Written Answers Nos. 475-491
475. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she will require the HSE to publish an updated national map of publicly funded chronic pain services, given that the most recent national survey cited by the HSE dates from 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33479/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
476. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health if information (details supplied) in relation to a series of matters regarding the policy, clinical and financial rationale for restricting access to long-acting injectable buprenorphine will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33481/26]
View answer477. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including hospital, primary care centre and other health infrastructure works delivered by her Department or the HSE, which have been completed on time and within budget in Carlow in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33503/26]
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.
478. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including hospital, primary care centre and other health infrastructure works delivered by her Department or the HSE, which have been completed on time and within budget in Kilkenny in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33504/26]
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.
479. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she or her Department have given consideration to targeted financial supports for parents who must rely on feeding formula for babies due medical or other reasons that prevent the safe administration of breastfeeding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33527/26]
View answerSupporting infant and maternal health is a priority for my Department. Breastfeeding is actively promoted and supported from a public health perspective; however, it is also recognised that some parents are unable to breastfeed for medical or other reasons and must rely on infant formula to safely feed their babies.
At present, there are no plans to introduce targeted financial supports specifically linked to the use of infant formula. Responsibility for income and family-related financial supports rests primarily with the Department of Social Protection, which provides a range of universal and targeted measures to support families with children, including those on low incomes or experiencing financial vulnerability.
My Department works closely with colleagues across Government to ensure that the needs of vulnerable families are considered in wider policy development. This includes engagement through cross-government structures addressing food poverty, child health and social inclusion, and ensuring that health considerations inform broader cost-of-living and family support measures.
From a health perspective, my Department focuses on ensuring that parents who rely on infant formula have access to accurate, independent information on its safe preparation and use, and that infant formula placed on the market is subject to robust safety and regulatory controls.
The position regarding financial supports is kept under review in the context of wider Government policy, and my Department will continue to engage with relevant colleagues to ensure that the needs of families who cannot breastfeed are appropriately recognised, while maintaining a strong public health focus on protecting and supporting breastfeeding.
480. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she will review early intervention services, such as tongue tie treatment and other early services for those who might have difficulty in breastfeeding as a means to prevent avoidable barriers to breastfeeding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33529/26]
View answerAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Regarding to the other part of your question for other early services for those who might have difficulty in breastfeeding, in 2017 the HSE established the mychild.ie website which provides a suite of national breastfeeding resources to new parents.
There are over 230+ breastfeeding support groups nationally. Mychild.ie provides online breastfeeding support 7 days a week.
In 2024, an updated National Infant Feeding Education Programme for healthcare providers was launched with the programme delivered by over 70 trainers across maternity and public health nursing services. In 2022, revised Infant Feeding Standards were published following a review of the baby friendly initiative in Ireland.
There are several breastfeeding advocacy groups in Ireland which are key stakeholders in supporting and promoting breastfeeding in Ireland. These groups include: La Leche League Ireland, the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI), Bainne Beatha, Baby Law Feeding Group Ireland, Cuidiú, and UNICEF. These groups will be part of key stakeholder engagement in the development of the breastfeeding policy.
481. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the measures she and her Department have taken to advocate at an EU level for flexibility in the regulation of breastfeeding and the use and sale of baby formula, which can impact vulnerable families that cannot otherwise safely breastfeed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33530/26]
View answerThe protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding is a public health priority in Ireland and is strongly supported by my Department. At the same time, it is recognised that some families cannot breastfeed and must be able to access infant formula that is safe, appropriately regulated and clearly labelled.
Regulation of infant formula and foods for specific groups is largely harmonised at EU level to safeguard infant health and to ensure consistency across the Single Market. Ireland has consistently supported this framework, which is underpinned by scientific advice and aligned with relevant World Health Organization and Codex standards.
At EU level, Ireland engages actively through Council Working Groups and other EU fora on matters relating to food law, including the regulation of infant formula. In these discussions, my Department works closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to ensure that Ireland’s positions are evidence-based and proportionate. Ireland has supported approaches which protect breastfeeding while also ensuring that families who rely on infant formula are not disadvantaged and that regulatory requirements are clear, practical and risk-based.
Ireland also supports ongoing reviews at EU level of the regulatory framework for foods for specific groups, including delegated and implementing acts where appropriate, to ensure that measures remain fit for purpose, informed by scientific developments and responsive to consumer needs, including those of vulnerable families.
Nationally, my Department continues to promote breastfeeding through a range of policy measures and supports, while ensuring that accurate, independent information on the safe preparation and use of infant formula is available to families who require it. This balanced approach reflects our commitment both to public health protection and to supporting parents in making safe and informed feeding choices.
I will continue to ensure that Ireland engages constructively at EU level to support proportionate and protective regulation in this area, informed by public health evidence and the practical realities faced by families.
482. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that zero referrals to the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) in 2025 accurately reflects the number of serious incidents occurring in community health and social care services; and if so, the basis for this assessment. [33532/26]
View answerThis question has been referred to the HSE for direct response, as it is an operational matter.
483. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the criteria and thresholds that are applied by the HSE when determining whether a serious incident should be referred to the NIRP; and whether these criteria have changed since 2023. [33533/26]
View answerThis question has been referred to the HSE for direct response, as it is an operational matter.
484. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of serious incidents for each of the past five years that were assessed by the HSE but ultimately not referred to the NIRP; and the reasons for non-referral in each case, in aggregate. [33534/26]
View answerThis question has been referred to the HSE for direct response, as it is an operational matter.
485. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average length of time taken to complete an NIRP review over the past five years; and whether any reviews are currently delayed due to panel capacity or recruitment issues. [33535/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter we have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy
486. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether the two referrals received by the NIRP in 2026 have commenced review; and the expected timelines for completion. [33536/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
487. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of independent panel members recruited in the Q4 2025 campaign; and whether this meets the intended operational capacity of the NIRP. [33537/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter we have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy
488. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when Garda vetting for newly appointed NIRP panel members is expected to conclude; and when the panel will be fully operational. [33538/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter we have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy
489. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether the governance and administrative relationship between the NIRP and the Office of the Chief Social Worker has been independently reviewed since the panel's establishment; and if so, to outline the findings. [33539/26]
View answerThis question has been referred to the HSE for direct response, as it is an operational matter.
490. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the way in which compliance with NIRP recommendations is monitored; and whether data is available on implementation rates across HSE and HSE funded services [33540/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
491. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms that are in place to ensure systemic learning from NIRP reports is disseminated across community health and social care services. [33541/26]
View answerThis question has been referred to the HSE for direct response, as it is an operational matter.
