Carol Nolan
Question:262. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will assist a person with a reimbursement request (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15400/26]
View answerDepartmental Correspondence
Questions (262)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Admissions
Questions (263)
David Cullinane
Question:263. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the opportunity cost of delayed transfers of care and of a bed day lost, that is the additional cost of a person remaining in hospital when they could be cared for in a lower cost environment in the community or at home; if her Department or the Health Service has analysed the cost of inefficiencies caused by delayed transfers of care and bed days lost; and if so, the output of such analysis; if such figures are not available, the reason why; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15405/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health does not require the HSE to submit reports of opportunity cost associated with bed days lost due to delayed transfers of care.
The Department’s focus is on the active management of hospital capacity and patient flow, ensuring that patients are discharged as promptly as possible to the most appropriate care setting. In this context, the Department and the HSE place greater emphasis on operational performance and patient flow indicators rather than routine reporting of the opportunity cost of lost bed days. These indicators include the number of patients experiencing delayed transfers of care, average and extended lengths of stay, levels of weekend discharges, and trends in these metrics over time. Such information is routinely monitored by the HSE and is used to support discharge planning, improve patient flow, and relieve pressure on acute hospital capacity.
While delayed transfers of care are recognised as contributing to hospital congestion, assigning a notional opportunity cost to individual bed days does not address the underlying causes of delay. For this reason, the Department prioritises operational and performance information that supports practical interventions to reduce delays and improve outcomes for patients, rather than the routine calculation or reporting of opportunity-cost figures.
Rights of People with Disabilities
Questions (264)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:264. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to outline the way in which her Department, through the FSAI, ensures that equality legislation is adhered to in allowing equal access for guide and assistance dogs in restaurants and food related premises; if there are plans to update guidelines to inform such businesses of the access rights of guide dogs and their owners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15408/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food law in Ireland; therefore, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the FSAI to reply directly to the Deputy.
Departmental Data
Questions (265)
David Cullinane
Question:265. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of delayed transfers of care and bed days lost in total in 2024 and in 2025, by hospital, in tabular form [15409/26]
View answerWritten answers
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 (266)
David Cullinane
Question:266. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of referrals covered under the treatment abroad scheme or cross-border directive to countries outside of Ireland for mesh implant procedures which are not currently permitted in the State; if she considers that this is an appropriate use of taxpayers money considering that access to surgeries domestically are paused due to medical advice received by previous Ministers; if there is adequate oversight of payment for such surgeries with taxpayers money considering the limits on such surgeries in this State; if she is aware of any other procedures which are not permitted in this State which the taxpayer is paying private consultants in overseas hospitals to deliver; if she considers that it would be appropriate for a consultant to refer a person to an overseas hospital to receive a surgery from that same consultant for a procedure which is not permitted in this State and for that procedure to be paid for by the taxpayer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15416/26]
View answerWritten answers
Uro-gynaecological (transvaginal) mesh devices have been widely used for the past two decades for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. While many patients have benefitted from mesh implant procedures, over time it has emerged both nationally and internationally that women have experienced complications associated with these products which have impacted on their health and quality of life.
In July 2018, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) asked the HSE to pause all vaginal mesh surgical procedures where clinically safe to do so, pending implementation of recommendations as set out in his report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures.
While uro-gynaecological mesh procedures are paused in Ireland, the procedure remains available in some European countries. The Department is aware that a small number of women have applied for funding through the Travel Abroad Scheme and Cross-Border Directive to travel to the EU, EEA, and Switzerland for uro-gynaecological mesh implant procedures.
The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. The EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) is a consultant-led scheme that allows an Irish-based public consultant to refer a public patient normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. In general, the TAS provides for the cost of approved public treatments, where the treatment is not available in Ireland.
The HSE has advised that as mesh implant treatment is not currently available in Ireland due to the pause on the service, it is possible for patients to use the TAS to access the treatment abroad for Stress Urinary Incontinence. During the period 2024 to 2026 YTD, 8 patients have been approved for TAS funding with an associated cost of €29,063.06 in respect of MESH implants.
The EU Cross Border Directive (2011/24/EU) provides rules for the reimbursements to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level. The HSE operates the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) in Ireland. Under the terms of the EU CBD, patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment where the Health Service Executive is satisfied that the patient was entitled to the healthcare in question in the public health service in Ireland. The patient may access the overseas service in either the public or private health sector of the country they choose to receive the service in. The patient pays for the treatment and claims reimbursement from the HSE at the cost of that treatment in Ireland or the cost of it abroad, whichever is the lesser. The HSE has advised that HSE data in relation to Mesh treatments that patients access under the CBD is currently unavailable.
