Tuesday, 17 Feb 2026

Health and Safety

Questions (1125)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

1125. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the amount paid out in compensation arising out of violent incidents in hospitals in the past three years. [12107/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury and third-party property damage claims on behalf of State authorities.

The SCA has provided me with the information set out below.

The information was extracted from NIMS, the National Incident Management System. This report is correct as of 01/02/2026.

The following table contains the transactional amounts paid in damages by the State Claims Agency for hospitals within the HSE Regions, that are associated with Violence, Harassment and Aggression claims and a small number of incidents and inquests. All figures are inclusive of VAT.

It includes payments between 01/01/2023 and 31/12/2025 and is correct as of 01/02/2026.

Table 1- Damages paid between 2023 and 2025 for Violence, Harassment and Aggression claims

2023	2024	2025	Grand Total
€644,380	€1,559,143	€861,911	€3,065,433

Health and Safety

Questions (1126)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

1126. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of improvement notices that have been issued to her Department or the HSE by the Health and Safety Authority linked to incidents in hospitals, whether that is due to specific failings around an incident or about security and safety concerns more generally. [12108/26]

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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.

Question No. 1127 answered with Question No. 1089.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (1128)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1128. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive surgery in the Mater and or Cappagh hospitals. [12125/26]

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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.

Departmental Data

Questions (1129)

David Cullinane

Question:

1129. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total stock of acute hospital inpatient beds in the public hospital system at the end of each year 2016-2025, by hospital, in tabular form. [12140/26]

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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.

Departmental Data

Questions (1130)

David Cullinane

Question:

1130. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total stock of acute hospital inpatient beds in the public hospital system, at the end 2024 and 2025, by hospital; the number which were fully funded and fully staffed at the end of each year; the number which were either not fully funded, not funded or approved, or which were not fully staffed but open at the end of each year; the average number which were closed, disaggregated by reason, for each month of 2024 and 2025 and the annual averages; and the average number blocked by a delayed discharge at the end of each month and across each year, by location, in tabular form. [12141/26]

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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.

Departmental Data

Questions (1131)

David Cullinane

Question:

1131. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1070 of 27 January 2026, if she collects data on the reasons for each delayed transfer of care; if so, the breakdown by the reason; if not, to explain the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12142/26]

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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.

Departmental Data

Questions (1132)

David Cullinane

Question:

1132. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the theatre utilisation statistics which she collects; the product of the analysis of this data; and the extent of underutilisation and the potential throughput capacity which this equates to, by location, in tabular form. [12143/26]

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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.

Departmental Data

Questions (1133)

David Cullinane

Question:

1133. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on agency staffing in 2024 and 2025 broken down for each region, service division, and relevant site or facility, in tabular form. [12144/26]

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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.

Departmental Data

Questions (1134)

David Cullinane

Question:

1134. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on overtime in 2024 and 2025 for each staff grade for each region, service division, and relevant site or facility, in tabular form. [12145/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an operational issue this PQ has been referred to the HSE for direct response.

Ambulance Service

Questions (1135, 1136, 1137)

David Cullinane

Question:

1135. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance callouts which were responded to in 2024 and 2025 where the person was deceased by the time of ambulance arrival on scene; the response time of the ambulances concerned; the number of investigations conducted into late arrivals of ambulances where a person was deceased by the time the ambulance arrived at a scene, by region in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12146/26]

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David Cullinane

Question:

1136. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance callouts which were responded to in 2024 and 2025 where the person was deceased by the time the ambulance had reached the hospital, by region; the response time of the ambulances concerned; the number of investigations conducted into late arrivals of ambulances where a person was deceased by the time the ambulance arrived at a hospital, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12147/26]

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David Cullinane

Question:

1137. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance callouts to road traffic accidents which were responded to in 2024 and 2025, by region; the number where the person was deceased at arrival to the scene; the number where a person concerned was deceased by arrival at a hospital; the response times of ambulances concerned; the average response time to road traffic accidents; the number of callouts which did not arrive to a road traffic accident within the target timeframe; and the number of investigations conducted where an ambulance arrived late to a road traffic accident, arrived where the person concerned was deceased at arrival to scene, or where the person concerned was deceased by the time of arrival to a hospital, in tabular form. [12148/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1135, 1136 and 1137 together.

