Written Answers Nos. 431-451
431. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting for dermatology treatment at the Monaghan Hospital campus; to provide a breakdown of the lengths of waiting periods, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9042/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
432. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current ENT services provided at the Monaghan Hospital campus; if there have been any changes to the services provided within the past two years; the plans to expand upon the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9043/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
433. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting for ENT treatment at the Monaghan Hospital campus; the lengths of waiting periods, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9044/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
434. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young people waiting to access child and adolescent mental health services in Gorey / North Wexford; the average length of time that they are waiting; the measures being put in place to address these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9050/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
435. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young people waiting to access child and adolescent mental health services in Arklow/ South Wicklow; the average length of time that they are waiting; the measures being put in place to address these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9051/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
436. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS contracts for walk-in clinics that open during daytime hours. [9105/26]
View answer437. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person with a medical card can be seen during GP opening hours if they cannot get an appointment for their registered GP. [9106/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 437 together.
GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The GMS contract is held between the HSE and individual eligible GPs, and for this reason the GMS contract does not relate to walk-in clinics. As private practitioners, the scheduling of GP consultation is a matter for the practice concerned, including in relation to accepting walk-in patients. GPs prioritise appointments based on urgency and health need, and patient issues regarding the scheduling of consultations should be raised directly with the practice concerned.
Work is ongoing to increase the number of GPs practising 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.
439. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, given the urgent need to increase the number of qualified medical doctors in Ireland, he will strategically direct SUSI to consider graduate medical courses not to be an additional QQI level 8 qualification, for the purposes of assessing grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8824/26]
View answerI recognise the urgent need to increase the supply of qualified medical doctors and the important role that Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) plays in meeting Ireland’s medical workforce requirements.
In relation to student supports, the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) scheme operates under the Student Support Act 2011 and associated regulations, which provide that postgraduate qualifications, including Graduate Entry Medicine, are assessed as additional qualifications for grant purposes. Any change to the treatment of GEM within the SUSI framework would require careful consideration of legislative, policy and funding implications.
I understand the financial pressures faced by Graduate Entry Medicine students, including those who do not qualify for SUSI grants or access to specific student loans currently. Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding. They are also not eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme as they do not meet the progression criteria of the Scheme. This approach is grounded in the need to ensure fairness across the student population by prioritising State support for those pursuing an initial primary degree.
I can advise that I have asked my officials to examine potential approaches to tuition fee supports for Graduate Entry Medicine. This work is being progressed in the context of the Programme for Government, which includes a commitment to introduce a tuition fee support scheme for Graduate Entry Medicine. While this commitment is identified as a Department of Health action, my Department continues to engage with the Department of Health in relation to support options that could complement existing supports.
Alongside affordability measures, my Department is progressing significant expansion of medical education capacity. This includes the development of a new Rural and Remote Graduate Entry Medicine programme at the University of Galway which is expected to commence from 2027, subject to the necessary approvals, providing 48 places annually. In addition, a new Direct Entry Medicine programme at the University of Limerick has been approved, with an initial intake of 30 students planned for 2026.
These initiatives build on the July 2022 agreement to increase medical training capacity by 200 additional EU medicine places, which are being delivered on a phased basis to September 2026, with approximately 180 places already created. My Department has also worked with counterparts in Northern Ireland to secure 50 ring-fenced undergraduate medicine places at Queen’s University Belfast for Irish students across 2024 and 2025, linked to a commitment to apply for HSE internships on graduation.
In addition, my Department provides significant Exchequer support for Graduate Entry Medicine through the partial subsidy of tuition fees for eligible EU students. In the 2024/25 academic year, this support amounted to approximately €13 million, with per-student subsidies of up to €16,250 for GEM places created under the 2022 expansion agreement. Graduate Entry Medicine students may also benefit from wider student supports, including National Access Plan bursaries, the Student Assistance Fund, and tax relief on tuition fees and rent.
My officials will continue to engage with the the HEA, the higher education sector and the Irish Medical Schools Council to ensure that medical education capacity and student support measures are aligned with national workforce planning needs.
440. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the process for the way in which HEI’s can seek designations to enable their graduates to become Seanad electors. [8911/26]
View answerWhen the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 was commenced, sixteen higher education institutions were automatically designated as "designated institutions of higher education". The automatically designated institutions of higher education are the seven traditional universities, the technological universities, the institutes of technology, the National College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. These institutions were established or recognised under legislation and were previously designated under the Higher Education Authority Act 1971.
