Written Answers Nos. 189-218
189. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health as Chair of the EU Health Council of Ministers, if she will push for the inclusion of SPF products on the EU VAT rate list of reduced-rate pharmaceutical products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52267/26]
View answerI am advised that the VAT rating of goods and services is subject to the EU VAT Directive, with which Irish VAT law must comply. In general, goods and services are liable to VAT at the standard rate unless they are exempt or fall within one of the categories listed in Annex III of the Directive, in respect of which Member States may apply a reduced rate. Ireland’s reduced rates of VAT are 9% and 13.5%, while the standard rate is currently 23%.
Under current EU VAT law, there is no scope for Ireland to apply a reduced or zero rate of VAT to sunscreen or SPF products, as these products are not included in Annex III of the VAT Directive. Accordingly, sunscreen products remain liable to VAT at the standard rate.
I understand that engagement took place with the European Commission in 2023 to clarify whether the reference in Annex III to pharmaceutical products could be understood to include sun protection products. The Commission confirmed that sunscreen products could not be treated as pharmaceutical products for VAT purposes, as they are considered to fall within the category of cosmetic or toilet preparations. In those circumstances, the Commission advised that a reduced rate cannot be applied to sun protection products such as sunscreen.
As Minister for Health and in my role as Chair of the EU Health Council of Ministers, I recognise the importance of sun protection as part of skin cancer prevention and wider public health messaging. However, any amendment to the VAT Directive is a taxation matter and would require the unanimous agreement of Member States. The scope of Annex III was amended and expanded in April 2022 following a four-year negotiation process, and no further changes are expected at this time. I will continue to support public health measures that promote awareness of UV protection and skin cancer prevention through relevant national and EU health fora.
190. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of a new primary care centre in Gorey, County Wexford. [51854/26]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
191. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to outline the latest update and steps being taken by the HSE to address the ongoing vacancy of a consultant ophthalmologist in South Tipperary; the number of recruitment campaigns undertaken to fill this post and their outcomes; the reasons no candidates have been successfully appointed to date; the current waiting list figures for ophthalmology services in South Tipperary; the interim measures in place to provide care to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41534/26]
View answer192. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans to uphold the Labour Court recommendation that perfusionists pay be linked with other medical scientists to prevent further strike action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52099/26]
View answerThe 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. A Circular has issued to instruct payment of same.
193. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the extent of the use of SMS messaging systems for outpatient appointment reminders across public hospitals and healthcare facilities; the number of messages issued and level of utilisation by each site; whether all facilities with access to such systems are making full use of them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47996/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
194. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand access to publicly funded dental services beyond current eligibility criteria to include all school-aged children and not just those in primary school, given concerns about access to preventative dental care among young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51539/26]
View answerAt present, the HSE Oral Healthcare Service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for children at up to three intervals, targeting ages approximating to second and sixth class and, in some cases, fourth class. Emergency care is provided for children of all ages up to 16. The Dental Treatment Services Scheme provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over.
I am determined to ease the pressure people are facing now in accessing oral healthcare. In practical terms, that means improving access through the public oral healthcare system—especially for children and medical card holders. My Department and the HSE are finalising a focused two-year action plan to deliver real improvements on the ground.
The plan will be driven by a dedicated governance group, with progress monitored closely and aligned to wider HSE and Department priorities. It will aim to respond to sustained service pressures, workforce constraints, and long waiting lists—particularly for children and for people with additional needs.
It will focus on a small number of clear priorities:
• Cut waiting lists in the School Dental Programme and orthodontics.
• Strengthen and expand the Special Access Programme.
• Reviewing and improving the Dental Treatment Services Scheme.
• Support recruitment, education and training.
• Support innovation and new ways of delivering care.
Over the next two years, the aim is to stabilise services, reduce waiting times, and make access measurably better for patients—while laying the groundwork for longer-term reform. The longer term reform of oral healthcare services will be achieved through the National Oral Health Policy. These new oral healthcare services will be prevention-focused and will be tailored to each age group across the life course from birth to old age. The Policy has two key goals:
• to provide the supports to enable every individual to achieve their personal best oral health.