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

Question No. 1136 answered with Question No. 1135.

Question No. 1137 answered with Question No. 1135.

Pharmacy Services

Questions (1138, 1139)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

1138. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has carried out any clinical risk assessment of patients with disabilities, cognitive impairment, or home-care dependency who rely on pharmacist-prepared monitored dosage systems to safely self-administer prescribed medicines; if so, the date of such assessment; the persons that conducted it; and if she will publish the findings. [12152/26]

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Ken O'Flynn

Question:

1139. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any equality or disability impact assessment has been undertaken in respect of the exclusion of pharmacist-prepared monitored dosage systems from State funding under the long-term illness scheme, having regard to obligations to provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities; and if not, when such an assessment will be initiated. [12153/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1138 and 1139 together.

Monitored Dosage Systems, also known as "blister packs", are a privately funded service offered by many pharmacists. They have never been funded by the State. To date there has been no clinical or impact risk assessment conducted in respect of any patient population.

Question No. 1139 answered with Question No. 1138.

Pharmacy Services

Questions (1140)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

1140. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the clinical or professional guidance her Department relies upon when stating that monitored dosage systems should be used only as a last resort; the source of that guidance; whether it has been formally adopted in Ireland; and if she will confirm whether any Irish clinical standard governs access to medication compliance supports for vulnerable patients living in the community. [12154/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

There is currently no Irish clinical standard governing access to medication compliance supports, (also known as "blister packs"), for any patient population. The provision of blister packs has always been a private service.

Pharmacists in Ireland must ensure that their practice, at all times, is guided by the principles set out in the statutory Code of Conduct for Pharmacists (www.psi.ie/practice-supports/code-conduct). When supplying medicines to patients in a blister pack, the pharmacist must be satisfied that they are meeting principle one; “put the patient first”, as outlined in the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland's (PSI) Code of Conduct for Pharmacists (www.psi.ie/sites/default/files/2024-06/PSI's%20Code%20of%20Conduct%202019.pdf).

PSI have specific guidelines on the supply of prescription medicines in Guidelines to Support Medicine Therapy Review, Counselling and Prescription Extension (www.psi.ie/practice-supports/guidance-and-guidelines-pharmacists-and-pharmacies/guidelines-support-medicine) and guidelines on the supply of medicines to patients in residential care setting (www.psi.ie/sites/default/files/2024-06/Supply-of_Medicines_to_Patients_in_Residential_Care_Settings_Nursing_Homes.pdf).

There are a number of UK clinical and pharmacy organisations that have specific guidance on the use of MDS, also referred to as Multi-compartment Compliance Aids (MCAs). Specifically, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have both said that MCAs should not be the first-choice intervention to help people manage their medicines. They recommend that the use of original packs of medicines should be the preferred choice for the supply of medicines in the absence of a specific need for an MCA in all settings.

Specific to NICE guidelines, MDS is only one of a variety of interventions to support adherence. NICE Clinical guideline CG76 states that "any interventions to support adherence should be considered on a case by case basis and should address the concerns and needs of individual patients".

Addiction Treatment Services

Questions (1141)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

1141. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the examination currently being undertaken by her Department into the use of monitored dosage systems will conclude; whether it will consider funding options where such systems are clinically indicated; and if she will commit to publishing a clear policy position with defined eligibility criteria and timelines. [12155/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

There is ongoing engagement between my Department officials, the Health Service Executive, the Regulator (Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland) and the Irish Pharmacy Union regarding the use of monitored dosage systems. No details on the potential outcome of such engagement are available at this time.

Disability Services

Questions (1142)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

1142. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that requiring patients with disabilities to privately fund essential medication compliance supports may undermine safe administration of prescribed medicines in home-care settings; and if she will outline the alternative State-funded supports are available to such patients where phased dispensing is clinically inappropriate. [12156/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The State does not, and has never, funded blister packs for any cohort of patient, nor for any of the community drug schemes. There has been no removal of that service by the State. It has always been a privately funded service.

As I said before, there are three groups of patients using blister packs.

The first is those people who know they have always been paying for blister packs as a private service. The second group have been getting blister packs for free from their pharmacy. There should be no change for those two groups of patients.