The Treatment Abroad Scheme and Cross Border Directive scheme operate within the overall health expenditure framework approved by the Oireachtas through the Estimates process and reflected in the HSE National Service Plan. The HSE is required, under the Performance and Accountability Framework agreed with my Department, to deliver all services, including the Treatment Abroad Scheme and Cross Border Directive scheme, within its overall annual budget allocation and to put in place appropriate governance, monitoring and financial controls.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (267)
David Cullinane
Question:267. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the Health Products Regulatory Authority’s consideration of over-the-counter codeine sales; when this is expected to conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15417/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority for medicines in Ireland and is currently conducting an independent review of the method of sale and supply of codeine-containing medicinal products that are currently available without a medical prescription in Ireland. It is expected that the HPRA will finalise this review in 2026. Following the completion of this review, the Department of Health will engage with relevant stakeholders to assess the recommendations made by the HPRA, and to fully consider any policy changes that may be required regarding the regulation of codeine-containing medicinal products.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (268)
David Cullinane
Question:268. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she considers a restriction of over-the-counter low-dosage codeine-containing products to a prescription-only model to run contrary to the principles of the new pharmacy agreement and common conditions scheme; if she considers that new eprescribing and other pharmacy IT systems combined with the rollout of patient identifiers could serve as a control for access to codeine-containing products without the need to include GPs in low-to-moderate pain management beyond the role which they already serve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15418/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority for medicines in Ireland and is currently conducting an independent review of the method of sale and supply of codeine-containing medicinal products that are available without a medical prescription in Ireland.
It is expected that the HPRA will finalise this review in 2026. Following the completion of this review, the Department of Health will engage with relevant stakeholders to assess the recommendations made by the HPRA, and to fully consider any policy changes that may be required regarding the regulation of codeine-containing medicinal products.
Low-dose codeine-containing medicinal products remain available through pharmacies in accordance with regulatory guidance and legislation.
The recent implementation of the Common Conditions Service and the principles of the Community Pharmacy Agreement are a separate matter and relate to the expansion of pharmacy services. As per the overarching recommendations from the Final Report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy, the intention is to take a step-wise approach to this expansion of the pharmacist's role, leading to the introduction of independent, autonomous pharmacist prescribing in the coming years. Pharmacist prescribing under the Common Conditions Service is carried out in line with clinical protocols, regulatory guidance and following additional training. These initiatives seek to recognise the skills and expertise of pharmacists, but the prescription classification of medicines under the Common Conditions Service remain unchanged.
New developments in eHealth technology and infrastructure will support health care delivery across multidisciplinary healthcare settings, and will bring benefit to healthcare management for all patients.
Nonetheless, we await the outcome of the HPRA review, and I do not wish to speculate on its potential findings.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (269)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:269. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if, under the planned healthcare abroad scheme, initial consultations with treating consultants abroad via video or phone call are specifically prohibited under the scheme; if the prohibition is outlined in legislation grounding the scheme; the reasons this prohibition exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15420/26]
View answerWritten answers
I understand the Deputy may be seeking information on the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme, which facilitates patients to access planned healthcare in another EU Member State. The HSE funds authorised treatment for patients in the EU/EEA under the governing EU Social Security Co-ordination Regulations and Guidelines. The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State, UK or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009. 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 not available in Ireland, subject to qualifying criteria. Article 20 of Regulation 883/2004 addresses authorisation for planned healthcare in another Member State. The article is normally interpretated as applying where the patient travels to and is physically present in the Member State where treatment is provided . Information and guidelines on the EU Social Security Co-ordination governing legislative framework, including planned healthcare under Regulation 883/04, are available on the European Commission website: [Specialised information - Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion] and [Publications Office of the European Commission]. Since the HSE is responsible for implementing the Regulations in Ireland, I have also asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (270)
Aidan Farrelly
Question:270. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant respiratory medicine based at St Vincent's University Hospital. [15437/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (271)
Aidan Farrelly
Question:271. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures including primary PCI and non-primary (elective or urgent) PCI carried out in Beaumont Hospital in 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [15438/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Emergency Services
Questions (272)
Aidan Farrelly
Question:272. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE rapid response vehicles available for calls on a 24-7 basis within Kildare as of 18 February 2026, in tabular form. [15439/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Emergency Services
Questions (273)
Aidan Farrelly
Question:273. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE rapid response vehicles available for calls on a 24-7 basis within Wicklow as of 18 February 2026, in tabular form. [15440/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question Heading for question(s) 274
Questions (274)
Michael Cahill
Question:274. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the position of BUMBLEance and the National Ambulance Service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15453/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question Heading for question(s) 275
Questions (275, 277, 278)
John Connolly
Question:275. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE statement issued on 19 February 2026, which states that phase 1 of the National Elective Care Programme includes zero beds for the elective hospitals in Galway, Cork and Dublin, is accurate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15497/26]
View answerJohn Connolly
Question:277. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health whether the planning application expected in the next few months for the elective hospital at the Merlin Park site in Galway will include 200 beds comprising 175 day beds and 25 overnight beds; if she will provide an estimated timeline for the submission of the planning application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15499/26]
View answerJohn Connolly
Question:278. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health if it remains Government policy to deliver 200 beds comprising 175 day beds and 25 overnight beds as part of the establishment of a new standalone elective hospital at the Merlin Park site in Galway; as originally envisaged under the National Elective Care Programme (details supplied); if so, if she will provide an estimated timeline for the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15500/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 277 and 278 together.
