Wednesday, 11 Feb 2026

Written Answers Nos. 366-389

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Community Care

Questions (366)

John Paul O'Shea

Question:

366. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health for an update on the enhanced community care centre proposed for Mallow, County Cork; the current status of the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework (SHIF) analysis referenced in previous correspondence; when that analysis is expected to be completed; when a revised tender process will issue; the proposed location and scope of services to be provided at the centre; the projected timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10836/26]

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 Appointments Status

Questions (367)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

367. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if she will investigate the reason an elderly woman (details supplied) who was scheduled for surgery at St. Michael's hospital, Dun Laoghaire; if she will urge the HSE to identify a slot for the person elsewhere as a matter of priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10839/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments are cancelled, particularly in the case of clinically urgent procedures.

While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased unscheduled care demand.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way, hospitals follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

Cancelled hospital procedures/appointments are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment. Patients that are cancelled are rescheduled with the next available appointment based on their clinical prioritisation, with urgent patients prioritised for access.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The Minister for Health is prohibited from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Strategies

Questions (368)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

368. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if the guidance has been updated since 2004; if exempted premises are monitored to ensure staff safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10847/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Section 47 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 prohibits the smoking of tobacco in places of work. The National Environmental Health Service of the HSE is the enforcement body for these provisions.

Section 47 (7) exempts certain premises from the legislative prohibition where there is a similarity to a private residence, for example in prisons and residential care facilities. However, it does not oblige employers or managers of such premises to permit smoking, nor confer a right to smoke on the premises. It also does not interfere with an employer's duty of care and the responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy place of work. Guidance for employers in exempted premises was published at the time of the legislation coming into effect. Broader workplace health and safety issues are a matter for the Health and Safety Authority. The Tobacco Free Ireland policy is currently being reviewed. This includes assessment of the legislative and non-legislative measures to protect the public from second-hand smoke and aerosol, and whether these should be strengthened.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (369)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

369. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health regarding the new tobacco licence required of shops selling cigarettes, if she has considered that small shops are already struggling and that many cannot afford this additional €1,800 annual cost; her views on whether people will simply go to large retailers if they cannot purchase cigarettes from their small local shops; the reason small local shops are expected to pay the same cost as a large retailer; if she is aware of the damage this will cause to the rural economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10850/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in Ireland and is responsible for 4,500 deaths here each year. Smoking costs the Irish economy €10bn per year, and places a huge burden on our health services. It is the Government’s objective to eliminate tobacco use in order to address the enormous burden of disease that it continues to cause in our population.

The requirement for a licence to sell tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products, as set out in The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 came into effect on the 2nd of February 2026. This licensing system fulfils the legislative commitments made in Tobacco Free Ireland and is intended to contribute to improvement of the enforcement of tobacco control and related law as well as reflect the seriousness of the health harms caused by tobacco compared to other products.

Consultation on this 2023 legislation took place in 2014 and 2015 with interested stakeholders, including retailers. Retailer submissions to the consultation proposed that the fee be proportionate by either number of outlets or volume of sales. Following consideration of all suggestions, the General Scheme of the Bill and accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis were published in 2019 with a proposal to set an annual fee per outlet.

Pre-legislative scrutiny from 2021 to 2022 was conducted by the Oireachtas Health Committee, who held sessions with stakeholders from public health, retail and industry, and received further written submissions from stakeholders such as retail organisations before issuing their recommendations for the legislation.

The final Bill was debated and passed in the Oireachtas in 2023. The Act provides for an annual licence per outlet for those wishing to sell:

a) tobacco

b) nicotine inhaling products, or

c) tobacco and nicotine inhaling products.

The Act provides that the Minister for Health may set a fee for each of the three licence categories by Regulation. Those fees were set in the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 (Fees) Regulations 2024.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (370)

Robert Troy

Question:

370. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [10852/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The Minister for Health is prohibited from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to the particular query raised, 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 Staff

Questions (371)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

371. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a psychologist could be granted to the North Kerry mental health services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10919/26]

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 Staff

Questions (372)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

372. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2425 of 13 January 2026, if this group of contract workers will be transitioned to permanent contracts under the HSE's agency conversion programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10922/26]

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.

Seirbhísí Sláinte

Questions (373)

John Connolly

Question:

373. D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Aire Sláinte nuashonrú a thabhairt ar dhul chun cinn na forbartha ar ionad cúraim phríomhúil sa Cheathrú Rua, Contae na Gaillimhe; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10929/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

A Theachta,

Ós rud é go bhfuil Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte (FSS) freagrach as soláthar seirbhíse, mar aon le cothabháil agus oibriú na nIonad Cúraim Príomhúil, d’iarr mé ar an FSS freagra a thabhairt don Teachta go díreach, a luaithe agus is féidir.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (374)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

374. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health to provide a full list of capital works projects currently ongoing at Beaumont Hospital; when each of those capital works projects will be completed, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10947/26]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (375)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

375. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times to see a dentist at a primary care centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10948/26]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (376)

Réada Cronin

Question:

376. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in recruiting additional dentists and improving public dental services in Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11034/26]

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.

