Written Answers Nos. 564-589
564. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans to institute a mandatory transition pathway from CAMHS to AMHS for patients with diagnosed eating disorders, given that many patients currently experience a lapse in care in moving between the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18040/26]
View answer565. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of specialist WTE posts dealing with eating disorders are currently vacant across the HSE; where those posts located; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18041/26]
View answer566. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand existing services to tackle eating disorders, especially with a view to achieving an equitable regional distribution in service provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18042/26]
View answer567. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans to review the 2018 Model of Care treating Eating Disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18043/26]
View answer568. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if she will collect comprehensive national data on patients presenting with eating disorders, including those at emergency departments and at GP clinics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18044/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 564, 565, 566, 567 and 568 together.
The National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed well with the total number of 16 eating disorder teams under the Model of Care now fully funded. This includes 11 teams now operational and a further 5 teams in recruitment and development, as per the Model of Care. The HSE spends over €14 million on eating disorders services annually. Over 110 dedicated eating disorder clinicians from the National Clinical Programme are now working on the teams across the country, treating people with eating disorders every day. Enhancement for specialist mental health services including eating disorders is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government as a whole, and the Health Service Executive (HSE). HSE data from the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders for 2025 shows increases in activity across referrals, assessments, diagnoses and access to treatment. In 2025, over 900 referrals were received, 600 assessments were completed, with a 13% increase in the number of people starting treatment for an eating disorder. 75% of patients were assessed within eight weeks. Our current focus is on completing and implementing the existing Model of Care and supporting the rollout of additional teams. Once this is complete, an evaluation will be undertaken, after which the Model of Care will be reviewed by the HSE. The HSE report on inpatient bed capacity required for eating disorders was forwarded to my Department for consideration in July 2025. Accordingly, the recommendations for enhanced bed capacity for eating disorders have now been included in the National Development Plan. In addition, as Minister I secured funding from Budget 2026 for two new eating disorder teams, a CAMHS team to serve the South east, and an Adult team to serve counties Galway and Roscommon. This will assist more people with an eating disorder requiring access to specialist eating disorder mental health services. As this relates to an operational issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to you.
569. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health to make acarizax available under the drug payment scheme; to recommend a course of action for a family facing unmanageable prescription charges due to having to pay for it, in addition to other medications which are on the drug payment scheme, but still cost €80; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18051/26]
View answerThe HSE is committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible, in as timely a fashion as possible, from the resources available (provided) to it. The HSE robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds. There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed through the Drugs Payment Scheme. The HSE considers the following criteria prior to making any decision on pricing / reimbursement, in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013:
(1) The health needs of the public,
(2) The cost effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services,
(3) The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement,
(4) The proposed costs, benefits, and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks,
(5) The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item,
(6) The clinical need for the item or listed item,
(7) The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety,
(8) The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies) and,
(9) The resources available to the HSE.
In terms of the specific details of the application for pricing and reimbursement of house dust mite extract (Acarizax®): The HSE received a complete application for pricing and reimbursement of house dust mite extract (Acarizax®) on the 10th December 2025 from ALK-Abello (the applicant) indicated in patients (5-65 years) diagnosed by clinical history and a positive test of house dust mite sensitisation (skin prick test and/or specific IgE) with persistent moderate to severe house dust mite allergic rhinitis despite use of symptom-relieving medication. Further information on the progress of house dust mite extract (Acarizax®) through the HSE assessment and approval processes is available via the Pricing and Reimbursement Application tracker available at https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cpu/ . HSE application ID HSE100082 has been assigned to this application. The application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
570. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to resolve the situation in south Kildare and west Wicklow, where the health service is operating with a staffing vacancy rate of 44%, there is insufficient capacity to meet current clinical demand , and a routine referral to see a physiotherapist in south Kildare and west Wicklow is currently a 77-week waiting time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18055/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
571. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the percentage of those studying medicine in higher education institutions in the State at present and in each of the past five years who are non-EU students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18056/26]
View answerThis PQ should be directed to the Department of Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science as the topic raised in this PQ is under their remit.
573. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the delay in progressing the development of the new Paediatric Unit in Cork University Hospital, given that it was granted planning permission in 2022 (details supplied); the current timeline for construction and opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18062/26]
View answerCork University Hospital (CUH) has significant development ambitions, including multi-storey blocks to expand inpatient bed capacity, Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department capacity, the paediatric unit development, and the completion of the new surgical hub in 2026. Every effort is being made to support the development of the paediatric unit since the grant of planning in 2022. The level of complexity involved in moving the paediatric development from planning to construction was foreseen and duly considered by CUH and the HSE in the sequencing and management of the project. The project is progressing through the requisite incremental approval stages in line with the Capital Works Management Framework and the Infrastructure Guidelines. After receipt of planning permission the project moved to detailed design stage—progressing the design work from outline/scheme level required for planning approval to the full technical detail, including detailed plans, sections, elevations, structural engineering and the mechanical & electrical engineering elements, which are fundamental to the design of hospital facilities in terms of safety, infection control, clinical care, resilience, and efficiency. The development is presently on track to appoint a main contractor in Q1 2027, subject to further approvals. In parallel, a substantial package of enabling works, which started in 2024, was required to support the new paediatric unit and wider CUH campus redevelopment. These works include the design and construction of a new internal road with a large retaining wall at the rear of the site, and the introduction of a one-way traffic system so that construction traffic can be managed alongside the existing traffic on site. Works are ongoing at present to clear existing structures on the location of the new paediatric unit. These works will include the demolition of an existing ward and storage wing, scheduled to begin in Q2 2026. Laboratory and welfare accommodation will also be relocated to allow for construction of the new paediatric unit. All of these works will enable the main contractor, once appointed, to commence construction on a clear site to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose healthcare paediatric inpatient facility at CUH. Once completed the paediatric unit will deliver 82 much-needed new and replacement inpatient beds, including 6 High Dependency beds and 4 Haematology/Oncology beds. It will also include 2 palliative care suites. The paediatric development is part of the first phase of major campus developments at CUH of significant scale, cost, and complexity. A considerable amount of planning has been undertaken to ensure developments, such as the paediatric unit, are right-sized, clinically and health-planning informed, achievable and, ultimately, affordable.
574. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant neurosurgeons at Cork University Hospital in 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18063/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
575. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2424 of 13 January 2026, the status of the community nursing units located at St. Finbarr’s Cork, Midleton, Thomastown and Clonmel; if any have been handed over to the HSE; if not, the timeline for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18073/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
576. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if her Department plans to engage staff from the private sector who work in accountancy and corporate law firms to work in her Department during the course of the upcoming EU Presidency term; the terms under which such staff will be engaged; the number of staff her Department plans to hire; the measures planned to guard against potential conflicts of interest between her Department and parent companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18088/26]
View answerAt this stage of our planning for the upcoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, my Department has no plans to engage staff from the private sector who work in accountancy and corporate law firms to work in the Department during the course of the upcoming EU Presidency term.
581. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health following on from the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025, her plans to deal with the sale and advertising of nicotine pouches targeted at minors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18107/26]
View answerThe Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill was approved by Government for publication on the 3rd of March. In addition to the comprehensive measures in the Bill on nicotine inhaling products it will also set out baseline regulation of all current and future products that contain nicotine, such as nicotine pouches.The Bill will:
• Prohibit the sale of nicotine consumption products such as pouches to those under 18.
• Prohibit the advertising of nicotine consumption products in all retail outlets and prohibit their point-of-sale display in mixed retail outlets. Nicotine pouches are not currently subject to regulation under European Union tobacco control legislation. A harmonised EU-wide framework for regulating novel nicotine products would be the most effective approach, as it prevents regulatory circumvention through cross-border purchases. In this context and representing the views of Ireland and several other Member States, I have urged the European Commission to introduce new legislation at the earliest opportunity. Furthermore, I also have advocated for the inclusion of all novel nicotine products—such as nicotine pouches—within the scope of this proposal. I have also called for a prohibition on cross-border distance sales to ensure the integrity of national regulatory measures.
582. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff currently on sick leave or stress-related leave, by staff category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18110/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
583. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of bullying reported by HSE staff in the most recent year for which data is available, broken down by hospital group, CHO area and staff category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18111/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
584. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health for an update on ADHD services in CHO7; if there is a fully staffed team in place; the current wait time from referral to appointment, the number of referrals awaiting an appointment by year for the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18119/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
585. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if interim supports are in place for individuals living with ADHD who cannot currently access a public care pathway due to capacity issues within the system; if it is acknowledged by the health service that individuals in this position are mentally and financially impacted by the lack of access to services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18120/26]
View answerADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
This National Clinical Programme is based on multi-disciplinary community teams to diagnose and treat ADHD in adults. As Minister, I'm proud to have launched the Model of Care for Adult ADHD and to have resourced the establishment of the teams envisioned by the Model of Care. The ADHD Programme is funded with total funding of over €5 million on a recurring annual basis. As a result, there are 11 teams funded in the community, with 8 teams are currently operational with the remaining teams in recruitment. Most recently, the ADHD team which covers Cavan/Monaghan/Louth/ Meath became operational in November 2025.
In Budget 2025 I secured the funding to facilitate the roll out of all remaining Adult ADHD teams envisaged in the Model of Care, and all areas of the country will have a team operational by the end of this year.
In relation to the additional specific information requested as this is an operational matter , I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
586. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason 80 newly qualified paramedics who have completed a three year BSC in Paramedic Studies and all necessary examinations, placements and assessments will not move to permanent roles in the National Ambulance Service in what is a break from established practice. [18121/26]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service (NAS) is committed to continued expansion of its frontline workforce in 2026 through a series of planned new developments. As part of this, the HSE has confirmed that full-time, permanent contracts are available for all Year-Three graduates completing the Paramedic programme with NAS in 2026.
Graduates play a vital role in maintaining workforce capacity by filling vacancies arising from retirements and promotions, as well as supporting the creation of new posts linked to new service development under the National Service Plan. It is essential that NAS can prioritise the placement of these graduates to fill roles in areas with the greatest operational need.
To ensure a fair and transparent allocation of permanent posts, graduates have been asked to apply through a confined internal competition. This approach is consistent with recruitment processes used elsewhere in the health service. Graduates have been asked to select their three preferred locations within a region, and every effort will be made to accommodate first preferences. Where vacancies are oversubscribed, the process being implemented will ensure a fair and equitable allocation of roles.
While completing their BSc. (Hon) in Paramedic Studies, student paramedics hold a Specified Purpose Contract (SPC). As NAS works to fill the permanent positions, year-three graduates have been given a 16-week extension to their SPC to ensure continuity of service and employment for the graduates.
587. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant orthodontist posts currently vacant in HSE south-west Cork and Kerry, the plans to recruit same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18122/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
589. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the absence of a paediatric ophthalmology service currently in Nenagh primary care centre as the previous ophthalmologist retired; the steps that are being taken to recruit a suitably qualified ophthalmologist for this area; and when this person will be in position. [18144/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