• to reduce oral health inequalities across the population, by enabling vulnerable groups to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health.
195. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health her assessment of the recent ESRI projections of regional workforce requirements for HSE primary and community care services to 2040; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48056/26]
View answerI welcome the Economic and Social Research Institute's (ESRI) report published last May which demonstrates the projected increases in HSE primary and community care workforce requirements, both nationally and regionally, out to 2040. This report forms part of a wider research programme and uses the ESRI’s Hippocrates model which has been developed under the ESRI/Department of Health Research Programme.
The research, funded by the HSE, considers a range of scenarios reflecting different assumptions about population growth and ageing, as well as changes in the mix of workforce involved in delivering care. The services examined include audiology, dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, speech and language therapy and public health and community nursing.
My officials and I acknowledge the key findings from the ESRI's report. Driven by projected demographic change, particularly population ageing, workforce requirements for all staff categories examined are projected to increase substantially by 2040. The largest increases in workforce requirements are projected for services that currently focus on older people in the community, namely audiologists, occupational therapists, podiatrists and public health and community nurses, with average annual growth requirements of between 2.0 to 3.1 per cent to 2040. For the remaining professions (dietitians, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists), average annual growth requirements are projected to range between 1.0 and 2.1 per cent to 2040.
Furthermore, workforce projections are sensitive to assumptions regarding grade and skill mix. Across all services examined, skill mix assumptions had a substantial effect on projected requirements for advanced practice and clinical specialist roles. For most services, the largest projected increases in workforce requirements are observed in regions located in the east of the country. HSE report that waiting lists could not be included in the modelling due to data limitations. However, separate analysis of waiting list pressures indicates that more staff would be needed to address existing backlogs.
Sláintecare is working to build a health and social care service that is sustainable for the future. Increasing capacity, both in terms of workforce and infrastructure, along with productivity measures is key to address Ireland’s long-term demographic challenges.
Last year, we published Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce paper. This paper sets out an evidence based, strategic direction for the next 15 years—one that helps us plan proactively for the workforce we will need in the future. This paper details twenty actions to be taken in the years ahead to address future workforce challenges, and work has already progressed to advance these actions.
I wish to inform the Deputy that the ESRI's report broadly aligns with the findings of the “Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce” paper and broader research, highlighting that we need to significantly increase future supply of healthcare workers. These projections support our planning efforts to build capacity by understanding future workforce requirements to meet the needs of our future population.
The Economic and Social Research Institute Capacity Reviews commissioned by the Department of Health inform the demand projections within our paper and provide a crucial evidence base. Projections and gap analysis show an expectation of a shortfall across health and social care staff categories modelled.
The analysis also demonstrates that with the implementation of planned health policies and workforce reforms there will be an average annual growth rate required of approximately 1.4% to 2% from 2023 to 2040 for the professions modelled. Population demographics are the major driver for this increased demand.
The Deputy should note that significant work is underway to ensure that we have a sufficient health and social care workforce to meet the needs of our future workforce. There have been significant increases in the health and social care workforce in recent years. At the end of May 2026, employment levels show there were 154,875 WTE directly employed in the provision of Health & Social Care Services by the HSE and Section 38 hospitals & agencies. This is a 23% increase since 2020.
In addition to this, my Department is working closely with the HSE, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the Higher Education Authority and the HEIs to significantly expand domestic training capacity as a mechanism to build a sustainable Health and Social Care workforce to meet future population need for health and social care services.
In this context, I am pleased to note that Minister for Further and Higher Education announced €28.5 million investment in 2026 to support the delivery of more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places over the next three years across medicine, nursing, therapies, pharmacy, dentistry, social care, and veterinary medicine.
This investment includes a major expansion in Health and Social Care Profession (HSCP) Training Places announced by the Government in 2025, with 461 new places to be delivered in nine priority disciplines by 2028.
