Niamh Smyth
Question:1036. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to expedite the reading of a scan (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29782/26]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (1036)
Written answers
Under 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1037)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:1037. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who having been referred two years ago for an MRI at University Hospital Limerick as part of their treatment has yet to receive an MRI appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29786/26]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1038, 1039, 1040, 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1038. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the evidential basis underpinning the decision to cease or substantially reduce the use of third-party insourcing arrangements within the public health system by 30 June 2026; the specific reviews, analyses, or policy papers informing this decision; and if she will provide the dates and authors of such documents. [29806/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1039. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted a formal impact assessment of the planned cessation or reduction of third-party insourcing on public patient waiting lists; if so, the projected effect on overall waiting list numbers and waiting times; and if she will provide the modelling assumptions used. [29807/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1040. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the additional in-house public system capacity, measured in theatre sessions, outpatient clinics, or equivalent activity, that is planned to replace activity currently delivered through third-party insourcing; and the timelines for delivery of this capacity.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29808/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1041. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her assessment of current waiting list trends, including total numbers and those waiting over 12 months, as reported by the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and how the planned reduction or cessation of insourcing aligns with the objective of reducing waiting lists. [29809/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1042. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific governance, procurement, or clinical concerns identified in relation to third-party insourcing arrangements which have informed the policy decision to reduce or cease such activity; and the steps taken to address those concerns short of ending insourcing. [29810/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1043. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a comparative cost-effectiveness analysis has been conducted between third-party insourcing, outsourcing via schemes such as the National Treatment Purchase Fund, and direct in-house provision; and if so, if she will provide a summary of findings. [29811/26]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:1044. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the contingency measures in place should waiting lists increase following the reduction or cessation of third-party insourcing; and whether provision exists to reintroduce such arrangements if required to protect patient access. [29812/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041, 1042, 1043 and 1044 together.
We are focused on having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
Government is committed to improving access to hospital care & reforming and reducing waiting times for patients through a range of measures, including those to increase capacity such as the establishment of surgical hubs.
Insourcing and outsourcing have been used as tactical responses to waiting list pressures. While they have delivered real benefits, they must be seen as transitional tools, not permanent fixtures.
In 2025, in light of concerns about an overreliance in the system on supplementary capacity, I asked the HSE CEO, to undertake a detailed survey of all insourcing activity within the HSE.
The review considered the background to, impact of, and future use of insourcing and outsourcing, with a specific focus on third-party insourcing. It also considered the reasons, benefits and safeguards in relation to third-party insourcing, and examined volume and costs. I published the full review on 1st July last year.
The review led to several measures being introduced to restrict the practice, with a view to cessation by the end of June 2026.
These measures have had an impact, and the current volume of third-party insourcing is not material, with less than 1% of activity in the first quarter provided in this manner as advised by the HSE Regions.
A number of initiatives are in place to manage any potential deficits due to cessation. These include:
• The progression of an HSE/NTPF Working Group to develop a private provider framework to coordinate outsourcing in planned care for OPD/IPDC and GI Scopes.
• Continuing the implementation of POCC contract, 5/7 working and implementation of Seven Day Services; increasing the level and volume of services that will be available earlier in the day, in the evening and at weekends in acute hospitals across 2026.
• Regular insourcing through the use of standard overtime for specialist clinics, directly organised by senior management that can be paid for by the HSE or the NTPF.
• Ongoing developments which enhance regional capacity such as the surgical hub in Dublin South, and the Merlin Park OPD initiative. Surgical Hubs in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Swords are all due to open on a phased basis this year.
• Productivity measures such as the OPD toolkit and the theatre capacity optimisation programme.
The multi-annual Action Plan approach was initiated in September 2021 to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times. We have seen significant progress in reducing the length of time patients are waiting under this approach, including a reduction of c.53% or c.150,000 less patients waiting over 12 months since September 2021. In the same period there was an improvement of c.43% or c.5.3 months in the Weighted Average Wait Time (WAWT) that patients across lists have been waiting.
Question No. 1039 answered with Question No. 1038.
Question No. 1040 answered with Question No. 1038.