The third group of patients are those where their pharmacy has been giving them blister packs for free but charging the State under phased dispensing.

I have been investigating the details of this with my Officials and the HSE.

The current pause on the planned changes to phased dispensing rules will facilitate community pharmacists to talk with their patients in an individualised manner, about the circumstances, specific to that patient.

Of course, it remains open to pharmacies to charge patients, or not, for the use of blister packs as a private service, as many currently do.

It is important, where a pharmacy charges a fee for any professional service, that they provide updated information to patients in line with the new Pricing Transparency Guidelines, which came into effect on 1st December 2025.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1143)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

1143. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health to detail her Department’s plan to expand access to urgent care for those experiencing a mental health emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12180/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Crisis mental health supports, including those with 24/7 coverage, are currently provided across a number of settings and services, including hospital based services, out of hours services such as CAMHS on call, and non-governmental organisation services such as crisis phone and text supports, funded by HSE Mental Health Services.

The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee for Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone(2020-2030) is currently overseeing a piece of work by the HSE Implementation Group to bring together the range of available out-of-hours and crisis services and supports, with a view to aligning and streamlining supports and identifying any potential gaps in service provision. It is envisaged that this work will form the basis of an Adult Crisis Response Framework. This project is currently in an advanced state of preparation and is expected to be initiated formally before end-2026.

In addition, as Minister, I have overseen the rollout of a range of out of hours supports for people experiencing mental health difficulties as alternatives to Emergency Departments.

Crisis Resolution Services

The model of care for Crisis Resolution Services was developed as a direct recommendation of Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy. It recognises that people who are experiencing a mental health crisis need specialist services to provide timely brief intensive supports to keep people safe.

Crisis Resolution Teams• : These comprise of teams of mental health professionals who work out of hours to meet people in a crisis and provide rapid assessment and intensive intervention. There are 6 pilot Crisis Resolution Teams currently operational in Galway, Sligo/Leitrim, Cork city (two teams), Waterford City and County, South Dublin/Wicklow. The Limerick Crisis Resolution Team is due to commence operations this year.

Crisis Cafés• : Solace Cafes provide a welcoming, non-clinical safe environment in the style of a café where people can go at evenings and weekends. The Cafés provides a range of support for those who needed to use its services including crisis support, signposting, peer support, and community support. The Cafes are now open in Cork City, South Dublin, Sligo, Waterford and Limerick.

Additional funding has been provided for more Crisis Resolution Teams and Solace Cafes in Budget 2026, for Donegal, Kerry and the Midlands (Tullamore/Westmeath).

Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) Service

The Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service is critically important safety net for people in suicidal crisis and the Minister fully supports the intention within the second Sharing the Vision implementation plan to expand these services to provide full coverage nationwide. These services provide a timely response to requests for assessment of patients in suicidal crisis from GPs, and the assessments often take place in primary care settings.

The SCAN service was originally developed under the National Clinical Programme for Self-harm and Suicide-related Ideation (NCPSHI) which was introduced in Irish public hospital emergency departments in 2014. Primarily delivered by clinical nurse specialists with support from a consultant psychiatrist in each hospital area, the programme supports people presenting with suicidal ideation as well as self-harm.

The model of care for the service envisages a dedicated mental health assessment room within hospitals to provide a more appropriate environment for assessments to take place. Even when the full network of alternative Crisis Resolution Services is in place, we know people in distress will still present to emergency departments for support. Given most acute mental health in-patient units are co-located with our acute hospital network, it’s important people in distress are assessed in clinically appropriate environments when they present for support. I have allocated funding for the recruitment of additional SCAN nurses in 2026.

Specialist Crisis Nurses in hospitals

Under funding which I allocated in Budget 2026, the HSE will establish specialist nursing teams in the emergency departments of all Model 4 hospitals out-of-hours, made up of Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists to support people in crisis. By placing specialist nursing teams in our emergency departments out-of-hours, coupled with the expansion of community alternatives such as crisis resolution teams and crisis cafes, we are fundamentally changing how we respond to the needs of people in distress.

As the question raises operational issues, I have also referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.

Question No. 1144 answered with Question No. 1089.