Written Answers Nos. 258-274
258. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early years spaces currently provided in the Dublin 7 and Dublin 3 areas; the steps being taken to increase childcare places in these postal codes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13412/26]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Data is not collated by the Department in the exact manner requested by the Deputy. The most closely aligning data available on capacity in Dublin City is summarised below.
Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile.
The most recent published capacity data for the 2024/25 programme year estimated that there were 15,692 children enrolled in ELC services in Dublin City. This data also indicated that 34% of ELC services in Dublin City had at least one vacant place. At the time of the survey, there were 366 ELC service providers in Dublin City that had a contract for at least one Department funded programme/scheme.
Further information can be found on the Early Learning and Childcare data website. The Capacity Section of the website provides information on the number of children enrolled, services with vacant places, and services with a waiting list.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 25% from the 2021/22 programme year. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
A forward planning model is in development which will be central to the Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the third programme year (2024/25), the allocation for Core Funding allowed for a 6% increase in capacity. Budget 2025 secured funding for the fourth programme year (2025/6) to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025. Budget 2026 has made provision for the fifth programme year (2026/7) for a further expansion in supply of 4.2%.
This increased investment will allow increases in the natural growth of the sector driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places and/or longer hours to families.
The total allocation for Core Funding in 2026/2027 programme year will increase to €436.54 million, an additional €43.90 million on the current full year allocation.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner Services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds.
I recently announced €135 million of capital investment over the coming five years for State-led services to provide high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare. The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030.
The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of the Government. The initial approach is on purchasing and refurbishment of buildings given that this is a faster route to delivery in the short term. However, the option of building new facilities will also be considered over subsequent years.
The Department is assessing sites and buildings which align with the goals of the programme and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from not for profit operators to deliver these State-led services.
The Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. Contact details for the Dublin City Childcare Committee may be found at: childcareonline.ie
259. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health for an update regarding the ongoing delays for public speech and language therapy services in Dublin North-West, and any proposed interventions to alleviate the waiting time. [12936/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
260. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to detail the current level of staffing in perinatal mental health in each LHO, by role; the current number of vacancies in perinatal mental health in each LHO, by role; and the current number of roles being actively recruited for in perinatal mental health, by role, in tabular form. [12945/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
261. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to outline specific priorities for her Department ahead of Ireland hosting the EU Presidency from July of this year; the process by which such priorities are determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12967/26]
View answerThe Strategic Agenda for the Union for 2024-29 sets out priorities and strategic orientations for the EU. It is structured around three pillars, broadly focused on values (a free and democratic Europe), security (a strong and secure Europe), and prosperity (a prosperous and competitive Europe). Ireland’s overall policy approach for the 2026 Presidency is being developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade around these three priority themes.
Ireland’s Presidency Health Agenda will reflect this national and EU position, and aim at positioning health and competitiveness as mutually reinforcing priorities.
We will promote population health and wellbeing as a vital foundation for European security and competitiveness and highlight how innovation in health systems delivers better health outcomes for European citizens. We will advance the EU Life Sciences agenda and promote innovative and proactive healthcare that focusses on prevention and the roll out of digital health across the EU.
The Department of Health Presidency Programme aligns with:
• The European Commission Work Programme 2026 and its policy priorities.
• The Life Sciences Strategy ("Choose Europe for Life Sciences"), which drives competitiveness and sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector.
• The EU Commissions 2025 Winter Package published before Christmas 2025 which features the Biotech Act I, Proposals for updated Medical Devices Regulation and the EU Safe Heart Plan.
These developments are at the heart of Europe’s response to challenges and opportunities in the vital areas of pharma and medtech. Ireland has strengths in these areas in terms of our enterprise base and our work in the area of clinical trials. We are committed to competitiveness and to security of supply in these vital sectors through greater and more effective cooperation across the EU.