Question No. 1041 answered with Question No. 1038.
Question No. 1042 answered with Question No. 1038.
Question No. 1043 answered with Question No. 1038.
Question No. 1044 answered with Question No. 1038.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1045)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1045. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of residential properties owned or managed by the Health Service Executive that are currently classified as vacant; the proportion of the overall residential estate this represents; and if she will provide a breakdown by Community Healthcare Organisation area. [29845/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1046)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1046. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive maintains a centralised dataset on the duration of vacancy for residential properties; if so, the average vacancy duration and the number of properties vacant for more than 12 months, more than 24 months, and more than five years. [29846/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1047)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1047. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy framework governing the timeframe within which a property must be assessed as surplus following vacancy; and whether any maximum or target timelines apply at this stage. [29847/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1048)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1048. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average and median time taken, over the past five years, from a property becoming vacant to classification as surplus, offer to the Land Development Agency, circulation on the State Property Register, and final disposal. [29848/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1049)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1049. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of properties offered by the Health Service Executive to the Land Development Agency in each of the past five years; the number accepted; and the number declined. [29849/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1050)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1050. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant or surplus residential properties transferred to other State bodies through the State Property Register in each of the past five years; and the end use of such properties where known. [29850/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1051)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1051. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive residential properties disposed of on the open market in each of the past five years; the total proceeds realised; and whether these disposals were benchmarked against independent market valuations. [29851/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1052)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1052. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any performance indicators, targets, or value-for-money metrics are applied by her Department or the Health Service Executive in relation to the management and disposal of vacant residential properties; and if so, to provide details. [29852/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1053)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1053. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the nature and format of quarterly reports received from the Health Service Executive regarding property disposal; whether these reports are standardised; and whether she will provide a sample template or summary structure of such reporting. [29853/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Vacant Properties
Questions (1054)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1054. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether consideration has been given to prioritising the reuse of vacant Health Service Executive residential properties for social or affordable housing purposes under Government policy, including Housing for All; and if so, the mechanisms in place to achieve this. [29854/26]
View answerWritten answers
My Department engages with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the LDA in relevant work including in the context of the Housing for All subgroup on State Lands, "Delivering Homes, Building Communities" 2025-2031: An Action Plan on Housing Supply & Targeting Homelessness, and the LDA Report on Relevant Public Land.
Queries in relation to the LDA, Housing For All, and the 2025-2031 Action Plan should be directed in the first instance to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing.
My Department and the HSE will continue to work collaboratively with all key stakeholders in relation to its surplus assets as part of an all-of-Government approach to increasing housing stock.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1055)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1055. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any non-statutory bodies, other than the Institute of Public Health, receive direct or indirect funding from her Department or agencies under its remit; and if so, to provide a list of such bodies and the funding amounts allocated in each of the past five years. [29855/26]
View answerWritten answers
The All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1056)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1056. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total annual funding provided to the Institute of Public Health in each of the past five years; and the specific programmes or outputs this funding was intended to support. [29856/26]
View answerWritten answers
The All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.
The total annual funding to the IPH provided by the Department in each of the past five years is:
|
Financial Year |
Annual funding € |
|
2025 |
1,658,000 |
|
2024 |
1,484,000 |
|
2023 |
1,377,000 |
|
2022 |
1,377,000 |
|
2021 |
1,377,000 |
The specific outputs this funding supported was:
2021
• Publication of the North South Physical Activity Report Card for Children 2021 as part of a global database of 30 countries.