The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 also provides for a designation by order process, which will allow other higher education institutions, including private and not-for-profit higher education institutions, to apply for designation. However, these provisions have not yet been commenced.
Work is underway on the development of the designation by order process. There are substantive matters to further consider from a policy perspective, including the appropriate criteria and conditions for designation to be set out in regulations, prior to the commencement of these provisions.
441. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has any plans to develop a college (details supplied) [8913/26]
View answerMy Department works collaboratively with all Higher Education Institutions and Education and Training Boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans.
Significant capital investment has been provided by my Department to the the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone. The Higher Education Public Private Partnership Programme Bundle 1 consists of six projects, one of which is in TUS Athlone. I opened the 6,000m2 Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) building on 15th May 2025. The facility consists of science labs, lecture theatres, administration space and ancillary space. Together with decanted space elsewhere on campus, the new building will increase the capacity of the TUS at Athlone by more than 1,300 students.
Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone also recently received funding under the Infrastructure Upgrade and Refurbishment Programme (IURP) for two of its projects. The Auburn 2 building, which included refurbishment, upgrade and extension of the existing building and the East Campus carpark project.
In addition to the above, my Department has disbursed capital funding to Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone under a number of capital programmes including the Devolved Capital Grant, the Research Equipment Grant and the Apprenticeship Expansion Programme.
442. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the annual amount in fees which third level institutions received from students on Stamp 2 permissions in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8967/26]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies responsible for their own academic affairs, including the development of relevant curriculum, determining tuition fees, and student numbers on individual courses, including the number of international places.
Stamp 2 permissions are issued by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. A Stamp 2 indicates permission to study a full-time course on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) for a specified period, subject to conditions. It entitles the holder to work in casual employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during school term and 40 hours per week during holidays. Further details of the Stamp 2 permission or other permissions are available at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/
My Department does not maintain a schedule of the tuition fee rates that may apply for the thousands of courses that may be offered to international students across various higher education institutions each year. Therefore, the data requested by the Deputy is not available. The Deputy may however wish to note that each higher education institution maintains a schedule of the various fees that apply at individual course level. These schedules are available for review on their respective websites.
443. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the detail of any assessments or reports on the fees generated by international students in third level education carried out or received by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8977/26]
View answerIndecon International was appointed by DFHERIS to undertake an independent evaluation of Ireland’s International Education Strategy 2016 – 2020.
Details of the fee income from third level International students contained in the Review is set out in the table below:
Fee Income from third level International Students - €m
|
|
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
|
Public HEIs – EU students |
36.0 |
34.2 |
39.6 |
44.1 |
|
Public HEIs – non-EU students |
305.9 |
340.8 |
395.3 |
425.2 |
|
Private HEIs |
29.9 |
37.9 |
43.9 |
49.3 |
|
Total Income third level International students |
371.8 |
412.9 |
478.8 |
518.6 |
444. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of the 2025 capital budget allocation for his Department that was actually spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9036/26]
View answerThe Appropriation Account for 2025 is currently being prepared by my Department for audit by the C&AG. The 2025 Appropriation Account is due for submission to the C&AG on or before 31 March 2026. Therefore the information I currently have available is provisional and subject to audit by the C&AG.
Based on our records 99.6% of the revised capital allocated to my Department was expended against capital infrastructure and research projects in 2025.
445. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the current status of the public consultation on Our Rural Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8770/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy from 2026. The process of developing this successor policy is well advanced.
An extensive process of consultation was put in place which gathered the views of stakeholders and communities across the country on what matters most for rural Ireland and its people.
This consultation commenced in March 2025 with an online public survey, followed by a series of eight stakeholder and public events across the country, one of which was held as Gaeilge, and an online session for those unable to attend in-person. Additionally, the Rural Youth Assembly was consulted in September 2025, ensuring that the voices of young people were fully considered in the policy development process.
Bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, representative groups, and public bodies have also taken place.
Informed by the extensive engagement undertaken, a consultation paper, setting out the proposed key themes and priorities for the new policy was published for a period of public consultation in November 2025, with submissions invited until 12 December 2025. This process yielded 273 written responses.
The process of consultation has now concluded, with the views of more than 2,000 people being heard. Drafting of the new policy will reflect the feedback gathered from participants and stakeholders.
Bilateral engagement with departments continues with respect to ambitious commitments for delivery under the new plan, continuing our whole-of-Government approach into this next phase of Ireland’s rural development policy.
The policy is also being informed by an independent OECD Review of Ireland’s rural policy framework which is scheduled to be published this month.
446. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the current number of community enterprise hubs opened in the country, their location, the number and location of any in planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8772/26]
View answerOur Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy, recognises the importance of remote working and committed to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by the end of 2025. I was delighted to announce at the National Hub Summit last November that we have reached that key target. As of 3rd February 2026, there are 407 hubs on-boarded to the Connected Hubs platform. Details of the hubs can be found on connectedhubs.ie. The Atlantic Economic Corridor Hubs Classification includes a five-category framework to reflect the main focus of services at hubs. The categories are: (1) Enterprise hubs, (2) Scaling Hubs (3) R&D Hubs, (4) Community and Enterprise hubs and (5) Co-working hubs. As part of the onboarding of hubs on the Connected Hubs Network, each hub indicates which of these categories best fits their profile. As part of that process, 141 hubs on the connectedhubs.ie platform have classified themselves as Community and Enterprise hubs with 69 classified as Enterprise hubs. Appendix A attached provide details of the location of these hubs as requested. It should be noted, however, that many of the hubs on the network offer a range of different services and thus could be included under more than one of the above categories. My officials will continue to work with key partners such as the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Western Development Commission to underpin the continued growth and development of the Connected Hubs Network.
447. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the grants and schemes available to pubs in rural communities, to apply for and avail of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8924/26]
View answerMy department implements a wide range of schemes and supports under the banner of the Rural Development Investment Programme, which are available to community organisations and other groups across the country.
Under these measures communities across the country have benefited from funding in areas such as town regeneration, the development of community facilities, and the enhancement of outdoor recreation facilities.
Although there is no current scheme directly related to supporting pubs in rural communities, my Department previously funded "Pubs as Community Hubs" in three locations, under the innovation measure of the CLÁR 2021 programme. However, that pilot was to test the approach, and any subsequent delivery would be a matter for the Vintner's Federation of Ireland, who were involved in the pilot programme.
The capital grant funding that is available from my department focuses on the delivery of community infrastructure which is available for use by the entire community.
448. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when applications for the next round of the Community Centre Investment Fund will open; whether it will be for new builds or refurbishments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8947/26]
View answer450. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether he is satisfied that current funding levels under the Community Centres Investment Fund are sufficient to meet demand; and the assessment he has made of the backlog of unfunded projects. [9093/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 450 together.
Since becoming Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, I have prioritised investment in community infrastructure. As part of Budget 2026, I was delighted to announce increased funding for the programmes that are delivering on this priority. This includes an increase in the annual budget for the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) by €3 million to €20 million.
The CCIF was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to all groups in all communities in both rural and urban areas. €110 million has been allocated since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres where such a need has been identified. Over 1,600 community centre projects have been approved since 2022, delivering real and tangible benefits in the supported communities. This is more than three quarters of all applications received.
In 2026 I will deliver another round of CCIF that will support refurbishment works on existing community centres. Work is currently ongoing in relation to the details of this new round of funding.
In addition, my Department supports community facilities with enhancement works through a range of other funding streams including through the CLÁR programme, LEADER and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. I would encourage organisations to check my Department’s website for information on funding opportunities and announcements.
449. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Johnny Mythen den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta tuilleadh sonraí a thabhairt maidir lena phleananna, atá leagtha amach sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta do Sheirbhísí Poiblí trí Ghaeilge a foilsíodh le déanaí, i dtaobh bunú buan agus nó athlonnú aonad seirbhíse poiblí atá ag feidhmiú trí Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht nó chuig an nGaeltacht. [9092/26]
View answerAg croílár iarrachtaí an Rialtais sa bhogadh i dtreo seirbhís phoiblí dhátheangach, tá feidhmiú iomlán agus rathúil Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Tá an obair seo criticiúil ó thaobh an Ghaeilge a neadú isteach agus a normalú mar chuid lárnach de sholáthar seirbhísí poiblí agus chun a chumasú do lucht labhartha na teanga í a úsáid ina bplé leis an Stát.
Céim shuntasach chun cinn sa mhéid seo mar sin a bhí i bhfoilsiú an Phlean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2024. Ba mhór an onóir domsa, dá bhrí sin, mar an chéad Aire sinsearach a raibh freagracht orm as an nGaeilge agus as an nGaeltacht le roinnt blianta, cur leis an obair seo tríd an gcéad Phlean Gníomhaíochta a ghabhann leis an bPlean Náisiúnta sin a fhoilsiú le déanaí.
