Written Answers Nos. 1013-1035
1013. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the rationale for creating multiple new managerial posts in each region to oversee radiography placements while no additional radiography practice tutors have been appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29667/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1016. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if she has concerns over the ventilation system in the National Children’s Hospital, Dublin; if her attention has been drawn to staff working for the State and for an organisation (details supplied) on the National Children’s Hospital were previously working on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Glasgow, where work on the ventilation system was found to be defective; and her views on whether there is a conflict of interest. [29672/26]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has advised that the acoustic issues in parts of the ventilation system in the National Children's Hospital Ireland (NCHI) were caused by poor workmanship and coordination of the works on behalf of BAM Ireland.
Despite being aware of these issues for over a year, remediation by BAM and its subcontractor has only recently begun. This matter and its resolution is entirely the responsibility of BAM. While these defects can and will be remedied, they are delaying the completion of the hospital.
The public enquiry into the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Glasgow, is ongoing, and its outcome report and findings will likely not be available for some time. However, the NPHDB has been tracking the purported issues raised within the enquiry as part of its due diligence to avoid similar issues arising within the NCHI.
Throughout the design and construction process, the NPHDB has sought to understand issues that have arisen at other international hospitals of similar scale and complexity, and to adopt any appropriate lessons learned. The NPHDB has been clear that the purported issues raised in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Glasgow enquiry regarding ventilation system air change rates and the selection of isolation rooms for immunocompromised patients are not an issue for NCHI. The NPHDB has advised that the design of the NCHI is compliant with the recommendations set out in the Health Technical Memoranda and has been agreed with Children’s Health Ireland.
The responsibility to review and validate BAM’s Work as compliant with the Contract rests with the Design Team and the Employer’s Representative, not with the any individual member of the NPHDB. The NPHDB has advised that the individual referenced by the Deputy has no responsibility for contractual matters and therefore there is no conflict of interest arising from the matters raised by the Deputy.
1017. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Health if she has engaged with the Department of Education and Youth or other education stakeholders in relation to the need to have a more co-ordinated approach to medical emergencies in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29676/26]
View answerI am informed by my colleague the Minister for Education and Youth that the Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils. In this regard it is important that the school management authority requests parents to ensure that the school in question is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any pupil. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise due to a pupil's ongoing medical condition it may be possible for the school's management to ensure that appropriate treatment is made available.
Concerning my own Department, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) through its Community Engagement Team is dedicated to community engagement through various initiatives including support for Community First Responders (CFRs). In addition, the Health Service Executive (HSE) offers advice on its website that schools or sports clubs can readily access as per the below.
www2.hse.ie/conditions/head-injury-concussion/
www2.hse.ie/conditions/sprains-and-strains/
1018. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health to address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29679/26]
View answer1019. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons based at Galway University Hospital. [29682/26]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
1020. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric physiotherapists posts filled at CHO2 primary care services as of 20 April 2026, in tabular form. [29683/26]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
1021. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language posts filled at CHO2 disability services as of 20 April 2026, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29684/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1022. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior dental surgeons in special needs currently in CHO2 primary care services, in tabular form. [29685/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1023. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide the total expenditure at the mortuary services of the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar for each of the past two years; the breakdown of that expenditure by category, including but not limited to staffing costs, agency staffing, equipment, maintenance, contracted services, and any capital or infrastructure-related spending, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29701/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1024. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels at the mortuary services of the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, including whole-time equivalent posts and vacancies, by role; to provide the same information for each of the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29702/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1025. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Community Care Record Programme, including its current status, original and revised timelines for delivery; the extent to which these timelines have been met to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29736/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1026. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the way in which the Community Care Record Programme aligns with or will be integrated into, the planned One Health Record system, including whether there is any duplication of investment, functionality, or infrastructure between the two initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29737/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1027. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure to date on the Community Care Record Programme; the projected final cost, and any anticipated additional costs arising from alignment or integration with the One Health Record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29738/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1028. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health to provide an assessment of the clinical, operational and public benefits expected from the Community Care Record Programme, including measurable impacts on patient outcomes, care coordination and service efficiency within the timeframe preceding the one health record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29739/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1029. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the risks identified regarding the financial or clinical viability of continuing the Community Care Record Programme in parallel with the development of the One Health Record; whether consideration has been given to pausing or subsuming the programme within the broader One Health Record initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29740/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1030. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if a cost-benefit analysis or independent review has been conducted comparing the standalone continuation of the Community Care Record Programme versus full investment into the One Health Record; if so, to provide the findings of such analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29741/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1031. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure compliance with cleaning and hygiene protocols at Mayo University Hospital; whether any audits or inspections relating to cleanliness have been carried out at the hospital during 2024 and 2025; if any deficiencies were identified; if she will provide details of any remedial actions taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29746/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1032. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the cleaning and hygiene standards currently in place at Mayo University Hospital; the frequency with which wards, bathrooms, floors and patient surfaces are cleaned; whether these standards meet national infection prevention and control guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29748/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1033. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current visitor policy at Mayo University Hospital; the way in which visitor numbers and visiting times are enforced on wards where patients are medically vulnerable; whether any reviews have been undertaken following concerns about overcrowding and disturbance to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29749/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1034. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the infection prevention and control procedures in place at Mayo University Hospital when a confirmed case of Covid-19 is identified on a ward; whether all patients and staff are tested and appropriate isolation measures implemented in such circumstances; if she is satisfied that these procedures are being consistently followed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29750/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1035. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health to review correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29765/26]
View answerIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
I published the Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) for 2026 on January 30th, as part of this Government’s ongoing commitment to improving access to hospital care and reducing waiting times for patients.
Since the commencement of the multi-annual Action Plan approach in September 2021, significant progress has been made in reducing the length of time patients are waiting.
These improvements have been achieved against the backdrop of increased demand for planned care services. Addressing this increased demand, while also working to sustainably reduce waiting times will require the health service to deliver more core activity through improved productivity and efficiencies, through ongoing reform and new enabling supports, and through targeted additional capacity.
The WTAP sets out six overarching and interconnected targets, which will be achieved through the delivery of 36 actions under the themes of “Reforming Planned Care”, “Enabling Planned Care” and “Capacity Optimisation”.
With the 2026 plan, we will continue to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, moving towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD), the CBD 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 CBD enables persons resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for healthcare in another Member State by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
Reimbursement under this scheme is made at the lesser of either the cost of the treatment in the Public Health Service in Ireland, or the cost of the treatment incurred by the patient in the other State. Details are available from the HSE's CBD National Contact Point (NCP) including on the HSE CBD website. It is important to note that reimbursement is confined to the costs of the care itself and does not include any additional costs, such as travel or accommodation costs, incurred by the patient. Reimbursement rates are set by the HSE. And are those applicable to the cost of treatment in the Public Health Service in Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS) has been in operation since 1 January 2021. This Scheme was introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit.
The current administrative scheme enables persons ordinarily resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland. Such healthcare will be reimbursed at the cost of providing that treatment in the public health service in the State or the cost of same in Northern Ireland, whichever is the lesser. Further information is available on the HSE Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare website. www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/niphs/
Patients are advised to contact the HSE CBD or NIPHS office directly for further information on individual applications for reimbursement under the most appropriate scheme, contact details are available on the HSE CBD website and HSE NIPHS website.
Under the Health Act 2004, the 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 queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