Dental Services

Questions (377)

Réada Cronin

Question:

377. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children currently on waiting lists for public dental services, including orthodontics, in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11035/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (378)

Réada Cronin

Question:

378. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of people on occupational therapy waiting lists in Kildare, by area, by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11036/26]

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 Waiting Lists

Questions (379)

Réada Cronin

Question:

379. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of people on physiotherapy waiting lists in Kildare, by area, by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11037/26]

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 (380)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

380. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances and ambulance staff operational or stationed at each ambulance station in the country, by station; the average response time to ambulance callout, per ambulance station in the State, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11063/26]

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 (381)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

381. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of times ambulances in each ambulance station in the country have been unable to leave hospital due to an inability to admit a patient to the emergency department or due to the fact that an ambulance trolley was being occupied by a patient inside the hospital in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [11064/26]

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 (382, 383)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

382. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of times a patient was deceased by the time an ambulance reached them, in each of the past ten years, by ambulance station, in tabular form. [11065/26]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

383. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the top ten longest lengths of time a person was left waiting for an ambulance in the State in each of the past ten years, and if details can be supplied on location/CHO area. [11066/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 383 answered with Question No. 382.

Dental Services

Questions (384)

Michael Murphy

Question:

384. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of children on waiting lists for routine public dental services in South Tipperary; the length of time they have been waiting, broken down by waiting time bands; the number of children in South Tipperary awaiting orthodontic assessment and treatment under the HSE; the average and longest waiting times involved; the locations at which HSE-funded orthodontic treatment is currently provided to children from South Tipperary; the number of orthodontists, dentists and dental nurses currently employed by the HSE in the South Tipperary area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11067/26]

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.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (385)

David Cullinane

Question:

385. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received for the disabled drivers scheme and a primary medical certificate, by county in each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number accepted and rejected, in tabular form. [11207/26]

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.

Student Accommodation

Questions (386)

Réada Cronin

Question:

386. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to improve student accommodation affordability and access in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11028/26]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)

The National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026-2035 is expected to be published in the coming weeks, it supports access to suitable accommodation for full-time students in publicly funded higher education institutions (HEIs) and aims to deliver additional student beds to meet projected demand by 2035, without additional recourse to the private rental market.

By providing targeted financial supports for students and accelerating the development of purpose-built student accommodation, the Government is removing barriers that prevent talented individuals from pursuing their academic goals.

The Strategy sets out a clear vision to make higher education more accessible and sustainable by addressing two distinct challenges: accommodation affordability and accommodation supply and viability.

Affordability remains central to our approach and is addressed by focusing on direct financial supports to students. Last year, more than €16 million was provided through the Student Assistance Fund to support learners with rent and related living costs. Budget 2026 also provides for a significant increase in non adjacent maintenance supports for students living more than 30 kilometres from their institution, assisting almost 30,000 learners.

Under the Short-Term Activation Programme, a total of 967 student accommodation beds have either been delivered or are currently progressing through the approval process. This includes a project at Maynooth University, which has successfully delivered 116 beds for the current academic year.

As of December 2025, more than 600 private sector student beds have been granted planning permission in Kildare with an additional 263 student beds applied for. For the week ending 2 January 2026, over 5,100 digs beds were advertised by HEIs, including 405 in Maynooth.

Student Accommodation

Questions (387)

Réada Cronin

Question:

387. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Kildare in each of the years 2019 to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11029/26]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)

Maynooth University now has 1,262 student beds, including 116 beds (Buckley House) completed last year under my Department’s Short-Term Activation Programme. Across County Kildare, 216 beds were completed between 2019 and 2025.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (388)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

388. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details of the broad services provided in a centre (details supplied); the number of attendees at this training centre in the years of 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10952/26]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy James Lawless)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. My officials are engaging with SOLAS in relation to the information sought by the Deputy and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy when the data is available.

Third Level Fees

Questions (389, 392)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

389. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost in 2026 of reducing all undergraduate third level fees under the free fees initiative to €1,500 from September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11046/26]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

392. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost in 2026 of reducing all undergraduate third level fees under the free fees initiative to €1,500 from September 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11060/26]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 392 together.

I propose to take PQs 11046/26 and 11060/26 together.

The Deputy may be aware that ahead of Budget 2026, I published an annual options paper on Reducing the Cost of Education. This can be accessed at: [www.assets.gov.ie/static/documents/cf68a0db/Funding_the_Future_-__Annual_Options_Paper_on_Reducing_the_Cost_of_Education2.pdf]

The annual options paper outlines various costings for flat rate reductions in the student contribution, ranging from deductions of €100 to €3,000. Prior to Budget 2026, a €1,500 reduction in the student contribution fee was estimated to be €158.6m. However, the Deputy will be aware that I secured a permanent €500 reduction in the student contribution fee in Budget 2026 which was estimated to cost €52.9m. Therefore, the net additional cost of reducing the student contribution by a further €1,000 would be an additional €105.7m on top of the cost of the Budget 2026 measure.

The €105.7m is the net additional cost of bringing the student contribution down to €1,500 from September 2025. The cost of this measure in September 2026 is very much dependent on revised demographic projections for the academic year 2026/27. However, the cost is likely to be of a similar magnitude to that of 2025/26.

• Written Answers Nos. 345-365
• Written Answers Nos. 390-395