Thit an fhreagracht fhoriomlán as ullmhú an Phlean Náisiúnta agus an Phlean Gníomhaíochta ina dhiaidh sin ar Choiste Comhairleach na Seirbhísí Gaeilge, atá faoi chathaoirleacht mo Roinne agus a bhfuil ballraíocht shinsearach ann ó raon leathan eagraíochtaí ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí, lena n-áirítear an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí, Bonneagair, Athchóirithe na Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitithe; an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí; an Roinn Oideachais agus Óige; Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte (HSE); an Ghníomhaireacht Bainistíochta Rialtais Áitiúil (LGMA); An Garda Síochána; agus Poist Phoiblí (Publicjobs).
Rinneadh taighde fairsing agus an Plean seo á ullmhú, agus léiríonn na torthaí luachmhara atá leagtha amach ann spéis shoiléir i gcumas sa Gaeilge a mhéadú i measc fhoireann na gcomhlachtaí poiblí agus dearfacht agus dea-thoil ghinearálta i leith na teanga. Díríonn an Plean Náisiúnta ar chúig phríomhthéama straitéiseacha sna réimsí seo a leanas:
1. Tionscnaimh Leathana agus Neartú Struchtúrach;
2. Soláthar Seirbhísí Poiblí trí Gaeilge;
3. Teicneolaíocht;
4. Oiliúint, Earcaíocht agus Inniúlacht Teanga; agus
5. Bailiú Sonraí.
Tá na réimsí seo ag teacht le straitéisí athchóirithe eile an Rialtais amhail Seirbhísí Poiblí Níos Fearr agus Straitéis Athnuachana na Seirbhíse Sibhialta 2030 – agus gealltanas sonrach i Straitéis Athnuachana na Seirbhíse Sibhialta maidir le cur i bhfeidhm an Phlean Náisiúnta thuasluaite.
Féachann na tionscnaimh crosghearrtha atá sa phlean gníomhaíochta seo le feabhas a chur ar sholáthar seirbhísí poiblí dátheangacha ar fud na tíre – go háirithe i gceantair Ghaeltachta, trí réimse beart éagsúil. Díríonn sé ar struchtúir thacúla a fhorbairt agus cuimsíonn sé bearta atá dírithe ar fhorbairt acmhainne, feasachta agus scileanna chomh maith le cúrsaí teicneolaíochta.
Faoin príomhthéama Tionscnaimh Leathana agus Neartú Struchtúrach, tá sé mar chuspóir go mbreathnófaí ar na féidearthachtaí a bhaineann le moil-seirbhísí nó clinicí a bhunú ar bhonn píolótach chun croísheirbhísí poiblí a chur ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta agus lucht labhartha na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Lena taobh seo fiosrófar athbhrandáil iomlán a dhéanamh ar na seirbhísí poiblí a chuirtear ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge do na pobail sin, chun a gcuid muiníne sna seirbhísí sin a chothú.
Mar chéad chéim, déanfar údarú ar thaighde agus staidéir féidearthachta maidir le bunú moil-seirbhísí/clinicí seirbhísí poiblí chun croísheirbhísí poiblí a sholáthar trí mheán na Gaeilge. Déanfar féidearthachtaí a chíoradh chomh maith maidir le haonaid shonracha seirbhíse poiblí a bhunú sa Ghaeltacht nó a athlonnú chuig an nGaeltacht ar bhonn bhuan. Déanfar torthaí an taighde a bhreithniú i gcomhthéacs na céad chéimeanna eile a aithint, sa tsúil go ndéanfar iad seo a thionscnamh ar bhonn píolótach.
Mar thoradh air seo, déanfar normalú ar an nGaeilge agus cuirfear í ag croílár na seirbhíse poiblí, ag cumasú do chainteoirí na teanga í a úsáid agus iad ag déanamh éileamh ar sheirbhísí.
451. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when a new round of the CLÁR programme will issue in 2026; whether Measure 1 (Developing Community Facilities and Amenities) will again support applications involving school-based facilities where those facilities are available for wider community use outside of school hours; if any changes are planned to the eligibility criteria for schools under Measure 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9097/26]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. It supports a wide range of community facilities and amenities under measure 1 and community vehicles under measure 2. Measure 3 relates to funding for Island communities.
In 2025 I was delighted to announce a record €14 million in CLÁR funding for 238 projects under all measures.
I expect to launch the CLÁR 2026 programme in the coming weeks. Details in respect of the measures to be included and the eligibility criteria that will apply are currently being finalised.
