Written Answers Nos. 279-301
279. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the estimated cost to provide midwives, paediatric nurses, healthcare assistants and other relevant front-line staff to undertake the HSEL and breastfeeding module; and whether there are plans to expand uptake of this training nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38117/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
280. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for the schools dental programme in south Tipperary; if the dental programmes are running up to date; the number of dental clinic days allocated in south Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38124/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
281. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the review into HIQA's inspection process (details supplied); the timeline for completion of this review; if the review will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38134/26]
View answerPoor care, mistreatment, neglect or any form of abuse of a person living in a long-term residential care setting is completely unacceptable.
On 2nd July 2026, HIQA published the independent review of its nursing home regulatory inspection and monitoring processes, undertaken by Forvis Mazars and this is publicly available to view on the HIQA website.
The Forvis Mazars review was initiated by the Minister for Health and I, as the Minister of State for Older People and Housing, following the RTÉ Investigates programme broadcast in June 2025 which highlighted serious failings in care, staffing and oversight in a number of nursing homes.
The Minister for Health and I welcome the publication of this independent review. The findings and recommendations of the review will now be considered in detail alongside ongoing policy, regulatory and legislative reforms aimed at strengthening governance, safeguarding and quality across long-term residential care settings. A detailed implementation plan will now be developed.
The health, safety and wellbeing of nursing home residents is of paramount importance to the Government.
282. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if Ireland has assessed the economic impact of untreated glaucoma and other vision problems across the population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38149/26]
View answerThere are various public services to ensure that appropriate eye care is delivered to patients across the country.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides optical services free of charge to pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate service for treatment.
Under the Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS), medical card holders or their dependents (aged over 12 years) can be seen by local ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians. Eligible patients can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.
The 2017 Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report set out how a significant amount of eye services could be delivered in a primary care setting. The 2017 National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology developed a model of care detailing how the realignment of eye services from the acute hospitals to the community would be undertaken.
The HSE has been developing multidisciplinary Integrated Eye Care Teams in accordance with this model of care. These teams facilitate assessment, diagnoses, management and treatment, and, in some cases pre-op/post-op care, enabling most patients to be seen in their own locality. Where necessary, patients can be referred onwards to acute Ophthalmology services to receive the necessary specialist input.
283. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to CDNTs in CHO 9 in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38192/26]
View answerThis PQ is not for the Department of Health. We respectfully request that this Parliamentary Question be redirected to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality as the matters raised fall under their remit.
284. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to CDNTs in CHO 9 per year from 2019 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38194/26]
View answerThis PQ is not for the Department of Health. We respectfully request that this Parliamentary Question be redirected to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality as the matters raised fall under their remit.
285. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health she will provide an individual (details supplied) with State recognition of a medical exemption to vaccination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38211/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
286. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for a decision by the HSE drugs group regarding the reimbursement of risdiplam for adults living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) (details supplied); when an outcome from the HSE drugs group is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38237/26]
View answerUnder 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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
287. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if any dedicated capital funding from the €1.6 billion budget 2026 mental health allocation has been ring-fenced for CAST expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38241/26]
View answerThe Community Access Support Team (CAST) pilot project now underway in Limerick arose from the Final Report of the High Level Taskforce published in 2022 to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector.
The progression of this important new initiative, the first of its kind in Ireland, has been a priority for me, the Minister for Justice, the HSE, and An Garda Síochána.
The CAST team are working to enhance diversionary practices for those experiencing crisis and situational trauma that leads to mental health difficulties, with the shared goal of providing a compassionate and effective response to people in distress. The pilot became operational in January 2025 and has been very beneficial for vulnerable people in Limerick.
The CAST pilot project is a very real example of a multi-agency approach to better support those in the criminal justice system with mental health and/or addiction issues and to make a meaningful difference to their treatment. The pilot project has been funded on a joint basis from within existing overall resources and did not require the type of funding suggested by the Deputy. An evaluation of CAST will be finalised this year which will provide an evidence base that will help inform next steps, including any potential rollout of this model of care as appropriate nationally in the future and any financial resources needed for this. The recommendations from the evaluation will be considered by the Department of Health and Department of Justice, alongside key stakeholders.
I will continue to liaise with the Minister for Justice on this matter and the HSE will continue to work closely with An Garda Síochána on this important new initiative.
288. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for a decision by the HSE drugs group regarding the reimbursement of Risdiplam for adults living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38242/26]
View answerUnder 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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
289. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses delivering chemotherapy treatment at each of the relevant hospitals in HSE Dublin and North East; to provide a comparison with the optimum staffing required to ensure timely access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38243/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
290. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses delivering chemotherapy treatment at each of the relevant hospitals in HSE Dublin and Midlands; to provide a comparison with the optimum staffing required to ensure timely access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38244/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
291. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses delivering chemotherapy treatment at each of the relevant hospitals in HSE Dublin and South East; to provide a comparison with the optimum staffing required to ensure timely access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38245/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
292. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses delivering chemotherapy treatment at each of the relevant hospitals in HSE Mid West; to provide a comparison with the optimum staffing required to ensure timely access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38246/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
293. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses delivering chemotherapy treatment at each of the relevant hospitals in HSE South West; to provide a comparison with the optimum staffing required to ensure timely access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38247/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
294. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nurses delivering chemotherapy treatment at each of the relevant hospitals in HSE West and North West; to provide a comparison with the optimum staffing required to ensure timely access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38248/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
295. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses registered as competent to deliver chemotherapy in each hospital delivering chemotherapy in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [38249/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
296. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide further details on the strategic infrastructure programme; to plan for replacement and expansion at public radiation oncology services (details supplied), including timelines on the development of this programme; the details of the stakeholders that will be involved in the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38250/26]
View answerSuccessive national cancer strategies, together with the National Plan for Radiation Oncology and the clinical oversight of the National Cancer Control Programme, have underpinned and delivered significant investment in radiation oncology services, including new types of radiotherapy treatment and the opening of new state-of-the-art centres in Cork and Galway along with the ongoing phased expansion of the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON).
To build on these improvements and taking account the clinical importance of this service and the growing patient population, there is a need to plan for the replacement of linear accelerators on a phased basis at all public radiation oncology centres. A key action for the Department and the HSE is the development and implementation of a Strategic Infrastructure Programme for linear accelerator replacement and, where appropriate, expansion at public radiation oncology facilities.
To develop this Programme, the Department is establishing a Working Group, including representatives from the Department of Health and the HSE. The Programme will be developed in line with sectoral policies and strategies including the National Cancer Strategy, the National Plan for Radiation Oncology and Health Infrastructure Investment policy (as set out in the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework).
The Strategic Infrastructure Programme will examine current and future clinical and service needs and will provide a planned, coordinated approach to systematic replacement and, where appropriate, expansion of linear accelerator (LINAC) infrastructure and associated enabling works at publicly operated radiation oncology centres.
The Working Group will be chaired by Department officials and include representations from across HSE functions such as the HSE National Cancer Control Programme and HSE Capital & Estates. The Working Group may also invite additional expert input, including clinical, health planning and economic expertise, and may engage with other relevant stakeholders on a consultative basis, as required.
It is expected that the inaugural meeting of the group will take place in the coming weeks.
297. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if she or the Food Safety Authority have concerns regarding Brazilian beef being sold and consumed in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38251/26]
View answer298. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the reason the Food Safety Authority did not name outlets where contaminated beef from Brazil was sold in recent months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38252/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is responsible for the enforcement of food safety legislation in Ireland, working in close cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and other official agencies to ensure that all food placed on the Irish market is safe to eat.
All meat, including beef imported from third countries such as Brazil, must comply with strict European Union food safety requirements. These include controls at approved Border Control Posts and ongoing official controls within the food chain, including traceability requirements. Where issues arise, appropriate enforcement action is taken, including withdrawal or recall of affected products, in line with EU and national legislation.
In relation to Brazilian beef, there is no general public health concern regarding its sale or consumption in Ireland where it complies with these regulatory requirements. As with all food products, any individual incident is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and proportionate action is taken to protect public health.
Regarding the identification of retail or food service outlets, the FSAI operates in accordance with the relevant legal framework governing food incidents and product recalls. Information is made available to the public where necessary to protect consumer health, including through food alerts and recall notices. The level of detail provided, including whether specific outlets are named, is determined based on the nature of the risk, the effectiveness of traceability, and the need to ensure that consumers are appropriately informed without causing undue alarm.
In circumstances where affected products have been successfully traced and removed from the supply chain, and where there is no ongoing risk to consumers, it may not be necessary to publicly identify specific outlets. However, authorised officers engage directly with relevant food businesses to ensure that appropriate corrective actions are taken.
The FSAI continues to work closely with enforcement authorities and food business operators to ensure a high standard of food safety and to respond rapidly and effectively to any incidents that may arise.
299. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently awaiting a hip operation in the State; the number of operations undertaken weekly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38254/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
300. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for home help in each healthcare office in Kerry; the number receiving home help care; and the number waiting for additional home help care. in tabular form. [38259/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
301. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the timeline for a decision by the HSE drugs group regarding the reimbursement of risdiplam for adults living with spinal muscular atrophy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38284/26]
View answerUnder 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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
