Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:532. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the steps that will be taken to address home help waiting lists in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5275/26]
View answerHome Help Service
Questions (532)
Written answers
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (533)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:533. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health to provide a full update on plans to increase hospital bed capacity in Carlow and Kilkenny. [5276/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (534)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:534. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in recruiting additional dentists and improving public dental services in Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5277/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (535)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:535. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health when a national diabetes strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5278/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to developing a strategy for diabetes care, as outlined in the Programme for Government.
Following the publication of the Terms of Reference for a Review of Diabetes Policy and Services, a Steering Group made up of representatives of the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE), and Diabetes Ireland, was established in July 2024 to lead on the Diabetes Policy and Services Review.
The Diabetes Policy and Services Review report has been drafted and submitted to the Department of Health for consideration. Decisions on the next steps in relation to the report will follow this consideration.
The report sets out a number of recommendations for development of services at national and regional levels, including in relation to better supporting people living with diabetes.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (536)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:536. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on Tullow primary care centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5279/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (537)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:537. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on Graiguenamanagh primary care centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5280/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (538)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:538. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on GP services and Mullinavat health centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5281/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (539)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:539. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the status of planned primary care centres in County Carlow; the expected timelines for their delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5282/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (540)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:540. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the status of planned primary care centres in County Kilkenny; the expected timelines for their delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5283/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Health Service Executive
Questions (541)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:541. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on new services that will be provided by the Health Service Executive in County Kilkenny in 2026, in particular at St. Luke's Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5284/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Service Executive
Questions (542)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:542. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on new services that will be provided by the Health Service Executive in County Carlow in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5285/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Questions (543)
Michael Cahill
Question:543. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid to date under the south Kerry CAMHS compensation scheme administered by the State Claims Agency; the number of claimants paid; the overall cost to the State for the most recent reporting period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5307/26]
View answerWritten answers
The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury and third-party property damage claims on behalf of State authorities, including the Health Service Executive (HSE). The SCA has provided me with the information set out below.The information contained within this response was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS). As of 20/01/2026, the State Claims Agency has received 231 applications to the Kerry CAMHS Scheme. Payments on account are ongoing and have been made to 227 applicants, following a verification process.The SCA does not disclose any payment amounts, whether in respect of individual claims or overall, relating to on-going compensation schemes, for reasons pertaining to commercial sensitivity.
Mental Health Tribunals
Questions (544)
Michael Cahill
Question:544. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to immediately publish the north Kerry CAMHS lookback review; if agreement has been reached with all north Kerry victims/families, in regard to compensation, counselling, and all other entitlements; the number of cases that have been settled in north Kerry; the number who have received their payments; the number of outstanding claims; the length of time the remaining victims/families will have to wait before they receive their compensation; the total amount of compensation paid to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5309/26]
View answerWritten answers
Both I, and the Department of Health, await submission by the HSE of the Final Report by Dr. Halpin in relation to the North Kerry Lookback Review.
I am closely monitoring developments in relation to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in North Kerry, including the timeline for the completion of the Lookback Review and any evolving issues in relation to the Compensation Scheme. The HSE has indicated that the Review will be made available as soon as possible, acknowledging that necessary due diligence and related processes must be adhered to in the finalisation of the Review.
All case reviews are now complete, with families informed of outcomes. Where deficits were identified, the HSE held open disclosure meetings and continues to provide support through the Clinical Liaison Support Team. My main concern throughout this process has been to ensure that children, young people and their families are communicated with directly in advance of the publication of the Lookback Review. The timing of the submission of the final report to the Department is not a matter for myself or the Department. However, all stakeholders are aware that I am keen to receive the report as soon as possible.
I will continue to work closely with the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health National Office to drive reform of CAMHS nationally to ensure that this key specialist service which benefits so many young people and their families each year is safe, accessible, child-centered, and delivered to the highest of standards.
Mental Health Tribunals
Questions (545)
Michael Cahill
Question:545. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if agreement has been reached with all south Kerry CAMHS victims/families, in regard to compensation, counselling, and all other entitlements; the number of cases that have been settled in south Kerry; the number who have received the payments; the number of outstanding claims; the length of time the remaining victims/families will have to wait before they receive the compensation; the total amount of compensation paid to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5310/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Maskey Report, published in 2022, examined deficits in relation to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in South Kerry. The Government acknowledged these deficits at the time and introduced a Compensation Scheme which has subsequently been administered by the State Claims Agency (SCA).
