Written Answers Nos. 874-893
874. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an update on the targeted ophthalmology "blitz" clinic initiative referred to in replies in Dáil Éireann relating to south Tipperary; whether the initiative has commenced; the number of clinics held to date; the number of children assessed or treated; the impact on waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49361/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
875. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the current status of the recruitment freeze on physician associates within the HSE; the reason this pause remains in place despite the publication of the PA review; when newly qualified graduates will be permitted to take up posts within the Irish health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49393/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
876. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when she expects the recruitment freeze on physician associates to be lifted; if a formal implementation timeline has been agreed between her Department and the HSE; if she will make that timeline publicly available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49394/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
877. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department intends to ensure value for money in circumstances where the State has invested approximately €24,000 per physician associate students in training, yet graduates remain unable to take up employment within the health service due to the ongoing recruitment pause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49395/26]
View answer879. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will review the proposed salary scale for physician associates, in view of concerns that the suggested structure represents a significant reduction compared with existing PA salaries and international norms; and if she will ensure that any finalised scale reflects the level of postgraduate medical training and clinical responsibility undertaken by PAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49397/26]
View answer880. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out an assessment of the way in which the proposed salary scale for physician associates may affect recruitment, retention and the risk of emigration among Irish trained graduates; if she will publish the findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49398/26]
View answer884. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the continued inability of physician associates to enter the workforce aligns with national workforce planning objectives, hospital staffing pressures and efforts to reduce waiting lists; and the actions being taken to address this contradiction. [49404/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 879, 877, 880 and 884 together.
Physician Assistants are dependent practitioners with generalist training through a medical model. They can support physicians and surgeons in the management of patients, with supervision and appropriate delegation.
As committed in the 2025 National Service Plan, the HSE commissioned an independent review of the Physician Assistant role with the aim of making recommendations regarding the governance of the role, scope of practice, and appropriate and safe deployment in Ireland. The HSE paused the recruitment of Physician Assistants pending the outcome of the review.
The report is now complete and was published on 6th May 2026.
The Department and the HSE is now in an implementation phase focused on strengthening governance, role clarity and national consistency. I expect that patient safety in service delivery be prioritised in relation to any HSE workforce roles, including Physician Assistant.
The Minister and Department officials continue to engage with colleagues in the HSE on the Physician Assistant role with recruitment expected to commence at the conclusion of this process.
878. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the number of recently qualified physician associates who remain unemployed, underemployed or reliant on jobseeker's supports due to the recruitment freeze; if she will provide updated figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49396/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 879 answered with Question No. 877.
Question No. 880 answered with Question No. 877.
881. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the proposed scope of practice for physician associates aligns with the current training, competencies and clinical experience of Irish trained PAs; whether her Department plans to revise the framework to reflect evidence-based international practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49399/26]
View answer883. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when a full implementation plan for the physician associate review will be published; the milestones it will include; the way in which her Department intends to ensure timely integration of PAs into the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49403/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 881 and 883 together.
As committed in the 2025 National Service Plan, the HSE commissioned an independent review of the Physician Assistant role with the aim of making recommendations regarding the governance of the role, scope of practice, and appropriate and safe deployment. International experience and the specific context of the Irish public health service were considered in the review. An extensive consultation process also formed part of the review. The HSE paused the recruitment of Physician Assistants pending the outcome of the review.
The Independent Review of the role of Physician Assistant in the Irish Public Health System was published on the HSE website on 6 May 2026. The report is available at:
https://about.hse.ie/publications/report-of-the-independent-review-of-the-pa-role-in-the-irish-public-health-system/.
The HSE is moving to an implementation phase focused on strengthening governance, role clarity and national consistency. Implementation of the review’s recommendations is a matter for the HSE.
Engagement is ongoing between the HSE and officials in my department to facilitate a recruitment pathway for Physician Assistants. Once finalised, a new HSE grade code and salary scale will require approval from my department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. Every effort will be made to expedite this process. However, it is not possible to give an exact timeline at this point.
I expect that patient safety in service delivery will continue to be prioritised by the HSE in relation to any workforce roles, including Physician Assistant. My officials and I continue to engage with colleagues in the HSE on the Physician Assistant role in Ireland, including implementation of the review’s recommendations.
882. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if consultant-led teams, clinical educators and existing PA supervisors were consulted in the development of the proposed scope of practice; and if she will publish the consultation feedback received. [49400/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
885. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has completed an assessment of the potential use of St. Vincent’s Care Centre, Athlone, as a dedicated step-down, rehabilitation or intermediate-care facility; whether a business case has been prepared; and the discussions that have taken place with the HSE Midlands Region regarding the future use of the site. [49429/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
886. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the primary care speech and language therapy, SLT, role for counties Sligo and Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan is vacant; if so, the length of time this role has been vacant; when it is expected to be filled the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49432/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
887. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting dental treatment under general anaesthetic (details supplied); the number waiting more than 12 months; the median waiting time; the corresponding figures for special care patients of all ages, given the position that data on special care patients is not consistently collected; the number of acute hospital beds ring-fenced for paediatric and special care dental general anaesthetic cases in each region, including in HSE South West health region, by HSE health region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49489/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
888. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the national data her Department and the HSE hold on the incidence of pregnancy loss (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49490/26]
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.
889. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of public nursing home beds funded by the nursing homes support scheme in each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; the net change in the number of such beds in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49491/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
890. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of miscarriages recorded in each maternity hospital and unit, by hospital and unit, in each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; the source and basis on which these figures are compiled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49492/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
891. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health , further to the Labour Court Recommendation LCR23209 issued in January 2026, which directed that the revised medical scientist pay scale applied from 1 January 2024, be applied to perfusionists with retrospective effect from that date, whether that recommendation has been implemented; if not, the reason it has not been implemented; whether its inclusion on the agenda for talks on a successor public service pay agreement carries any risk that it will not be implemented, as recommended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49493/26]
View answerThe Department of Health and the HSE accept the Labour Court recommendation and remain supportive of resolving the matter through the appropriate public service pay mechanisms. The issue is not whether the Labour Court recommendation is accepted, but how it is implemented and funded within the agreed public service pay framework.
Last week, Fórsa agreed to step down planned industrial action following agreement with management that the issue would be brought into forthcoming engagement on a successor public service pay agreement. Fórsa has now reversed that position and notified the HSE of recommencement and possible escalation, citing what it regards as the absence of formal negotiations on a new public service agreement. That position is premature, as the pay talks process has not yet formally commenced. Officials from the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation remain available for engagement and have sought to resume those engagements as soon as possible.
892. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of cardiac surgeries and other procedures cancelled or postponed at Cork University Hospital as a result of the perfusionist industrial action on 9 June 2026; the number of paediatric procedures affected; whether any of those procedures have since been rescheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49494/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
893. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of public nursing home beds funded under the nursing homes support scheme in County Cork, by facility in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49495/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
