Written Answers Nos. 859-879
859. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS WTE vacancies in CHO7; the length of time these roles have been vacant for; the number of patients waiting for an appointment in the area; if she will report on the recruitment campaign to fill these vacant posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16629/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
860. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if financial assistance can be given to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16636/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
861. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason it is taking so long for a child (details supplied) to receive CDNT appointments. [16641/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
862. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if she will address and resolve the unfair and unprecedented change to established practice of granting contracts to persons who successfully complete training (details supplied). [16642/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
863. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if she has engaged with Epilepsy Ireland regarding their call to expand the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16643/26]
View answer864. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16644/26]
View answer888. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if she will consider expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16850/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 863, 864 and 888 together.
The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period.The CDM Programme represents a new approach in Ireland to working with patients to manage their healthcare. It has brought the care for chronic disease further into the community and closer to the patient, and has reduced hospital attendance by patients with one or more of the specified conditions.The Programme was rolled out on a phased basis since it was first introduced in 2020. It has since been expanded, with a further expansion planned in the coming months. The Programme was expanded in 2023 to include hypertension and to include women who have had gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. Work is currently underway to further expand the Programme to include Chronic Kidney Disease, among other conditions. Further expansion of the Programme to include additional conditions would require rigorous clinical assessment and engagement with various stakeholders, including the GPs delivering the service. Nonetheless, this could be considered in the future in the context of resource availability. I have received correspondence from Epilepsy Ireland in relation to the possible inclusion of epilepsy in the Programme and my Department is currently considering the content of that correspondence.
865. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether her Department is reviewing the potential inclusion of Shingrix in the national immunisation programme for over 65s; if any timelines, assessments or consultations are currently underway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16645/26]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice. The current NIAC guidelines state that the shingles vaccine may be considered for those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule. HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact. While the vaccine is considered safe and effective, its protective effect diminishes over time. HIQA also noted the substantial budget impact associated with vaccination. If made available to everyone aged 65 and older, vaccination would cost €218 million over five years. Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%. Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process. My Department considered the findings of this HTA in 2024 and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable. I can confirm that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individuals, in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost effectiveness of market pricing and available funding.
866. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to reach out to this family and make sure the situation is resolved. [16647/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
867. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if she will consider meeting with organisations (details supplied) to discuss the gaps in maternity care in Ireland, ahead of the publication of the new National Maternity Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16651/26]
View answer868. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to outline the work conducted by her Department to date on updating the National Maternity Strategy; to list the individuals and organisations she has met with as part of this updated strategy; and when it is expected to see the publication of the new National Maternity Strategy. [16652/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 867 and 868 together.
The continued improvement of our maternity services is a priority for this Government, as outlined across a number of Programme for Government commitments, including a commitment to develop a successor to the current National Maternity Strategy. The National Maternity Strategy - Creating a Better Future Together 2016 - 2026 is in its final year. Determining the future direction of maternity services will require a strong and comprehensive evidence base. A review of the implementation of the current National Maternity Strategy will provide an important starting point. At the start of 2026, 98% of the actions of the Strategy are either implemented or in progress. There is work ongoing on outstanding actions to be completed in the Strategy's final year. This is being supported by a review that is being undertaken by the HSE into the implementation of the Strategy’s actions, which is including engagement with staff across maternity services. A full assessment of the delivery of the Strategy will form a key part of the considerations for the successor to be delivered in 2027. Further work is being undertaken by the Department and the HSE to collate robust evidence base from which this successor will draw. This includes learnings from the recently published National Maternity Experience Survey 2025, where over 3,300 women participated, to ensure that women’s voices and experiences continue to be at the centre of maternity policy. An external and impartial evaluation of the delivery of the National Maternity Strategy will be undertaken this year. Further structured stakeholder consultation will then take place in preparation for the successor to ensure it reflects the voice and experiences of women, families, experts, and frontline staff. My Department will continue to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the successor to the Strategy builds on the progress achieved to date and sets a clear and deliverable roadmap for the continued improvement of maternity services.
869. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current c-section rate in each maternity hospital in Ireland; if she is aware that the WHO advises a c-section rate of no more than 15%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16653/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
870. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing a chief midwifery officer at the executive level of the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16654/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
871. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to direct-entry midwifery students being unable to work in primary care centres; if she will consider rectifying this barrier to recognise the invaluable role of dedicated midwives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16655/26]
View answerUndergraduate student nurses and midwives complete clinical placements as supernumerary students; meaning their status as students is protected and they are not subject to missing essential learning time through working status. These students are not employees and are additional to the workforce in a learning capacity and are therefore not paid. The final year internship placement for student nurses and midwives consists of a continual 36-week rostered clinical placement, including annual leave. The internship placement is a paid placement and individual student nurses and midwives are considered as 0.5 WTE of the workforce. This ensures reduced supervision remains in place to support final learning weeks. As the HSE is responsible for the provision of practice placements for student nurses and midwives, this will be referred directly to the HSE for answer.
872. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current status of the proposed mother and baby psychiatric unit; the location of the proposed site; the number of mother and baby units advised to be in place in Ireland per the population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16656/26]
View answerThe Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (SPMHS) is now available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide, providing support to pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old, with an existing or new mental health problem. Funding of €5 million annually has established 6 consultant led multidisciplinary teams across major maternity hospitals (Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Cork, Limerick), and 13 spoke sites staffed by perinatal mental health midwife posts. There are now over 75 funded posts in SPMHS nationally.
Under Budget 2026, I secured an additional €640,000 to recruit two additional consultant psychiatrists for the Programme’s busiest sites, the Rotunda and Holles Street, to meet growing demand for the service.
The HSE are progressing a review of the Model of Care for SPMHS, with a Steering Group due to be established shortly and a refreshed model published later this year. The key objective of this refresh is the provision of equivalent service to the major hospital sites as for the other 13 spoke sites, and this will be the focus of this second phase of the Model of Care.
A key priority under this Model of Care is to develop a Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit (PMBU). Work is ongoing by the HSE to progress the development of an PMBU for Ireland, an inpatient mental health service with relevant maternity support to allow women to stay with their babies during their mental health treatment.
To meet the needs of new mothers with moderate to severe mental illness, the PMBU must be sited at a location with access to a maternity hospital as well as an acute mental health unit. This will ensure there is always mental health and maternity expertise available. As such, it is envisaged that the PMBU will be developed on the grounds of St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, and a feasibility study is currently underway to determine a location within the campus, with the study due to conclude shortly. The outcome of the study will form the basis for the next key decisions on the project. HSE Mid-West have also included the development of a six-bed PMBU in Limerick on the HSE Capital Plan for 2026 to serve pregnant and new mothers in the West of the country.
With reference to the information requested as this is an operational issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
873. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current location and staffing levels, by role, of each postnatal hub; to indicate empty positions, if any, in each hub; and to outline the planned locations for future postnatal hubs. [16657/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
874. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed licensing system for retailers selling vaping products and cigarettes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16667/26]
View answerThe requirement for a licence to sell tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products, as set out in The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 came into effect on the 2nd of February 2026.
There are three licenses available:
1. Tobacco Products
2. Nicotine Inhaling Products
3. Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products
The licensing system is managed by the National Environmental Health Service.
This licensing system fulfils the legislative commitments made in Tobacco Free Ireland and is intended to contribute to improvement of the enforcement of tobacco control and related law as well as reflect the seriousness of the harms caused by tobacco compared to other products.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in Ireland and is responsible for 4,500 deaths here each year. Smoking related deaths are mainly due to cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and heart disease. It is the Government’s objective to eliminate tobacco use in order to address the enormous burden of disease that it continues to cause in our population.
875. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she will consider the inclusion of plenadren, a life-saving medication for adrenal insufficiency, under the HSE hardship fund; if she will consider the appeal case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16674/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter and under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices, this question has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
877. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of business cases for development and capital spend submitted by Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny; the stage each one is at in the process of consideration and approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16698/26]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
878. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of qualified care assistants that have been Garda vetted and are available to take up duties delivering home care hours in the community, which are on the HSE panel in the CHO5 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16699/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
879. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health to provide the staffing levels and medical qualifications for each model 3 hospital; whether each hospital is expected to provide the same range of medical services; the steps being taken to fund model 3 hospitals that are not delivering the optimum services; the level of funding provided for each level 3 hospital in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16700/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