As of 12 January 2026, the SCA had received 231 applications to the South Kerry CAMHS Compensation Scheme. Payments on account had been made to 227 applicants following an application verification process. Mediations were also ongoing and 120 of these had taken place up to 12 January, resulting in 111 settlements, 4 cases for determination by the mediator and 5 adjourned for further investigations.
I understand that there is one lead firm of solicitors that represents most of the remaining applicants to the Scheme. Subject to the solicitors’ capacity to progress their caseload, the SCA aim to finalise the remaining cases in the next 18 months. The SCA continues to engage with families in relation to the processes involved in the Compensation Scheme.
I will continue to work closely with the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health National Office to drive reform of CAMHS nationally to ensure that this key specialist service which benefits so many young people and their families each year is safe, accessible, child-centered, and delivered to the highest of standards.
Health Services
Questions (546)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:546. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on the pathfinder service for Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5312/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (547)
Brendan Smith
Question:547. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the provision of a new service will be considered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5378/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Properties
Questions (548)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:548. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of the old health clinic at Tinahely, County Wicklow; the number of years remaining on any lease; the plans for the disposal of the property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5379/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (549)
Pádraig Rice
Question:549. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the Strategic Review of General Practice; to provide a firm timeline for competition of the Strategic Review; the reason for the delay in its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5380/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health with support from the HSE is currently undertaking a Strategic Review of General Practice. With input from key stakeholders, the review is examining the range of issues affecting general practice, focused around five themes: GP Training, GP Capacity, eHealth Agenda, Out-of-Hours Reform, and Support Model for General Practice. The Review will identify the arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GP care as part of a primary care-focused health service.Work on the review has been ongoing and significant progress has been made, with the report to be completed early this year. Following its completion, the report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice into the future. The report will be published subsequently.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (550)
Robert O'Donoghue
Question:550. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the marketing, packaging and prominent retail display of vapes and snuff products are designed to attract children and young people; if she will introduce legislation requiring these products to be kept out of sight in retail outlets, similar to tobacco products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5396/26]
View answerWritten answers
The focus of legislation regarding nicotine products is on reducing youth uptake. The draft Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill will include a number of measures to regulate nicotine inhaling products and other recreational nicotine products. These include:
• Extension of the minimum age of sale of 18 to all nicotine containing products.
• Restrictions on point-of-sale display and advertising for all nicotine containing products. Advertising will be prohibited all shops, and point-of-sale display prohibited in shops except for retailers who only or primarily sell these products.
• Restrictions on colours and imagery on nicotine inhaling product devices and packaging, as well as restrictions on the devices resembling or functioning as other products such as toys or games.
• Prohibiting all flavour descriptors and language other than basic flavour names for nicotine inhaling products.
• Limiting flavours in nicotine inhaling products to tobacco, with Ministerial powers to further amend this list via secondary legislation.The Bill is in the final stages of drafting.
Health Service Executive
Questions (551)
Marie Sherlock
Question:551. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE National Service Plan 2026 is only committing to 134 additional net new acute hospital beds, which is a significant drop on the HSE National Service Plan 2025 commitment for an additional 297 acute beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4913/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Student Accommodation
Questions (552)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:552. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update regarding construction of student units at Atlantic Technological University (Sligo Campus); when it is expected that the first units will be available for students to take up residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5333/26]
View answerWritten answers
The forthcoming National Student Accommodation Strategy 2025-2035 aims to increase the supply of student accommodation beds for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions.
It will include viability measures to support the development of new accommodation without any additional recourse to the private rental market, and affordability supports for those students who need it most.
The Technological Sector Student Accommodation Programme is underway to support the planning and development of HEI student accommodation across regional campuses, including at ATU Sligo. Feasibility studies were completed in 2023 and 2024 to assess supply and demand trends. Phase 2 involves development of preliminary business cases, including financial and operational models. This will ensure that future projects are strategically aligned, financially viable, and responsive to local demand.
Third Level Admissions
Questions (553)
Mark Wall
Question:553. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of year one speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietician, psychology and social work enrolments at each institute at undergraduate and graduate level for each year 2024 and 2025; and the number of places which will be available in these disciplines in September 2026, in tabular form. [5397/26]
View answerWritten answers
The spreadsheet attached contains the student data requested by the Deputy and is the most recent available. This data was sourced from the Student Records System (SRS) of the HEA.
