contracted to Core Funding as of 3 November 2025 - meaning over 70% of services who left the scheme at one point have now returned to Core Funding.

The tables below provide a breakdown of engagement with Core Funding in each programme year. Some services may have left and rejoined multiple times across the three years, and therefore the figures cannot be summed across programme years from the breakdown below. It should be noted that not all of the currently operating services will have been in existence for all programme years, and not all services that had operated in previous years will be currently operating.

	Year 1 (2022/2023)	Year 2 (2023/2024)	Year 3 (2024/2025)	Year 4 (2025/2026)
Continued Participation	3,728	3,863	4,199	4,570
Left and later returned	162	202	106	2
Left and remained out	13	94	68	1
Did not participate	1,132	876	662	462

Participation in Core Funding remains exceptionally strong. The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September 2025 and as of January 2026 over 4,590 services (93% of all eligible services) have now signed up to Year 4 of Core Funding. This is the highest number of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022 and the number continues to grow.

Information and Communications Technology

Questions (260)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

260. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how she ensures that all websites operated by her Department are accessible to the visually impaired. [4810/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

As the deputy may be aware, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) within the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, provides the underlying infrastructure and technical environment for the gov.ie websites which includes this Department’s website and all on gov.ie. The OGCIO’s design system and implementation approach ensures that accessibility for visually impaired users is a core requirement in the design, development and operation of all websites under its remit.

All OGCIO managed websites are built and maintained in full compliance with Irish and EU accessibility legislation, including the EU Web Accessibility Directive, the Accessibility of Public Sector Bodies Regulations 2020, and the forthcoming EU Accessibility Act 2025. They meet the WCAG 2.1 AA international accessibility standards, and work is underway to transition to WCAG 2.2 AA.

Accessibility is monitored continuously through automated testing, manual reviews and the regular audits carried out by the National Disability Authority (NDA) under the statutory monitoring framework.

Accessibility statements are kept up to date, and any issues identified through audits or user feedback are addressed. Recent NDA assessments confirmed full compliance for gov.ie in the simplified review and a high score in the in-depth review. This places gov.ie among the most accessible public-service websites in Ireland.

The OGCIO applies accessibility best practice, including compatibility with screen readers, maintaining appropriate colour contrast, and ensuring that all gov.ie enabled services can be operated using keyboard-only navigation.

Artificial Intelligence

Questions (261)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

261. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any website or other platform operated by her Department uses an AI-enabled chatbot; if there are plans to use chatbots; in what circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4828/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

The Department currently does not operate any website or platform that uses an AI-enabled chatbot.

There are currently no specific plans to use AI-enabled chatbots on Department operated websites or platforms.

Any future request to do so will be subject to the submission of a detailed business case and review against relevant policies and procedures.

Departmental Advertising

Questions (262)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

262. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total sums spent for each year from 2016 to 2025, inclusive of advertising, by her Department on social media or online platforms, including identifying separately payments to influencers on such platforms; and to set out the annual totals for that period to each specific platform, including but not limited to major platforms (details supplied). [4847/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

We are currently collating the requested information and will revert back in due course.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.

Attached

PQ 4847/26 Response

Online Safety

Questions (263, 264, 265)

Barry Ward

Question:

263. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4709/26]

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Barry Ward

Question:

264. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4710/26]

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Barry Ward

Question:

265. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of any recommendations related to protecting children online as part of the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4711/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together.

The Online Health Taskforce was established in September 2024 in recognition of the growing body of evidence, from Ireland and internationally, showing the link between certain types of online activity and physical and mental health harms to children and young people. I published the Final Report of the Taskforce in December, 2025.

The Report provides a comprehensive framework to understand and address the complex challenges facing children and young people in digital environments. It includes four proposed foundational principles and 10 recommendations aimed at increasing the protection of children from online threats and ensuring the creation of safer online spaces.

The recommendations provide a clear roadmap for action – one that puts children's rights at the centre and requires a whole-of-government response. I will shortly establish a group to examine implementation of the recommendations and will engage with colleagues across Government.

Question No. 264 answered with Question No. 263.

Question No. 265 answered with Question No. 263.

Departmental Data

Questions (266)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

266. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health when a person will be given a date for a marriage of convenience interview (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5087/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Questions (267)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

267. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2608 of 29 July 2025, if a county-by-county, or CHO area breakdown can be provided on these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4513/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Dental Services

Questions (268, 269)

Brendan Smith

Question:

268. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if measures will be introduced to increase the provision of places in dental schools in view of the shortage of dentists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4516/26]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

269. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if measures will be introduced to ensure the availability of more places for Irish students in dental schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4517/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there are now more dentists than ever registered in Ireland - with 3,945 dentists on the Dental Council register as of December 2025, an increase of 167 since January 2025. This reflects ongoing upward trends regarding registered dentists in the State, and compares favourably with the numbers in April 2019, when Smile agus Sláinte was published – 3,100, an increase of over 27%.