Additional expansion in priority HSCPs will also be determined through a new Expression of Interest (EOI) process launched by the Higher Education Authority on 29th of April this year. This process will support both the expansion of existing training programmes and the development of new ones.
196. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to reduce in-patient and day case waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47998/26]
View answer197. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health whether current CAMHS operational guidelines are adequate to meet rising and increasingly complex demand, given ongoing capacity and staffing constraints that have resulted in 5,335 children and young people being refused services in County Wicklow over the past five years. [29360/26]
View answer198. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health for an update on the delivery of the recently announced increase in National Ambulance Service resources for County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52215/26]
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.
200. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if she will review the funding provided in SLA’s for section 39 agencies providing older people services in general, many of which are on the same level of funding since 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52175/26]
View answer201. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of presentations to hospital with nitrous oxide related injuries; her plans tackle this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52157/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
202. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the current delay in the Skyclarys reimbursement negotiations aligns with the “equitable access” promised in the newly launched National Rare Disease Strategy 2025–2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30663/26]
View answer203. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the next step towards the full implementation of Sláintecare and provide full medical card cover to those whose income is equal to or below the median wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52041/26]
View answerAs part of Sláintecare, my Department is undertaking a long-term wide-ranging review of the existing eligibility framework, to clearly assess what is working well and to inform future policy proposals regarding the eligibility framework based on robust evidence. Phase 1 of which includes a review of the existing eligibility arrangements for health services to see how they align with current population needs. This Phase is complete and the report is in the final drafting stage.
Currently Medical 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.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the 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.
Regarding changes to medical card thresholds, 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.
204. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to resolve clinical and regulatory issues which stand in the way of single women and same-sex couples in accessing free AHR; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52043/26]
View answerThe Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme to ensure that fertility-related issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
The Model of Care comprises three stages of care. These begin in primary care (GPs), progress to secondary care through the six HSE-run Regional Fertility Hubs located across the country, and, where clinically indicated, advance to tertiary care.
Patients, following consultations in primary care, are referred by their GP to their designated Regional Fertility Hub for assessment and investigation. Before making a referral, the GP will provide appropriate advice and information on lifestyle factors, carry out relevant tests and examinations, and undertake any necessary initial interventions. The GP must also be satisfied that the couple has been trying to conceive naturally for an adequate period of time. The specific access criteria to avail of services provided at a Hub are less stringent than those required to be met in order to qualify for free assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment.
Referrals for publicly-funded, privately-provided AHR treatment – including IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) and IUI (intrauterine insemination) – commenced in September 2023, subject to patients meeting the criteria agreed by my Department and the HSE. The access criteria were developed by a multi-disciplinary group, with reproductive medicine expertise and followed consultation with experts in the field along with a review of the international evidence. These criteria are in keeping with those applied in other jurisdictions.
The terms of the publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative are underpinned by the primary policy principle of supporting couples experiencing fertility issues and, most specifically, those who have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive naturally at the time in question.
As of start of July 2026, over 4,600 couples have been referred by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant for AHR treatment, following extensive investigations and/or secondary level treatment within the Regional Fertility Hubs. Furthermore, the Hubs have successfully and directly managed thousands more patients presenting with fertility-related issues who have been referred by their GP. Not all couples experiencing fertility challenges actually require such advanced and invasive interventions as IVF. In this regard, it should be noted that IUI represents a significantly less invasive and less complex form of treatment which can prove to be very effective for certain cohorts of patients.
There are complex regulatory and clinical issues to be considered in respect of certain categories of AHR treatment. In the case of treatment involving the use of donated gametes there is regulation at European level concerning the quality and safety of procedures involving donated gametes. Furthermore, the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 deals with matters relating to parentage and the right to identity of donor-conceived children arising from such procedures. Nevertheless, there are a number of further clinical and regulatory requirements regarding the donation of gametes and the use of such gametes which are being considered.
Consultation between Department officials, colleagues in the HSE, and relevant specialists in the field of reproductive medicine on this matter is continuing, including in respect of examining the position in other jurisdictions regarding publicly funding such treatment and the consideration of additional funding requirements which may ensue from such an expansion of the initiative.