• Joint Research Programme with the ESRI: an epidemiological study of inequalities in child, adult, and maternal mortality in the Republic of Ireland, 2000- 2017
• Irish Research Council Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme PhD: Examining Corporate Lobbying and Public Health Advocacy: a critical discourse analysis
• Adult Exposure to Alcohol Advertising Study NI and ROI
• Adult Exposure to Gambling Advertising Study NI and ROI
• Developed the evidence base to inform the consideration of gambling regulations from a population health perspective
• Tobacco Report:Factors influencing the pathways to tobacco addiction based on analysis of longitudinal data on children and young adults in the Republic of Ireland
• Tobacco Report: Patterns of smoking and stop smoking attempts among older people based on analysis of longitudinal data in the Republic of Ireland
• Tobacco, Alcohol Harm Publication of academic journal article ‘Patterns of tobacco and alcohol consumption during ‘lockdown’ in the Republic of Ireland
• Loneliness Evidence review and primary research on loneliness in older people
• Loneliness Evidence review on loneliness in Ireland, North and South – including typologies of loneliness
• Making Life Better Report on Health in all Policies (HiAP) Approaches in the context of ‘Making Life Better’
• Alcohol Harm: Public Health Alcohol Research Group Membership, secretariat, and project support for monitoring of the Public Health Alcohol Act (2018).
• Tobacco Control: Assessment of capacity and accessibility of HSE-supported stop smoking services.
• COVID-19: eight weekly evidence review of Making Life Better key indicators.
• Completed the Healthy Workplace Framework evidence review
• Women’s Health Taskforce: Membership and ‘critical friend’ role
• Evidence review on arts and creativity - the implications for health and wellbeing in older adults.
• Economic evaluation of arts and creativity interventions
• Development of Toolkit for evaluating interventions in arts and creativity to inform future design of programmes.
• Launch of report on focus group findings on adult safeguarding.
• Provide research and facilitation support to the DoH (Ireland) in their consultation on adult safeguarding within the health and social care sector to inform the development of a national policy/framework.
• Report on safeguarding policy considerations.
• Published updated Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Guidance 2021
• Chair and secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group
• Facilitated stakeholder engagement for The Health Foundation COVID-19 Impact Inquiry in Northern Ireland
• Co-ordinated informal North South Network on Loneliness and Ageing
• Co-ordinated informal North South Network on Physical Activity and Older People
• Alcohol Harm ACorN Group: Network of alcohol researchers in UK and Ireland. Secretariat and membership.
• Tobacco SHINE Smoke free home innovation network Membership
• Ageing SHINE Smoke free home innovation network Membership
• Hosted a six-seminar series with expert contributors on commercial determinants of health, conflicts of interest, public health and the law.
2022
• Provided oral and written evidence to Oireachtas Joint Committees on Health and Justice on tobacco, nicotine and gambling legislation.
• Inform and support policy development on Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol in Northern Ireland through modelling, research commissioning, and policy analysis.
• Co-funded A review of alcohol liaison services in the context of the management of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease in an acute hospital setting’. Partners: the Department of Hepatology, Alcohol Liaison Care Team and HSE Alcohol Programme.
• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all- island cooperation on alcohol policy.
• Support implementation and review of Tobacco Free Ireland through stakeholder engagement and evidence synthesis.
• Supported the end-of-term review of Northern Ireland’s Tobacco Control Strategy through commissioned evidence reviews and analysis.
• Ongoing contribution to the evidence base informing Tobacco 21 policy development in Ireland.
• Provided evidence and policy analysis to support the development of gambling regulation in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Commissioned and disseminate research on inequalities in mortality to inform policy responses to health inequalities.
• Highlighted data gaps and system needs to strengthen monitoring and the reduction of health inequalities.
• Delivered analysis to support whole systems approaches to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland.
• Produced evidence reviews and policy mapping to inform obesity prevention strategy development.
• Commenced behavioural segmentation analysis of healthy weight behaviours among adults to inform policy and service design.
• Published the Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents, highlighting inequalities.
• Developed guidance and training for health professionals to support physical activity in older age.
• Commenced a peer-led physical activity intervention study for older adults in socio-economically disadvantaged communities, ‘Walk with Me’
• Expanded Health Impact Assessment capacity through the dissemination of updated guidance and the development of training and digital learning resources.
• Developed and delivered online HIA training to support a Health in All Policies approach (Introduction to Health Impact Assessment training module).
• Supported the development of a community of practice for HIA across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Co-hosted all-island knowledge-exchange events examining climate change, health impacts and policy responses.
• Provided evidence on air pollution and the environmental determinants of health to inform policy discussions.
• Develop a digital learning platform to support professional development in public health (Public Health Matters learning platform).