The government is fully committed to increasing elective-only day-case capacity through the Elective Ambulatory Care Programme, in line with the 2017 Sláintecare Report. The government’s commitment to delivering this has been set out in successive Sláintecare Implementation Strategies and Action plans in 2018, 2021 and 2025, the National Elective Care Ambulatory Strategy of December 2021, and the Programme Preliminary Business Case (PBC) and project PBCs for Galway and Cork approved in December 2022, all of which have proposed elective day-case only facilities in Galway, Cork and Dublin.
Whilst there had been a scoping paper prepared for the Saolta Group in 2019 for an elective hospital at Merlin Park, this was superceded by the elective strategy agreed by Government in 2022 and which is being delivered in two phases: a national network of Surgical Hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity, and then, a national network of Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, in Galway, Cork and Dublin.
There has been no decision to limit or change the scope or ambition of these elective facilities, including the project business case for Galway. The 2022 preliminary business case (PBC) for the elective care programme proposed a phased approach to the development of the Elective Hospitals. The first phase (which was the focus of the PBCs and has been the HSE’s work to date) included day cases only. As per the Government decision of 2022, the sites identified for these facilities have sufficient capacity for future growth and reconfiguration to facilitate potential future phases, including some elective in-patient capacity, if required.
The design phase for the Elective Treatment Centres is ongoing, and plans will be refined based on the evidence and data available in relation to demand and capacity, as required by the Infrastructure Guidelines. The HSE and its appointed design team are working through these plans at the moment, with an expectation that a planning application can be submitted in the middle of this year.
Elective care does not require the same facilities as acute hospitals. These new ‘elective-only’ facilities are for day-case patients, they are not for acute or emergency care. Significant international evidence supports the separation of scheduled (elective) and non-scheduled (emergency) care, leading to improved care for all patients. These elective facilities will provide routine treatments, procedures and consultations which have been scheduled in advance for non-emergency issues and which do not need an overnight stay. There are no in-patient beds; instead, patients arrive and leave on the same day. Patients move in a single, one-way direction from registration to preadmission, to the operating theatre, to state 1 recovery and/or stage 2 recovery bays as appropriate, from where they are discharged.
A long term masterplan is in place to relocate outpatient appointments away from the University Hospital Galway (UHG) campus, creating the space to concentrate acute, inpatient capacity there. As part of this, in 2025 a new outpatient building was opened at Merlin Park – allowing the freeing up of space at UHG. In parallel a Development Control Plan for UHG has been completed which comprises a number of major developments, to be delivered in a phased manner, providing meaningful additional capacity in a way which does not disrupt the ongoing operation of the hospital, including:
• New helipad
• Two new Ward Blocks, each providing 150 acute beds
• An Ambulatory Cancer Centre
• A new Laboratory Block
• A new Emergency, ICU and Surgical block
The new inpatient ward blocks will be the first phase of the UHG campus wide rebuild and expansion. Site clearance works, decanting and enabling works are already underway on the campus.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Questions (276)
John Connolly
Question:276. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify the current status of the elective hospitals proposed for Cork and Dublin; and whether standalone elective hospitals will still be developed at both locations, with bed capacity, as originally envisaged under the National Elective Care Programme (details supplied); if she will provide an estimated timeline for the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15498/26]
View answerWritten answers
The government is fully committed to increasing elective-only day-case capacity through the Elective Ambulatory Care Programme, in line with the 2017 Sláintecare Report. The government’s commitment to delivering this has been set out in successive Sláintecare Implementation Strategies and Action plans in 2018, 2021 and 2025, the National Elective Care Ambulatory Strategy of December 2021, and the Programme Preliminary Business Case (PBC) and project PBCs for Galway and Cork approved in December 2022, all of which have proposed elective day-case only facilities in Galway, Cork and Dublin.
