Written Answers Nos. 611-626
611. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details with respect to an instruction to the HSE regarding critical illness protocol requests from former recipients of the special scheme of paid leave for healthcare workers with long-Covid (details supplied); to provide a copy of the memo or circular in which this instruction was stated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11498/26]
View answerThe HSE have been asked to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter
612. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of people on waiting lists for physiotherapy and speech and language therapy, broken down by CHO including the number waiting more than two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11502/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
613. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times, by county, for those awaiting a first-time appointment for occupational therapy, through primary care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11510/26]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
614. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times, by county, for those awaiting a first-time appointment for speech and language therapy, through primary care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11511/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
615. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times, by county, for those awaiting a first-time appointment for physiotherapy services, through primary care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11512/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
616. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on waiting lists for primary care occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy services, by discipline, by county, and length of time waiting (under six months, six–12 months, 12–24 months and over 24 months); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11513/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
617. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the measures currently in place to reduce waiting times for access to primary care occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy services for children; the impact these measures have had to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11514/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
618. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of funded whole-time equivalent posts for occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists in primary care services; the number currently filled; the number vacant, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11515/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
619. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the hospitals which have and which do not have 24-hour chaplaincy services; the reason for any hospital not having such services; if there is any change to the provision of services envisaged; the actions she r will take to ensure they all have 24-hour services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11564/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
620. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health her plans to increase capacity in a health care facility to reduce waiting lists for procedures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11573/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
621. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is a canteen in his Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11183/26]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that no canteen is in operation within my Department headquarters.
622. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount expended by his Department and by each agency for which he is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11353/26]
View answerThe media spend on advertising campaigns for my department in 2025 was €574,151. Included in this spend is €190k, allocated to my Department under Housing for All funding. The spend by media agency is detailed as follows:
The projected budget for media spend in 2026 is estimated to be €300,000.
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2025 Media Spend |
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|
Spark |
€ 554,158 |
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Mindshare |
€ 19,993 |
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Total |
€ 574,151 |
The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with their query.
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Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
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Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
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Higher Education Authority |
Oireachtas@hea.ie |
Trevor Purtill |
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Grangegorman Development Agency |
oireachtas@ggda.ie |
Nigel Thompson |
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SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walshe |
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Skillnet Ireland |
oireachtasmembers@skillnetireland.ie |
Tracey Donnery |
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Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
Dr Lynn Ramsey |
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Léargas – The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
Lorraine Gilligan |
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Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland |
oireachtasqueries@researchireland.ie |
Donna McCabe |
623. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if there is a canteen in his Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11188/26]
View answerI can confirm that, while canteen facilities are provided in my Department's headquarters at Trinity Point, 10-11 South Leinster Street in Dublin, no meals are sold or provided on site.
624. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount expended by his Department and by each agency for which he is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11358/26]
View answer[Attachment omitted]
625. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to expedite all regeneration schemes in County Kerry; the reason for the delay with the Cahersiveen rural regeneration and development scheme, where works were due to commence in Q2 2025, Cahersiveen Community Centre in the Carnegie Community Building is closed since November 2024; the detailed breakdown of timelines for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11467/26]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major capital investment programme, which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The focus of the RRDF is on rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people.
Responsibility for the management, procurement and delivery of RRDF projects rests with designated ‘Lead Bodies'. This includes Kerry County Council, which has been allocated over €8.5m in respect of two linked RRDF projects in Caherciveen.
In 2022, the Caherciveen Town Regeneration Project (Phase 1) was awarded Category 2 RRDF funding of €2.056m. Kerry County Council has advised of the following progress on this project;
• planning approval is now in place and detailed design has been completed for the conservation, renovation and extension of the Carnegie Community Building.
• planning is approved and detailed design is ongoing and expected to be completed in Q4 2026 for the enhancement of the Fair Green amenity and introduction of a one-way system for greater connectivity to the town centre.
• planning approval is now in place and detailed design is completed for the development of a waterfront amenity and board walk.
• Land has been acquired to develop a boardwalk and car & bus parking and a council depot has been relocated.
In 2024, having secured planning and with detailed designs substantially complete, Phase 2 of the Caherciveen Town Regeneration Project was allocated Category 1 RRDF funding of €6.46m. Kerry County Council has advised of the following progress on this project;
• the tender stage for the construction of the Carnegie Community Building has recently been completed and, following engagement with my officials, will now move to construction. Kerry County Council will award this construction contract with the next 4 weeks. The construction works will take an estimated 18 months to complete.
• In respect of the other phase of the project developing a waterfront amenity and board walk from the South Kerry Greenway to the marina along the Fertha River, tenders were published with a closing date of 2nd of March 2026. Following the completion of the tender report and receipt of approval to award contract from the RRDF, Kerry County Council expect that this construction project will commence in Q2 2026.
My officials remain in ongoing contact with all local authorities to ensure that the delivery of projects funded under the range of schemes implemented by my department is expedited. I am committed to ensuring that the substantial investment provided by my department across rural Ireland can continue to support high quality and transformational projects in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.
626. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to expedite all regeneration schemes in County Kerry, including Killorglin town; the detailed breakdown of timelines for this scheme for Killorglin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11468/26]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major capital investment programme, which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The focus of the RRDF is on rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people.
Responsibility for the management, procurement and delivery of RRDF projects rests with designated ‘Lead Bodies'. This includes Kerry County Council, which has been allocated a total of €1.63m in respect of two linked RRDF projects in Killlorglin.
In 2022, the Killorglin Town Centre Smart Rural Regeneration Project was allocated €962,000 under Category 2 of the RRDF. Kerry County Council has confirmed the following position on this project;
• Plans and detailed designs have been completed for the renovation and transformation of Killorglin Courthouse, a protected structure, in to a vibrant Heritage and Cultural Centre. This includes securing Part 8 planning in 2024.
• A Public Realm Design Plan for Killorglin town centre is complete and was developed in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The Part 8 planning approval has been granted for Killorglin Public Realm on the 30th of January 2026. Detailed design stage is ongoing and will be complete by Q2 2026.
Following on completion of the detailed designs and securing planning for Killorglin Courthouse, in 2024 a Category 1 RRDF application was allocated €672k for a project that involves the practical works to renovate Killorglin Courthouse. Kerry County Council has advised that the main tender for works for this project was published on Friday the 9th of January 2026 with a deadline of Friday the 13th of February 2026. The Council has expressed the view that construction works should commence in Quarter 2 of 2026.
My officials remain in ongoing contact with all local authorities to ensure that the delivery of projects funded under the range of schemes implemented by my department is expedited. I am committed to ensuring that the substantial investment provided by my department across rural Ireland can continue to support high quality and transformational projects in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.