• Created a curated free-to-use image bank to support positive representation of ageing (How We Age all-island photography competition and Image Gallery).
• Developed a discussion paper on the development of a multi-disciplinary public health workforce in Ireland.
• Coordinated and hosted the Joint North South Public Health Conference on the theme ’Healthy Planet, Healthy People’.
2023
• Promoted and disseminate guidance and training for health professionals to support older people to have more physically active lives (Generating Active Lives in Older People).
• Published an analysis of physical activity levels in older adults in Ireland and Northern Ireland using Health Survey Northern Ireland and Healthy Ireland data.
• Finalised and launch a consultation report on Home Care Services.
• Designed and delivered an analysis of stakeholder consultation on safeguarding older and vulnerable persons.
• Published report: Applying psycho-behavioural segmentation analysis to understand healthy weight management behaviours in Northern Ireland.
• Provided support to the Public Health Agency (PHA) Working Group on the Analysis of Public Attitudes and Perceptions Survey on Frailty (Northern Ireland).
• Published a briefing paper on Whole Systems Approaches to Obesity with academic partners (Northern Ireland).
• Published an Obesity Policy Matrix evidence review and Obesity Policy Mapping.
• Provided a health equity and health inequalities perspective on the Women’s Health Action Plan.
• Provided evidence to support the development of the Public Health Obesity Act and other regulatory approaches to obesity prevention, including the Online Media Safety Regulation Bill.
• Participated in the Healthy Weight for Children HSE Oversight Group by sharing evidence review outputs from Northern Ireland policy.
• Responded to a consultation on banning disposable vape products in Ireland.
• Provided evidence to the Joint Committee on Justice on the Sale of Alcohol Bill, including a written submission as part of pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill and an oral presentation to the Joint Committee.
• Hosted a seminar on Alcohol-Related Liver Disease on the island of Ireland, with input from experts.
• Irish Research Council Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme PhD: Examining Corporate Lobbying and Public Health Advocacy: a critical discourse analysis. Year 2
• Collaboration with HSE Health and Wellbeing on guidance on conflicts of interest and the commercial determinants of health.
• Commissioned a review of the health and economic impacts of the use of sunbeds in Ireland.
• Developed a profile of gambling behaviours and harms among 16-year-olds in Ireland to inform regulation and the development of policies and programmes (Using data from the European Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs).
• Public Health Alcohol Research Group (PHARG) Membership, secretariat, and project support for monitoring of the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018.
• Provide evidence to the Northern Ireland All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Harm, as part of an APG inquiry into gambling harms.
• Contributed to the oversight of the Substance Use Strategy in Northern Ireland, Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery.
• Completed Tobacco Control Strategy End Review Northern Ireland, including Stakeholder Engagement Report, Tobacco and Mental Ill Health in Northern Ireland, Reducing Second Hand Smoke Exposures, and Summary of government-commissioned evidence reviews of e-cigarettes, and Inequalities in Smoking in Northern Ireland.
• End of Term Review of Northern Ireland’s Breastfeeding Strategy.
• Devised and developed a case study on Health Impact Assessment to support and complement the HIA training course.
• Delivered HIA training to students taking the Queen's University Belfast Master’s in Public Health programme and Public Health Medicine Trainees in Ireland (via the Faculty of Public Health in Ireland)
• Reviewed the experience and learning needs of students who have undertaken HIA training.
• Collaborated with the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) to develop a competency framework for HIA training accreditation.
• Participated in the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Health Working Group.
• Participated in Environmental Protection Agency-funded project: Toolkit for Proportionate and Consistent Consideration of Population and Human Health in Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Participated in Health Research Board-funded project: Development of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Implementation Model: Enhancing Intersectoral Approaches in Tackling Health Inequalities.
• Published an analysis of Loneliness data in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Coordinated and host the Joint North South Public Health Conference to focus on the theme of health inequalities: ‘The Health-Wealth Divide: Leaving No One Behind'.
• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all?island cooperation on alcohol policy.
• Published a Discussion Paper: Considering a Multi-disciplinary Public Health Workforce in Ireland.