My Department officials engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we train enough dentistry graduates to support the delivery of oral healthcare services.

As part of this engagement, the Department of Health has received a proposal for funding from University College Cork to establish a dental outreach centre. This would enable the training of additional undergraduate students in the dentistry programme, in a primary care setting, benefiting both Irish and EU students. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and DFHERIS to try and progress this proposal with a view to maximising both Irish and EU places to enhance workforce capacity in Ireland, as well as increased service provision.

My Department officials have recently received a draft proposal to increase the number of dental places at the Dublin Dental University Hospital, located at Trinity College Dublin. This will require further discussion and agreement between my Department and DFHERIS.

Significant progress has been made working with the Higher Education Sector and Professional Bodies to increase student training places for the health sector including dentistry. A new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) was established in 2025. The RCSI has informed us that its intake is 30 students, 21 of whom are Irish/EU students. The RCSI has secured an agreement with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to expand its intake to 35 Irish/EU student places by 2027. Over time, this will expand domestic graduate output by approximately 25% and contribute to workforce sustainability. Overall, the RCSI has indicated that it will produce 75 graduate dentists per annum when fully operational.

My Department remains committed to ensuring that our oral healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. Further work is underway with DFHERIS and other relevant Government Departments and the HEA to increase the number of student places across health and social care professions including dentistry.

Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of the Government's commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and well-being of our population. By enhancing our future workforce, we are taking steps to ensure that the National Oral Health Policy is implemented.

Question No. 269 answered with Question No. 268.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (270, 271)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

270. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will include enhanced flu vaccines for older people in the procurement process for the next flu season, as recommended by the NIAC; and if she will clarify whether both types of enhanced flu vaccine routinely available in other European countries, including adjuvated and high dose vaccines, will be considered for inclusion in this tender. [4519/26]

View answer

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

271. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether she will request that the NIAC update its recommendation on enhanced influenza vaccination for older persons, given the large number of hospitalisations for flu this season, and the fact the existing recommendation has not been updated since 2021. [4520/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.

NIAC revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.

The Influenza Vaccination Programme provides a free flu vaccine to those most vulnerable to the effects of the flu. Every year the WHO reviews global surveillance data and recommends the specific influenza strains that manufacturers should include in the season's vaccines based on the flu strains that are considered most likely to circulate. Vaccine production takes several months and this allows the manufacturers sufficient time to have vaccine available in time for the start of the flu season. All licensed influenza vaccines included for the 2025/2026 season comply with WHO and NIAC recommendations.

In 2024, HIQA carried out a Health Technology Assessment, or HTA, on enhanced flu vaccines. The HTA noted that studies on the effectiveness of enhanced flu vaccines are limited due to the small number of studies and a paucity of data over multiple seasons. Due to the variability of seasonal influenza, a single study may misrepresent the 'on average' vaccine effectiveness.

Based on the limited data available, the HTA found that switching from a standard to an enhanced flu vaccine for those aged 65 and older would likely reduce the burden of flu. Whether such a switch would represent a good use of public monies would depend on the price of these enhanced vaccines compared with the standard flu vaccine.

Overall, ECDC reported low to moderate relative vaccine effectiveness for the adjuvanted influenza vaccine against laboratory confirmed influenza and against laboratory confirmed influenza related hospitalisation. They concluded that the evidence of the relative vaccine effectiveness of enhanced influenza vaccines compared to standard vaccines is still limited and that further studies are needed to allow more substantial conclusions on the potential benefits of enhanced influenza vaccines.

It should be noted that the UK experienced a significant influenza A wave with medium-level impact in terms of hospitalisations. This is in context of a programme using enhanced influenza vaccines. Australia also offered enhanced influenza vaccines and experienced a severe flu season.

In Ireland amongst both hospitalised influenza cases with severe acute respiratory infection and ICU admissions due to influenza this season, where influenza vaccination status was known, 73% had not received the current season influenza vaccine.

For those in recommended groups, the influenza vaccine currently offered as part of the Influenza Vaccination Programme reduces the risk of serious illness and death from influenza. Ensuring high vaccine coverage is a priority as it is the key public health intervention that is required to reduce severe illness from influenza, RSV and COVID-19 over the winter period. Strong surveillance, immunisation programmes and healthcare system readiness including Infection Prevention control are key to protecting public health.

While Ireland performs well compared to other countries in Europe, achieving high vaccine coverage in older age groups, it is essential that all those in recommended groups continue to be supported and encouraged to avail of the influenza vaccine.