Ireland will work to strengthen the EU’s focus on population health and wellbeing to address public health challenges through proactive and preventative health measures. We will leverage the EU Safe Heart Plan to accelerate the revisions of the Tobacco Products Directive. We also aim to promote health service improvement and cooperation through the roll out of EU Digital Health strategy (the European Health Data Space – EHDS).
Ireland's Presidency will drive progress on critical EU legislation that advances our health agenda.
The Biotech Act I (published in December 2025) is a strategic priority for EU competitiveness and sovereignty. The Act streamlines regulations across clinical trials, advanced therapy medicinal products, and biomanufacturing. It mobilises €10 billion in investment funding (2026–27) via the Biotech EU initiative with the European Investment Bank. Key measures include simplified clinical trial procedures, innovation support mechanisms, and biosecurity safeguards. This flagship legislation will dominate health policy discussions during our Presidency.
The Medical Devices Regulation & In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (amendments published in December 2025) will simplify and modernise device approval while maintaining patient safety. Expected outcomes include €3–5 billion in annual cost savings for manufacturers, faster patient access to innovative devices, and reduced shortages of critical medical equipment.
The EU Safe Heart Plan aims to reduce premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035 through improved prevention, screening, and treatment across all Member States. The plan emphasises shifting from treatment to prevention, and among other things calls for stronger action against tobacco and smoking. We will aim to use our Presidency to accelerate work to update the EU tobacco legislation – to include vapes and other nicotine products which have been strongly promoted by the industry over recent years.
Other ongoing files expected to progress during our Presidency include the Critical Medicines Act, the WHO Pandemic Agreement Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing, and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism reform, if not completed during the Cyprus Presidency.
262. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to outline the health-focused, in-person events that will take place during Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency from July to December of this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12968/26]
View answerWhile the programme of events is evolving, in summary, there are currently four Ministerial High-Level events and five Presidency-based Conferences, that are being proposed during Ireland’s Presidency. These are consistent with the overall theme of the mutually reinforcing importance of health and competitiveness.
The four Ministerial High-Level events include:
• Informal Health Ministerial EPSCO Meeting (Dublin).
• Formal Health Ministerial EPSCO Meeting (Brussels).
• High-Level Ministerial Presidency Conference on Prevention, Innovation and Health Equity (Dublin).
• WHO-EU Cork Summit of Mayors on Climate & Health (not organised by, but supported by my Department).
There are five proposed Presidency-based Conferences on:
• Endometriosis & Women’s Health (Dublin).
• Clinical Trials and Medicines Access (Dublin).
• Digital Health and health data (Dublin).
• Mental Health in Europe (Cork).
• Bridging Worlds (research conference with a focus on One Health) (Dublin).
It is currently planned to host eight in-person Senior Officials meetings and six Officials meetings. All these meetings are recurring meetings held under each presidency.
There will also be a number of additional Associated Presidency events.
263. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will address the fact that Mayo University Hospital is operating with only one CT scanner, leading to significant delays for patients, including those requiring urgent cancer-related imaging; and if she will outline the immediate steps that will be taken to increase scanning capacity and reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12971/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
264. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the most recent official controls or inspections carried out by the NEHS or FSAI on multi-store retailers selling unregulated food products without English-language labelling; to provide the findings, results, and conclusions of these inspections; the actions being taken to prevent the sale of unregulated food products without English-language labelling in retail outlets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12977/26]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food law in Ireland; therefore, as this is operational matter, I have asked the FSAI to reply directly to the Deputy.
265. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 12 February 2026, if a response will issue to the question given the authors of that report referred to in the answer stated in the Oireachtas Committee on Health (details supplied) that they did not speak to one woman. [12992/26]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, an independent review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was completed in 2023. As part of this review a public consultation was held which provided organisations, stakeholders, advocacy groups, and all other interested parties with the opportunity to inform the review of the operation of the legislation.
Service user research was carried out to investigate unplanned pregnancy and abortion care. This study, which was commissioned by the HSE’s Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme in September 2019, generated in-depth understanding of the experiences of women who have accessed abortion care services since the commencement of the Act.