• Participated in a Public Health Ethics and Law Network (PHELN) event: When Borders Change - Public Health, Trade and the Role of Law in the UK and Ireland (Edinburgh Law School).
• Commissioned a study on cross-border purchasing between Ireland and Northern Ireland before, and after, the implementation of minimum pricing for alcoholic drinks: Repeat cross-sectional surveys of adults in Ireland.
• Supported ACORN Network to foster alcohol policy research in the UK and Ireland.
• Completed application to seek recognition as a ‘research performing organisation’.
• Provided statement to the UK Covid Inquiry – Module 2C.
2024
• Published the Economy of Wellbeing Report developed for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.
• Governance of Interactions with Unhealthy Commodity Industries: Report and Guidance - University of Stirling, IPH and HSE Health and Wellbeing: focus group design commenced.
• Irish Research Council Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme PhD: Examining Corporate Lobbying and Public Health Advocacy: a critical discourse analysis. Year 3
• ‘Walk With Me’ Study: A feasibility study and pilot RCT of a peer-led walking programme to increase physical activity in inactive older adults (Northern Ireland).
• Published research examining 'Perceptions of gambling marketing among young adult gamblers in Ireland’.
• Commissioned research examining the marketing strategies used to promote the use of sunbeds in Ireland (co-funded with the HSE National Cancer Control Programme)
• Reviewed of Breastfeeding Strategy in Northern Ireland.
• Produced evidence syntheses on the health effects of vaping in children and adolescents, including systematic review evidence and peer-reviewed academic publications.
• Responded to consultations and parliamentary inquiries on public health approaches to gambling-related harms in Northern Ireland.
• Knowledge Translation for End of Term Review of Northern Ireland’s Tobacco Strategy.
• Supported EPA Research Project: Toolkit for Proportionate and Consistent Consideration of Population and Human Health in Strategic Environmental Assessment.
• Launch of Arts and Creativity and Wellbeing in Older Years Learning Pathways and Toolkit.
• Prison Health Framework in Ireland (Scoping and planning).
• Developed a report on the Safeguarding Public Consultation for the Department of Health in Ireland.
• Further developed ‘How We Age’ image bank by hosting a second all-island photography competition.
• Provided policy evidence and analysis to inform tobacco and nicotine legislation in Ireland and Northern Ireland, including engagement on the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
• Published a new HIA case study to provide practical, applied guidance for policymakers and practitioners.
• Produced reports and policy briefs on Wellbeing Economy approaches, highlighting the role of economic policy in supporting population health and sustainability across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Contributed evidence to inform prevention policy debates, including nutrition and folic acid fortification.
• Supported data analyses to inform tobacco and e-cigarette regulation in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Hosted an event in Stormont on ‘Reducing Alcohol Harms in Northern Ireland: The potential of Minimum Unit Pricing’, aimed at MLAs, officials from government departments and statutory agencies, clinicians and wider civil society.
• IPH Director of Policy appointed to Chair Alcohol Act Technical Evaluation Group, IPH to provide secretariat and project support.
• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all island cooperation on alcohol policy.
• Conducted a survey on HIA training needs and develop a report to summarise findings.
• Relaunched Public Health Specialty Training (Northern Ireland).
2025
• Proposed priorities to inform any successor to Making Life Better (NI) and the Healthy Ireland Framework and Strategic Action Plan (2023-2025).
• Contributed to the development of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 (Healthy Ireland) and the Northern Ireland Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy and Action Plan.
• Co-hosted event with HSE NCCP on ‘Lessons from Australia’s sunbed ban and future policy options to reduce skin cancer risk in Ireland’.
• Supported the Departments of Health in Ireland and Northern Ireland on the development of legislation on tobacco and e-cigarette use in line with the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill, Northern Ireland Tobacco Control Strategy and the Tobacco Free Ireland Strategy (Healthy Ireland).
• Continued contribution to policy development on folic acid and the prevention of neural tube defects on the island of Ireland.
• Supported a stakeholder event as part of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing hosted by the Department of Health in Ireland.
• Online Health Taskforce
• Published report' Digital marketing of health-harming products to children in Ireland – options for further protections' to support the work of the Online Health Taskforce to develop a public health response to harms caused to children and young people by certain types of online activity. (Ireland).