It should be noted that supports previously available to patients who access IVF, or other AHR treatment, privately, whereby tax relief on the costs involved can be claimed under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme, continues to be provided.
In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. The annual cost to the State of the financial support for these medicines is far from insignificant.
I want to assure the Deputy that my Department and the Government are focused, through the full implementation of the Model of Care for Fertility, on ensuring that patients receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced AHR treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the most effective deployment of finite public resources.
205. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to strengthen preventative healthcare and early intervention in order to improve health outcomes and reduce long-term pressure on hospital services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52238/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
206. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the SMS reminder systems in use across public hospitals, including the service providers involved; whether systems are centrally procured or locally arranged; the functionality available, including whether two-way communication is enabled; the associated costs, including cost per message and total expenditure in the most recent twelve-month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47997/26]
View answer207. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Limerick Surgical Hub that was due to open in May 2026; when it is due to open; the steps she is taking to ensure it operates at full capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52247/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
208. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she has convened stakeholders to consider the recommendations of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 relating to section 11 of that Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52159/26]
View answerSection 11 of the 2018 Act, as currently drafted, reflects the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eight Amendment. The Committee recommended that where a fetal abnormality is likely to result in death before or shortly after birth, it should be lawful to terminate a pregnancy, without gestational limit. It also recommended against termination of pregnancy where the unborn child has a fetal abnormality that is not likely to result in death before or shortly after birth.
The criteria around Section 11 were considered in great detail during the drafting of 2018 Act, to ensure it reflected these principles, and circumstances.
In line with statutory and Government commitments, a review of the operation of the 2018 Act, including Section 11, was initiated at the end of 2021. The final report of this review was submitted to the Minister for Health in early 2023.
In addition, a second review commissioned by the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer in early 2022 examined the safety and effectiveness of services provided under Section 11 of the 2018 Act. This review included consultations with clinical experts and service users, with a particular focus on strengthening compassionate care and emotional support for families facing fatal fetal anomalies. The final report, presented in April 2023, outlined a series of recommendations to further enhance these services.
The HSE has established a National Termination of Pregnancy Service Improvement Group to lead the implementation of both the operational recommendations arising from the statutory review of the 2018 Act and those stemming from the HSE’s review of the safety and operation of Section 11 of that Act.
209. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) will be fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52098/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
210. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in expanding the use of digital health technologies to improve patient access, reduce waiting times and support more efficient delivery of healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52237/26]
View answerDigital health is a key enabler of better healthcare and is recognised in Sláintecare as an important enabler of health service reform. It supports improved access to care, more efficient services and reduced waiting times by ensuring that patients and healthcare professionals can access the right information at the right time.
The Government is committed to expanding the use of digital health technologies as a key enabler of improved patient access, more efficient healthcare delivery and better health outcomes. This work is being progressed through Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024–2030, which sets out the strategic roadmap for the digital transformation of health and social care services.
Significant progress is being made across a number of major digital health programmes. The HSE Health App continues to expand with over 200,000 registered users in June 2026, providing patients with greater access to health information and digital services. A major release was delivered in March 2026, with further major releases planned for July and November 2026. These releases will continue to enhance the functionality available to patients and support more convenient access to health services through digital channels.
The National Shared Care Record is being rolled out on a phased basis, enabling healthcare professionals to securely access important patient information across care settings. Government approval of the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) Programme Preliminary Business Case (February 2026) has enabled the programme to progress through Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines and into procurement. This represents a significant milestone towards the delivery of a nationally governed Electronic Health Record system and one of the largest digital transformation investments ever undertaken in the State. Together, these initiatives will support safer, more connected and patient-centred care by ensuring that critical health information is available to healthcare professionals when and where it is needed.
Digital technologies are also supporting service reform and improved patient access. The expansion of virtual care services and virtual wards is helping to reduce avoidable hospital attendances and admissions while enabling more patients to receive care closer to home. Digital solutions are improving referral pathways, information sharing and the coordination of care across healthcare settings.