Significant work has taken place to increase the number of places available on Health and Social Care programmes in recent years. I am building on this additionality during 2026, in tandem with increases in available clinical placements from the HSE and the Department of Health.
My Department is leading on work to increase training places for disability therapy services, on both existing programmes and supporting the development of new programmes, to ensure a pipeline of skilled graduates to meet the health and social care needs of our essential public services.
Dormant Accounts Fund
Questions (554)
Mattie McGrath
Question:554. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the dormant accounts funding scheme will open for 2026, and how groups can avail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5201/26]
View answerWritten answers
The main purpose of the Dormant Accounts Acts is to reunite account holders with their funds. Unclaimed funds are transferred to the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. The beneficial owner has a right to reclaim their money at any time. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has responsibility for the overall administration of the Dormant Accounts Fund, with individual Government Departments responsible for the delivery and administration of their own measures. All measures funded must be in line with the objectives set out in the legislation, that is, to address economic, social or educational disadvantage or to support persons with a disability. My Department launched the 2026 Dormant Accounts Action Plan in November 2025. It outlines 56 measures, to the value of €46.97 million, across 11 Government Departments. A full list of measures which have been approved for funding is set out in the Action Plan. Some measures have been funded in previous Action Plans and have now been approved for continued funding in 2026. Measures can progress over a number of years with funding drawn down from the Fund as spending is incurred. Many of the measures approved in the 2026 Action Plan relate to the delivery of specific projects and therefore have no further application processes. Where measures have an application process for interested organisations, each measure is operated by a relevant Department. As such, the timelines for applications differ for each measure and are a matter for individual Departments. Within my own Department, the total voted allocation for Dormant Account measures in 2026 is €11.57 million. This supports measures including Rethink Ireland, Supports for Social Enterprise, the Senior Alerts Scheme and Targeted Social Inclusion Measures. The Rethink Ireland measure and the Support for Social Enterprise measure both involve an application process for relevant organisations seeking funding. The former is operated by Rethink Ireland and the latter by Pobal, on behalf of the Department. Information on open calls by Rethink Ireland is available here: rethinkireland.ie/open-funds/. Information on the Social Enterprise measure calls on the Pobal website here: www.pobal.ie/programmes/ The 2026 Action Plan builds on previous plans and ensures continued support for individuals and organisations right across the country. Further information on the Dormant Accounts Fund, including all published Action Plans and Annual reports, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/policy-information/dormant-accounts-fund/
Departmental Funding
Questions (555)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:555. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if more funding will be made available for the library capital programme. [5334/26]
View answerWritten answers
The provision of library services including buildings is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities, under the Local Government Act 2001. Under the Libraries Capital Programme 2023-2027, my Department is investing €22.6m in 11 library infrastructure projects and a further €2.6m in 12 next-generation mobile libraries. This programme is currently fully committed. My Department will be in contact with local authorities in respect of future calls under the Libraries Capital Programme in due course.
Departmental Funding
Questions (556)
Brendan Smith
Question:556. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if funding will be provided in respect of the provision of services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5373/26]
View answerWritten answers
My department offers a suite of programmes to support rural communities, some of which are available to the organisations referenced by the Deputy. The CLAR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. Under the CLAR programme, organisations such as those referenced by the Deputy could apply for funding under measure 2 of the programme in recent years which supports the purchase of vehicles by groups such as community first responders and meals on wheels organisations . The measures for inclusion in the scheme are reviewed and revised each year. The next iteration of the scheme is currently under review and it is expected to be launched in the coming months. Details in respect of the activities that will be eligible for funding will be confirmed at that stage. The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) supports communities that are impacted by disadvantage, as identified in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) of the relevant local authority. It provides small capital grants to community and voluntary groups for the improvement/refurbishment of their facilities and/or the purchase of equipment. It operates in a complementary manner to add value to other front-line schemes and programmes being operated in communities. My department has supported the work of the organisations referred to by the Deputy by providing funding for defibrillators, first aid equipment and safety equipment under previous iterations of the Local Enhancement Programme.The Local Enhancement Programme for 2026 was announced on 5 December 2025 and provides €7 million in capital supports. The fund is administered locally on behalf of the Department by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority. Each LCDC identifies the individual projects for funding under the Programme and I would encourage all community and voluntary organisations to check their local council's website and to engage with their LCDC to ensure that they are aware of the application process.