The HSE was asked to commence a tender process to determine if the enhanced vaccines could be purchased at a price that was cost effective and from within their existing budget. The HSE carried out an analysis of the tenders received and on 4 February 2025, advised my Department that neither of the enhanced vaccines for older people met the criteria set out in the HTA for net monetary benefit compared to standard flu vaccine.

The HIQA HTA estimates increasing costs of procurement of the enhanced influenza vaccines at between approximately €4 million and €19 million per year. Actual costs are commercially confidential and are not known until tenders are evaluated each year.

The healthcare budget is finite. Decisions regarding increased spending in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system. Therefore, cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process. The introduction of an enhanced vaccine can be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness is more favourable.

The HSE has operational responsibility for the procurement process for flu vaccines. I understand that this process will commence shortly and that the tendering process for flu vaccines for winter season 2026/2027 will include enhanced flu vaccines, for the older age group, as recommended by NIAC.

Question No. 271 answered with Question No. 270.

Medicinal Products

Questions (272, 281)

William Aird

Question:

272. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to introduce a formal compassionate use programme in Ireland for orphan drugs, in light of the fact that several EU member states already have such programmes allowing patients early access to potentially life-saving treatments prior to full market authorisation; when such a programme will be established to ensure patients in Ireland are not disadvantaged compared with other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4522/26]

View answer

William Aird

Question:

281. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the Government’s position on ensuring equitable access to orphan medicines given the current restrictions and the consequences for those affected; if she will provide timelines for the publication and funding of the new national rare disease plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4531/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 281 together.

The Programme for Government contains a suite of measures on medicines, which we aim to progress over its lifetime. Access to medicines is the focus of a number of workstreams across the Department.

As outlined in the Programme for Government, consideration will be given to early access mechanisms for medicines. These mechanisms and their effects are complex and must be evaluated carefully.

In Ireland, compassionate access schemes are entirely at the discretion of the manufacturer. There is no provision in Irish legislation for the approval of compassionate use programmes for specific groups of patients with an unmet medical need. The Minister for Health has no role or powers in this regard.

The State has made considerable investments in new medicines in recent years. In 2023, over €3.2 billion was spent on medicines by the State. This represents nearly €1 in every €8 of public funding being spent on health.

Budgets 2021 to 2025 included dedicated funding for new medicines of €158 million. This has enabled the HSE to approve reimbursement for 244 new medicines or new uses for existing medicines, including 101 for treating cancer and 67 for treating rare diseases.

Budget 2026 allocated €30 million of funding available for new drugs to be allocated from the overall additional €217 million in funding allocated for medicines.

This level of investment is unprecedented in supporting patients through the availability of new and innovative medicines.

Ireland is open for business and once a drug is granted marketing authorisation we strongly encourage all pharmaceutical companies to apply for reimbursement here in Ireland.

The Minister for Health launched the new National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 in August 2025, which has a vision to ensure that all people living with a rare disease have access to equitable, inclusive, safe and cross-sectoral care throughout their life journey that will enable them to reach their full potential and to live their best lives.

Funding of €1.5m was provided in Budget 2025 for the development of supports and services for people living with a rare disease in Ireland. This includes the allocation of approximately 34WTE to support staffing services. An additional €5m in recurrent funding is provided to support the implementation of the National Rare Disease Strategy, across all 11 of its recommendations. These funds were allocated to the HSE in 2025 for the development of rare disease services.

Medical Cards

Questions (273)

William Aird

Question:

273. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will review the criteria for medical card eligibility to allow for an audiology-only medical card, or similar entitlement, for individuals with congenital deafness who face unavoidable and lifelong costs for essential hearing aids; if she will consider removing or modifying means-testing in cases where the medical need is permanent and non-discretionary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4523/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Medical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.

The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.

Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.

It should also be noted that the Minister for Health established the National Hearing Care Plan Working Group in August 2024. The Group is jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). Membership of the Working Group is drawn from relevant stakeholders, including HSE clinicians and management, the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, the Irish Academy of Audiology, and the Department of Social Protection.

The Group has been tasked with developing recommendations for a holistic model of hearing care in Ireland. To support this, a structured workstream has been developed, including subgroups focused on progressing priority issues. This matter is among the issues being considered by the Group.

Separately, the Treatment Benefit Scheme, operated by the Department of Social Protection, provides for healthcare services to qualified people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. This includes up to €1,000 for a pair of hearing aids, and up to €100 toward repairs, within a 4-year calendar period. Further information can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/service/1fb655-treatment-benefit-scheme/. Any changes to these grants are a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.

I can assure the Deputy that, in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any proposals are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.