Digital health technologies are also supporting the Government's efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to planned care. The Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) 2026 encompasses 11 actions focused on progressing a number of digital and enabling technologies and tools that will support and facilitate the longer-term reform of waiting lists. These include the continued rollout of electronic referral and reporting systems, the expansion of virtually based patient engagement, the implementation of artificial intelligence and automation tools to support aspects of waiting list management, the use of data analytics to improve capacity utilisation, and the continued deployment of performance dashboards across hospitals and Health Regions. Implementation of these initiatives is progressing this year and will support services in improving patient flow, enhancing waiting list management and making more effective use of available capacity.
The Government is also progressing the development of a national ePrescribing solution, with procurement expected to conclude later this year. Alongside wider investments in interoperability, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, these initiatives are laying the foundations for a more connected, efficient and digitally enabled health service.
Collectively, these investments are helping to ensure that information follows the patient across care settings, improving patient experience and safety, supporting healthcare professionals with timely access to information, and enabling more efficient, integrated and patient-centred care. They are also helping to improve access to services and support the broader reform measures needed to reduce waiting times.
211. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the number of the 16 eating disorder teams envisaged under the model of care that are fully staffed; to provide a breakdown of staffing levels across each team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52137/26]
View answerThe National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed well with the total number of 16 eating disorder teams under the Model of Care now fully funded. This includes 11 teams now operational and a further 5 teams in recruitment and development, as per the Model of Care. The HSE spends over €14 million on eating disorders services annually.
Over 110 dedicated eating disorder clinicians from the National Clinical Programme are now working on the teams across the country, treating people with eating disorders every day. Enhancement for specialist mental health services including eating disorders is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government as a whole, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
HSE data from the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders for 2025 shows increases in activity across referrals, assessments, diagnoses and access to treatment. In 2025, over 900 referrals were received, 600 assessments were completed, with a 13% increase in the number of people starting treatment for an eating disorder. 75% of patients were assessed within eight weeks.
In addition, as Minister I secured funding from Budget 2026 for two new eating disorder teams, a CAMHS team to serve the South east, and an Adult team to serve counties Galway and Roscommon. This will assist more people with an eating disorder requiring access to specialist eating disorder mental health services.
As this relates to an operational issue, it has been forwarded to the HSE for direct reply to you.
212. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when she expects an implementation plan will be published following a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52135/26]
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 concerns relating to 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. An implementation plan is now being developed.
The health, safety and wellbeing of nursing home residents is of paramount importance to the Government.
213. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the workforce planning basis now used by the Department of Health and the HSE for specialist mental health services; the reason explicit multidisciplinary staffing benchmarks continue to apply in areas such as specialist mental health services for older people, while comparable national staffing benchmarks are no longer routinely published or applied across other specialist mental health services since A Vision for Change; the methodology that has replaced the staffing benchmark approach set out in A Vision for Change; whether this methodology allows the Department and the HSE to quantify the gap between current approved posts and required staffing levels by discipline, team and HSE region; whether she will publish clear staffing standards for general adult, child and adolescent, rehabilitation and recovery, crisis resolution and other specialist mental health teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52222/26]
View answer214. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number and location of all primary care centres in the development pipeline; the average length of time it takes to complete the development of a primary care centre from concept through to completion in each of the six health regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48116/26]
View answer215. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the proposed opening of the Midleton Community Hospital, Midleton, County Cork to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51254/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
216. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to outline if the Finglas Primary Care Centre remains on track for Phase 1 works to commence in Q2 2026; to provide the latest update on enabling works for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48182/26]
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.
217. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if she will undertake a review of the daily charge imposed on older people using HSE transport services to access HSE-funded services, with a view to abolishing this fee, given that many users hold free travel passes but cannot avail of them on these HSE-operated services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51863/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
218. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health to increase the number of public nursing home beds in County Laois; to ensure that St Anne’s Ward in St Vincents Hospital Mountmellick is kept in use when the new extension is opened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52042/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