The elective strategy agreed by Government in 2022 is being delivered in two phases: a national network of Surgical Hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity, and then, a national network of Elective Treatment Centres, known as Elective Hospitals, in Galway, Cork and Dublin. There has been no decision to limit or change the scope or ambition of these elective facilities. The 2022 preliminary business case (PBC) for the elective care programme proposed a phased approach to the development of the Elective Hospitals. The first phase (which was the focus of the PBCs and has been the HSE’s work to date) included day cases only. As per the Government decision of 2022, the sites identified for these facilities have sufficient capacity for future growth and reconfiguration to facilitate potential future phases, including some elective in-patient capacity, if required.
Elective care does not require the same facilities as acute hospitals. These new ‘elective-only’ facilities are for day-case patients, they are not for acute or emergency care. Significant international evidence supports the separation of scheduled (elective) and non-scheduled (emergency) care, leading to improved care for all patients. These elective facilities will provide routine treatments, procedures and consultations which have been scheduled in advance for non-emergency issues and which do not require an overnight stay. There are no in-patient beds; instead, patients arrive and leave on the same day. Patients move in a single, one-way direction from registration to pre-admission, to the operating theatre, to state 1 recovery and/or stage 2 recovery bays as appropriate, from where they are discharged.
The design phase for the Elective Hospital in Cork is ongoing, and plans will be refined based on the evidence and data available in relation to demand and capacity, as required by the Infrastructure Guidelines. The HSE is working through these plans at the moment, with an expectation that a planning application for Cork can be submitted later this year.
In relation to Dublin, demand modelling is currently underway, to ensure that we can meet our longer-term elective care capacity requirements. The modelling includes an assessment of current capacity/infrastructure and how it can be best utilised to meet future needs. On conclusion of this demand modelling work, the Preliminary Business Case for Dublin will be finalised.
Question No. 277 answered with Question No. 275.
Question No. 278 answered with Question No. 275.
Mental Health Services
Questions (279)
Marie Sherlock
Question:279. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time WTE psychiatrists per each CAMHS, per funded WTE, and per filled WTE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15503/26]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Strategies
Questions (280)
Richard O'Donoghue
Question:280. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if the Government can work with retailers and other manufacturers to fast-track, import, or increase the supply of alternative, safe baby formula brands to fill the gap left by the recalled SMA products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15542/26]
View answerWritten answers
In Ireland, responsibility for food safety, including the management and communication of food recalls, rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), which acts as the competent authority under food safety legislation.
FSAI leads the national response when a food safety risk is identified, this process is governed by EU food law, including Regulation (EC) 178/2002.
I am aware that recalls of infant and follow-on formula are concerning for parents, guardians and caregivers. I am aware of concerns regarding the supply of infant formula following reports of recalls in other jurisdictions. Based on information available to date, FSAI has advised my Department that there is no indication of a general shortage of infant formula in Ireland. The situation continues to be monitored closely, including through engagement with EU counterparts and suppliers.
I will continue to keep the situation under review and will be guided by the advice of the relevant public health and food safety authorities.
Artificial Intelligence
Questions (281)
Ged Nash
Question:281. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to set out the policy in her Department regarding the use of artificial intelligence; whether AI is used or permitted in drawing up policy documents, speeches, answers to parliamentary questions, press releases or for other official documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15620/26]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has an approved policy on the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is based on recommendations from the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform’s Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service. The default approach is that GenAI is not to be used for departmental business, unless there is an approved business case, following appropriate risk assessments. Where Gen AI is used to contribute, the policy states that it is not to be used to directly create official documents. My Department recognises the possibilities offered by AI and a pilot implementation is currently underway regarding possible use cases for internal use, including improved efficiency and productivity. This will inform decisions regarding the potential use of Gen AI in the future.
Ministerial Responsibilities
Questions (282)
Ciarán Ahern
Question:282. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide details of all occasions in which he or his predecessors exercised the power conferred on them under Section 15(3) of the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act (2015), which states that ‘the relevant Minister may, from time to time, give a direction to a relevant body requiring it to adopt such measures as are specified in the direction for the purposes of compliance by the relevant body with subsection (1)’; to provide the details of the direction given in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15244/26]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that the power referred to by the Deputy has not been exercised in respect of the tertiary education sector and no formal directions under that section have been issued.
