Health Services

Thursday, 22 January 2026

Questions (108)

Michael Murphy

Question:

108. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the immediate contingency arrangements now in place for children awaiting community ophthalmology services in south Tipperary, in circumstances where recruitment of a consultant community ophthalmologist has repeatedly failed and the previous postholder has retired; if weekend clinics, private provision, cross-HSE-area referrals, temporary contracting, or emergency outsourcing are currently being utilised; to explain how it is acceptable that 1,449 children under four years of age are on a waiting list, with some waiting since 2021; when children referred in 2023, including named cases already supplied to the Department, will receive appointments; the urgent intervention she will now direct to ensure children are not left without timely eye care [1396/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)

As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has responsibility for coroners' legislation and policy, and is actively engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including my Department and the HSE, on this urgent matter.

Since 2 January 2026 coronial post-mortems have been provided by locum consultants recruited by the Department of Justice, using the available facilities and auxiliary staff of University Hospital Waterford.

The Department of Justice has advised my Department that the service will be provided on a three day per week schedule, that is, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

Historically, the Health Service has assisted in the provision of coronial post-mortem services, on a “grace and favour” basis. While Consultant Pathologists are employed by the HSE, coronial post-mortems are carried out independently for the Department of Justice.

Increasingly the “grace and favour” model is not working. Hospitals are withdrawing from the provision of coronial post-mortem examinations.

The reasons for these withdrawals are diverse and complex. They include a shortage of consultant pathologists willing to undertake this work and increasing diagnostic workloads.

My Department and the HSE will continue to engage constructively with the Department of Justice to support a long-term resolution to this issue. All stakeholders remain committed to ensuring the continuity, quality and efficiency of coroner directed post-mortem services.