Written Answers Nos. 843-863
843. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address unregulated alcohol deliveries by app delivery companies; his plans to address this issue in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44947/26]
View answerThis PQ is not for the Department of Health. We respectfully request that this Parliamentary Question be redirected to the Department of Justice as the matters raised fall under their remit.
844. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the reasoning behind the HSE’s failure to adopt the Labour Court recommendation regarding the restoration of the historic pay linkage between perfusionists and medical scientists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44966/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
845. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if her Department was consulted by the HSE prior to the decision not to implement the Labour Court recommendation regarding the restoration of the historic pay linkage between perfusionists and medical scientists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44967/26]
View answer846. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her views on whether refusal to accept a Labour Court recommendation may undermine confidence in the State’s Industrial Relations Framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44968/26]
View answer849. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if her Department anticipate difficulty in recruiting and retaining perfusionists arising from the removal of the historic pay linkage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44971/26]
View answer851. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if she will publish analysis underpinning the decision to reject the implementation of the Labour Court recommendation regarding perfusionists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44973/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 845, 846, 849 and 851 together.
The Department of Health and the HSE accept in full the Labour Court recommendation regarding the pay claim by Perfusionists and are supportive of implementing the proposed pay adjustment as soon as possible. The only debate is how this can be funded. Under the Public Service Agreement, all cost-increasing claims must be addressed through the agreed Local Bargaining process.
Significant funding has been made available to Fórsa to deal with claims via local bargaining (over €60m) and the annual cost to resolve this claim is relatively modest, so could easily be resolved through this mechanism. It is therefore disappointing that Fórsa has elected to proceed with industrial action, and to date, declined to engage with the mechanism specifically designed to resolve claims of this nature. As this is an ongoing Industrial relations matter it would be inappropriate to comment further.
847. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of perfusionist positions currently sanctioned, filled, and vacant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44969/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
848. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to recruit and retain perfusionist roles within the HSE given the critical nature of the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44970/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
850. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if a service impact assessment was carried out before the historic pay linkage between perfusionists and medical scientists was altered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44972/26]
View answerThe Deputy refers to the historic pay linkage between perfusionists and medical scientists. Pay and grading matters relating to health service staff are addressed through established industrial relations mechanisms and engagement between the HSE, the Department of Health and staff representative bodies.
The Department of Health and the HSE accept in full the Labour Court recommendation regarding the pay claim by perfusionists and are supportive of implementing the proposed pay adjustment as soon as possible. The remaining issue concerns the mechanism through which the claim can be progressed and funded in accordance with the provisions of the current Public Service Agreement.
I am advised that significant funding has been made available under the local bargaining process to address claims of this nature. The annual cost associated with this claim is relatively modest and the HSE and the Department remain committed to working with all parties to secure an appropriate resolution as quickly as possible.
The HSE continues to monitor the impact of workforce arrangements on recruitment, retention and service delivery, and the need to ensure the continued provision of safe, high-quality cardiac services.
854. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the position relating to the model three report in respect of Letterkenny University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44994/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
855. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid, committed or accrued by the HSE, eHealth Ireland, the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the Department of Health or any body under her aegis to a company (details supplied) or any other external consultancy, advisory, professional services or ICT firm in respect of the National Electronic Health Record, One Health Record, Shared Care Record, EHR/EPR readiness, procurement, business case, implementation planning or related Digital for Care programme from 2020 to date, by firm, year, project, contract title, procurement route, original contract value, current contract value, amount paid to date and amount remaining to be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44995/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
856. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1215 of 28 April 2026, if she will consider establishing a specific emergency medical card system, through a temporary six to 12 month emergency medical card, issued upon entry to a refuge for women and children who are forced to enter domestic violence refuges. [44996/26]
View answerMedical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual's own financial circumstances.
It is important to note that where an applicant requires urgent ongoing medical care and requires a Medical Card to receive that care and the applicant is not in a position to provide the necessary documentation to enable a full means test, an emergency medical card may be issued for a period of six months on receipt of the required patient details and completed medical report by a healthcare professional. In these circumstances the applicant will still need to apply for a standard means-tested medical card before the temporary card expires. Details are available at www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/emergency-medical-cards/.
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.
As previously advised, people under 70 are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant's household income after deduction of tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie. People aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. However, those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs. Details are available at:[] www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/over-70s/.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
858. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health the work that has been undertaken within her Department or the HSE to evaluate the consistency of the Small Hospitals Framework 2013 with current clinical guidance, including national clinical programmes and Sláintecare-aligned models of care; if a review of the framework is planned and the reasons for that decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45042/26]
View answerThe Smaller Hospitals Framework 2013 was drafted by the HSE and the Department of Health, approved by Government and published in 2013, in response to the 2009 HIQA report into the Mid-Western Regional Hospital Ennis. The Framework includes a list of nine designated hospitals that were to transition to Model 2.
The Framework defines the activities that can be performed in smaller Model 2 hospitals in a safe, sustainable, and efficient manner. It provides a stronger role for smaller hospitals in delivering a higher volume of less complex care in many cases closer to patients' homes. It also ensures that patients who require true emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in a larger hospital environment. In that context, the Smaller Hospitals Framework was a precursor to the Sláintecare vision of ensuring that people are seen in the right place, at the right time. In addition, the Framework also envisioned these smaller hospitals being more interconnected with primary care, and these connections will be further developed as we move to a more integrated model of care under the Health Regions.
Performance oversight of acute hospitals, including the Model 2 hospitals, is built into the HSE's Performance and Accountability Framework (PAF). The PAF is aligned with government policy such as Sláintecare, and provides acute hospitals governance and performance arrangements, with patient impact kept under review through ongoing monitoring of service delivery and outcomes.
Considerations in relation to the consistency and alignment of the Smaller Hospitals Framework with current clinical guidelines and clinical programme models of care would be a matter for the HSE. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
859. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the starting date for construction of a replacement mental health facility on the grounds of the former Owenacurra Centre, Midleton; the projected completion date of this project; the projected commencement of services on site; and if these timeframes are based on a clear funding commitment from the HSE. [45045/26]
View answerAs Minister, I have set out my priorities for capital projects for 2026, with over €40m allocated to initiate and progress mental health infrastructure projects this year.
The funding represents another record level of investment in 43 separate mental health capital projects across the country, with annual investment set to increase further over the next four years.
The investment for 2026 is the first tranche of funding to be allocated from an overall total of €470m earmarked for mental health projects in the National Development Plan 2026-2030.
Work is ongoing between my Department and the HSE to progress a 10-year Capital Plan for Mental Health which will set out a strategic investment plan to maximise the unprecedented level of investment in the mental health capital estate.
As the issue raised relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to you as soon as possible.
860. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to investment to deliver the long-promised community neurorehabilitation team for the south-east (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45048/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
861. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health total funding allocated specifically for respite services in each of the years 2016 to 2026; the number of operational respite beds available in each of those years; the total number of individuals supported with overnight respite and the number supported with day-care respite, respectively, in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45068/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
862. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health the current waitlist for respite services; the number of individuals identified as having a 'required' but 'unmet' need for respite care; and the projected timeline for clearing this backlog, by HSE health region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45069/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
863. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment at St. James's Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45074/26]
View answerUnder 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.