Compliance and progress within the tertiary education sector in respect of climate mitigation and adaptation are monitored through established governance, regular engagement with the sector and robust oversight arrangements between my Department and the higher and further education institutions. These include structured reporting processes and ongoing performance monitoring against national climate targets through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) system.
All further and higher education institutions have submitted Climate Action roadmaps, required under the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate, which set out each institution's plans to reduce emissions, improve energy performance and strengthen climate resilience. They also provide a structured basis for monitoring delivery at institutional level and support alignment with sectoral climate objectives.
Additionally, my Department is finalising a Sectoral Decarbonisation Plan which is intended to guide the implementation and governance of decarbonisation measures across the tertiary sector education estate.
My Department will continue to support the tertiary sector to drive deployment of emissions reductions measures for the tertiary sector, through targeted guidance, regular engagement and robust performance oversight.
Overseas Study Placements
Questions (283)
Aidan Farrelly
Question:283. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to encourage greater participants by Mexican students in third level institutions and continuing educational opportunities in Ireland. [15447/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Higher Education Authority estimates that there were approximately 360 students from Mexico enrolled in Ireland's publicly funded higher education institutions (HEIs), in the 2024/25 academic year.
Enterprise Ireland, under the Education in Ireland brand, promotes Ireland as a location for higher education as well as supporting Irish HEIs in, inter alia, the establishment of their brand globally. Mexico is one of the key markets where Education in Ireland is currently building brand awareness of Ireland as a higher education destination. The activity includes managing targeted social media campaigns in for Mexican students, participation in student fairs (postgraduate) in Mexico, engaging with key stakeholders (education agents, school counsellors, funding bodies) and providing market intelligence, for HEIs, on trends and opportunities in Mexico.
Furthermore, in October 2023, my Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Technology of the State of Jalisco of the United Mexican States for the purposes of academic and student mobility and exchange of information in the higher education field.
Making Ireland a first-choice destination for international learners, researchers and innovators is a key pillar of Global Citizens 2030, Ireland’s international Talent & Innovation strategy.
Artificial Intelligence
Questions (284)
Ged Nash
Question:284. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to set out the policy in his Department regarding the use of artificial intelligence; whether AI is used or permitted in drawing up policy documents, speeches, answers to parliamentary questions, press releases or for other official documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15619/26]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is tasked with building skills in new technologies and assisting their rollout. My Department is currently considering potential uses for the adoption of AI in its work, and a working group has been established to progress this. My officials occasionally utilise these technologies when generating work product and the circumstances in which AI is currently used by my officials include textual work, summarising and workshop structuring. Any such work is undertaken in strict adherence with the Guidelines for the Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service published in May 2025, which provide a practical framework to assist Public Service Bodies in designing, developing and deploying AI in a manner that is ethical, transparent and aligned with public service values. All outputs are subject to rigorous quality reviews with the process involving engagement at multiple points by humans. All text is reviewed and verified by a human and there are no AI systems in place that process citizens' information. My Department continues to review and follow guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on the use of Artificial Intelligence.
Climate Change Policy
Questions (285)
Ciarán Ahern
Question:285. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide details of all occasions in which he or his predecessors exercised the power conferred on them under Section 15(3) of the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act (2015), which states that ‘the relevant Minister may, from time to time, give a direction to a relevant body requiring it to adopt such measures as are specified in the direction for the purposes of compliance by the relevant body with subsection (1)’; to provide the details of the direction given in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15249/26]
View answerWritten answers
Neither I nor my predecessors have issued any directions to relevant bodies pursuant to section 15(3) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. This reflects the fact that the bodies under the remit of my Department are not involved in energy or carbon intensive activities.
My Department is committed to meeting its obligations under the Climate Action Plan and Public Sector Climate Action Mandate. Central to this is the development of my Department’s annual Climate Action Roadmaps, which are available [at DRCDG Climate Action Roadmap]. The most recent Roadmap was published in October 2025, and it includes information on both measures taken with regard to reduce energy use within Departmental buildings, and how the Departments programmes are, for example, helping to engage communities with regard to climate action.
My Department was formed in 2017, and on 1 June 2025, following a transfer of functions, responsibility for the Gaeltacht was also transferred to my Department. As a result, there are now eight bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Western Development Commission, the Charities Regulator, Pobal, Water Safety Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge, the Ulster-Scots Agency, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Coimisinéir Teanga. I can confirm that all agencies are aware of the requirement to prepare Climate Action Roadmaps.