Tuesday, 10 Feb 2026

Home Care Packages

Questions (967)

Carol Nolan

Question:

967. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health her plans to enhance elderly care services, particularly home care packages, in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9185/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Cancer Services

Questions (968)

Carol Nolan

Question:

968. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address any delays in cancer screening programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9187/26]

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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.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (969)

Carol Nolan

Question:

969. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the allocation she has made in the health budget for preventive care initiatives targeted at County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9188/26]

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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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (970)

Carol Nolan

Question:

970. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the funding she has allocated to mental health services in County Offaly in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9189/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (971)

Carol Nolan

Question:

971. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason for any ongoing staff shortages at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, County Offaly; the recruitment targets she has set for the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9190/26]

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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.

Hospital Services

Questions (972)

Carol Nolan

Question:

972. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address pressures on hospital services at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9191/26]

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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 (973)

William Aird

Question:

973. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 11 July 2025, when children’s eye clinic services will resume in Portlaoise; if the recruitment process has concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9193/26]

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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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (974)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

974. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the criteria and process by which community based mental health and counselling services can be formally recognised by the HSE for referral purposes; and the steps being taken to ensure that primary care teams in Cork have access to and are actively referring to accredited local services to address waiting lists. [9198/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Regulatory Bodies

Questions (975)

Paul Murphy

Question:

975. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1018 and 1019 of 20 January 2026, to confirm whether she accepts that CORU currently has no mechanism to receive or assess systemic or organisational ethical breaches affecting professional practice; whether she considers reliance on internal organisational processes and protected disclosures sufficient to meet the State’s public-protection obligations; and if not, when she intends to bring forward proposals to address the regulatory gap in CORU's regulatory framework she has now acknowledged. [9217/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In my previous reply to the Deputy, I outlined the existing and planned legal protections and obligations underpinning professional practice in various areas of health and social care. These are already extensive and due to be further strengthened through implementation of the new National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector, which was approved by Government and published in December 2025.

In addition, depending on the circumstances, workers can already report information under the Protected Disclosures Act to their regulator if appropriate, the Protected Disclosures Commissioner, or myself, where the worker is employed (or was employed) in a public body under that my remit.

In light of the above, I do not consider any amendments are needed to the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).

Mental Health Services

Questions (976)

Paul Murphy

Question:

976. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of a case (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to investigate the matter to ensure that the people affected are able to receive the care they deserve. [9223/26]

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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.

Ambulance Service

Questions (977)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

977. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the reason Clifden, County Galway has been left without any ambulance cover on a number of occasions recently (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9227/26]

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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.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (978)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

978. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health for an update on the progress of the surgical hub for Letterkenny University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9235/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE, as sponsoring agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the surgical hubs to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (979)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

979. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the financial supports available for a young person (details supplied), who requires surgery which cannot be performed in Ireland, the UK, Europe or Switzerland, and therefore, must travel to US.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9249/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. The TAS is a consultant led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved public treatments in another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland through the issue of form S2 (IE) where the treatment is:

• among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation;

• not available in Ireland;

• not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease;

• medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;

• a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or test treatment;

• provided in a recognised public hospital or other institution that will accept EU/EEA form S2 (IE) and;

• is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.

The HSE provides further information for patients on the HSE TAS website: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/treatment-abroad-scheme/

It is important to note that the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme facilitates patient to access planned healthcare in the public healthcare system of another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (980)

Robert O'Donoghue

Question:

980. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if there is a campaign or strategy in place to increase GP capacity, particularly in growing towns such as Skerries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9253/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients, and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in any area.

Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,600 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. A further 637 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but hold some other contract(s) with the HSE for the delivery of health services. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP.

As per the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to increasing the GP workforce. Work is ongoing in this regard, to increase the number of GPs practicing 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.

Of note, a Strategic Review of General Practice is currently underway. The review is examining the issues effecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and will consider possible mechanisms to attract GPs to rural and underserved areas. When completed the review will set out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.

Health Services Staff

Questions (981)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

981. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant occupational therapist posts in Meath; and when these will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9257/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

We have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter

Health Services Staff

Questions (982)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

982. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists the State hired in each of the years 2020-2025, by area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9258/26]

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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.

Health Services

Questions (983)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

983. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently on a waiting list to see an occupational therapist (primary care) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9259/26]

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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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (984)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

984. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people are currently on a waiting list to see an occupational therapist (CAMHS) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9260/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Primary Care Services

Questions (985)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

985. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the interim measures in place for people waiting for an appointment with a primary care occupational therapist but cannot see one as the post is vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9261/26]

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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.

Health Screening Programmes

Questions (986)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

986. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to restrict or reduce access free screening such as SH:24 for those who are asymptomatic; if so, the intentions behind such a move to reduce access to regular screening for sexually transmitted infections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9262/26]

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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 as soon as possible.