Service provider research was carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University. This qualitative research captured the views/experiences of termination of pregnancy service providers.
Finally, the Independent Chair assessed the extent to which the objectives of the 2018 Act have been achieved, analysing in that regard the findings of the three strands of information from the first phase. The Chair also drew on the findings of other relevant peer-reviewed research and consulted with stakeholders as necessary before providing conclusions.
266. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out. [13017/26]
View answerUnder 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.
267. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason support services provided to foster carers by an organisation (details supplied) located in Fethard has been terminated by Tusla without any consultation with the stakeholders; if she will insist that the services be continued while all concerned are consulted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13021/26]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality and should be directed to that Department.
268. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to NGOs by her Department in 2025; the funding allocated to NGOs by agencies and bodies under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13088/26]
View answerMy Department, and the bodies under its aegis, fund a wide range of organisations.
NGOs is not a category of funding recipient that is distinguished within the programmes, in which my Department operates.
Officials have identified the payments made to charities and other organisations over the period 2022-2025 as set out in the following link. This list is not necessarily exhaustive.
Payments made to charities and other organisations 2022-2025
269. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health to consider expanding the current criteria for publicly funded IVF to facilitate women who meet the programme's criteria (details supplied) but have been advised to avail of egg storage while waiting for endometriosis treatment. [13098/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
270. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is considering offering high-intensity focal therapy for prostate cancer patients in the HSE-public system. [13105/26]
View answerThe NCCP published the HSE National Clinical Guideline ‘The Use of Focal Therapy in Patients with Prostate Cancer’ in April 2025. This national clinical guideline provides evidence-based recommendations on the use of focal therapy in patients with prostate cancer by integrating the best research evidence with clinical expertise, patient values and experiences. The guideline was developed by a multi-disciplinary group including patient representatives: www2.healthservice.hse.ie/organisation/national-pppgs/hse-national-clinical-guideline-the-use-of-focal-therapy-in-patients-with-prostate-cancer/
This guideline addresses the use of focal therapy in patients with prostate cancer. For the purpose of the guideline, focal therapy refers to high-intensity focal ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy. Some studies have shown that focal therapy has better functional outcomes compared with radical treatment in patients with localised prostate cancer, however, the long term oncological outcomes are unknown.
The guideline recommends:
‘For patients with localised prostate cancer, focal therapy is not routinely recommended due to the lack of long-term oncological data.
Focal therapy may only be considered for patients with localised prostate cancer on a case-by-case basis following shared decision-making with the patient.
It is urther outlined that: 'Any patients undergoing focal therapy should be enrolled in a prospective registry or participate in a clinical trial.’
271. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will discuss the provision of high-intensity focal therapy for prostate cancer patients with private insurance providers (details supplied). [13106/26]
View answerThe Minister for Health is responsible for the legal framework governing the health insurance market in Ireland. This is a voluntary market that operates under the principles of community rating, open enrolment, lifetime cover and minimum benefit.
The Health Insurance Act 1994 (Minimum Benefit) Regulations 1996 (the Regulations) require insurers to provide a minimum level of cover to every insured person, regardless of what insurance policy has been purchased.
Private health insurance providers act as commercial entities in a competitive private health insurance market. If a procedure is not a minimum benefit under the Regulations, then insurers can decide whether or not to cover it on a specific plan.
Beyond the Regulations, the Minister does not have a role in the commercial decision making of any private health insurer.
The Minister is not in a position to direct any insurer to provide cover for any particular procedure or service, or direct how that cover is to be provided, or the associated costs.
272. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if patients who go abroad for treatment and still need care when they return must pay out of pocket to receive aftercare; and whether there is a hardship fund to assist in availing of treatment (details supplied). [13107/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
273. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in moving some newly graduated psychiatric nurses onto their proper pay scale (details supplied). [13111/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter we have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
274. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the recruitment of an ophthalmologist for South Tipperary University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13115/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