• Provided evidence to inform a Prison Health Framework for Ireland.
• Produced and published a report, ‘An overview of sunbed use in Ireland and policy options to reduce skin cancer risk’, in the context of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026.
• Supported the Irish Physical Activity Research Consortium (I-PARC) work programme 2025-2028.
• Updated the Regulatory Options Matrix to inform policy development on overweight and obesity.
• Contributed to and supported the PEACE-Air project on air quality on the island of Ireland (PEACEPLUS-funded).
• Delivered knowledge translation on health aspects of the PEACE-Air project on air quality on the island of Ireland to inform the Clean Air Strategy in Ireland and any future air strategy in Northern Ireland.
• Collaborated with EuroHealthNet to develop a video exploring the links between climate, health, and the built environment.
• Developed further evidence to inform a public health approach to reducing gambling-related harms, including publishing the first study on gambling and suicide in Ireland.
• Designed and commissioned a survey on infant feeding to support the development of a Whole of Government Strategy on Breastfeeding in Ireland.
• Produced a report for the Department of Health in Ireland following a public consultation on Policy Proposals on Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector.
• Produced a report for the Department of Health in Ireland on the Commission on Care for Older People following a public consultation on health and social care services and supports for older people.
• Provided research support and produce a report for the Department of Health in Ireland following a public consultation on a national survey of the experience of home-support workers and nursing home healthcare assistants.
• Provided evidence review on Respite Care Models for the Department of Health in Ireland.
• Provided research support for stakeholder engagement and a public consultation on eligibility criteria for universal healthcare for the Department of Health in Ireland.
• Provided support to the Department of Health in Ireland on the Protection of Liberty Safeguarding.
• Developed and delivered phase two of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) training, which will be accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (HIA 2.0 Training Programme).
• Delivered high-quality training for public health medicine trainees in partnership with the Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
• Developed guidance to support public health professionals to advocate for public health (Championing Change: A Guide to Public Health Advocacy).
• Hosted an event to launch and disseminate guidance on public health advocacy.
• Sustained and developed North-South and East-West network engagement on health improvement policy development.
• Chaired and provided the secretariat for the North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group to strengthen all-island cooperation on alcohol policy.
• Developed an application to PEACEPLUS for funding to create a cross-border public health data strategy and public health data centre (All-Island Public Health Knowledge Hub).
• Informed the development of the Healthy Ireland Framework 2026-2036 by devising a suite of insight reports based on input from national and international public health experts.
• Coordinated and hosted the 2025 Joint North South Public Health Conference focused on ‘Turning the Tide: Tackling the commercial and political determinants of health through policy and practice’.
• Provided Secretariat and project support to Alcohol Act Technical Evaluation Group (Ireland).
Departmental Bodies
Questions (1057)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1057. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Oversight Agreement with the Institute of Public Health is subject to periodic review; if so, the frequency of such reviews; and whether any amendments have been made since its inception. [29858/26]
View answerWritten answers
The All Island Institute of Public Health (IPH) is the only non-statutory body that receives funding directly by the Department. This is due to its specific nature as an all island body that was set up prior to the signing of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement in 1998. The IPH provides support on public health policy to the respective Departments of Health and Chief Medical Officers in both jurisdictions.
The Oversight Agreement in place between the parties was agreed by both Departments of Health and the IPH at the end of September 2025. It was formally signed by all three parties on separate dates between December 2025 and February 2026. The Oversight Agreement served to formalise the processes and procedures around governance that were in place prior to its agreement, and ensured that this was proportionate to an organisation with the size and remit of the IPH.
The Oversight Agreement, which is based on the obligations of the IPH as a Company Limited by Guarantee and what is applicable from the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, is due for review in 2028. No amendments have been made to the Oversight Agreement since its inception.
Departmental Data
Questions (1058)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:1058. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific enforcement mechanisms in place where a non-statutory body, including the Institute of Public Health, fails to comply with governance provisions set out in its Oversight Agreement; and whether any such breaches have been recorded. [29859/26]
View answer
Reply not received from Department.