Written Answers Nos. 699-718
699. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm that Skyclarys will be on the agenda for the upcoming HSE Drugs Group meeting in July; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52634/26]
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.
700. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE scrub nurses posts filled at Beaumont Hospital as of 30 June 2026; and if the same figures will be provided as of 30 June 2022, in tabular form. [52640/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
701. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health whether any business cases have been submitted seeking additional cardiology staffing resources for Beaumont Hospital since 2023; and if so, the details of such submissions and outcome of each, in tabular form. [52641/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
702. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2027 of a 7.5% increase on spending under school dental scheme. [52646/26]
View answerThe HSE Public Dental Service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for
children at 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 and for those with complex and additional needs.
The 2025 budget for the Public Dental Service was €68 million. Based on this budget, an increase of 7.5% would cost an additional €5.1 million. With this increase, it would lead to an estimated total spend in 2027 of €73.1 million. This estimate does not account for orthodontic services.
703. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE neurologist registrars based at Naas General Hospital as of 3 July 2026, in tabular form. [52647/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
704. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2027 of a 7.5% uplift in medical interns, GP, basic specialist and higher specialist training places; and the number of additional places this would create, in tabular form. [52648/26]
View answerSignificant growth in Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) postgraduate medical training places and the number of doctors in training has been achieved in recent years, and this work is ongoing. Work is progressing between the Department of Health and HSE National Doctors Training & Planning (NDTP) to increase the number of postgraduate medical training places, informed by long term-term medical workforce planning projections.
The following information is provided by HSE NDTP:
|
- |
Additional posts based on 7.5% increase |
Additional Salary & Training costs of 7.5% increase in intake* |
|
Medical Interns |
69 additional posts |
€4.06 million p.a. |
|
BST/IST (Basic/Initial Specialist Training) Intake |
77 additional posts |
€6.12 million p.a. |
|
HST (Higher Specialist Training) Intake |
33 additional posts |
€3.42 million p.a. |
|
Total |
178 additional posts |
€13.6 million p.a. |
*Please note the following:
• Assumes establishment of new NCHD posts to accommodate increase in trainees, including GP trainees. The HSE midpoint salary scales have been used to estimate salary costs and associated PRSI above. Trainees may occupy any of the following grades – Intern, Senior House Officer, Registrar, and Specialist Registrar with salaries currently ranging between €52,500 - €115,000 depending on the grade held. The estimated salary costs do not include overtime costs.
• The costs outlined are re-occurring and cumulative, given the duration of BST programmes range between 2-4 years, and HST programmes range between 4-6 years.
• The training costs included above reflect the direct costs of delivering specialist training, including funding provided to the Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies under existing Service Level Agreements. However, increasing training capacity also has wider resource implications within the health service that are not readily quantifiable. These include the additional consultant time devoted to supervision and assessment, protected training time for trainees, and the associated service implications of facilitating participation in mandatory educational and training activities. These costs will vary considerably across specialties, clinical sites and models of service delivery.
705. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that were admitted to the national burns unit at St. James's Hospital in 2025 and to-date in 2026; and the average length of stay within this unit in each of those years, in tabular form. [52649/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
706. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of ambulance response times in County Wicklow in 2025 and to date in 2026, by municipal district, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52656/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
707. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of instances where ambulances in Wicklow did not arrive within the targeted timeframe in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; the longest period that a person waited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52657/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
708. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the preparations being made to ensure that mental health will be a priority during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union; whether Ireland intends to promote EU-wide cooperation on improving access to mental health services, suicide prevention, youth mental health, and workforce wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52686/26]
View answerThe Presidency’s health agenda, under the theme “investing in health to enable competitiveness,” reflects a strategic commitment to strengthening the EU’s global competitiveness while ensuring high-quality, effective healthcare delivery for European citizens.
The central focus of the Presidency is the advancement of key EU legislative priorities. Two flagship legislative dossiers — the Biotech Act I and simplification of the Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics Regulations (MDR/IVDR) — will be at the forefront. These aim to address pressing challenges and opportunities related to access, innovation, and competitiveness in the health and life sciences sectors. The Irish Presidency will seek a Council General Approach on medical device regulatory reforms, progress negotiations on the Biotech Act Regulation, and conduct trilogue negotiations to secure political agreement on the Biotech Act Directive should the Parliament adopt its position in time.
The Presidency programme is structured around three areas of strategic focus.
• First, Ireland will lead discussions on the future of medicines, promoting innovation in life sciences, clinical trials, and regulatory frameworks to support both competitiveness and sustainable access to treatments.
• Second, the Presidency will highlight evidence-based prevention strategies and address health inequalities. We will progress negotiations on the Council Recommendation on health checks for cardiovascular diseases which is expected to be published later this year, as well as facilitating exchanges on early detection and integrated care, and increasing focus on women’s health, including endometriosis, recognising its broader societal and economic impact. Ireland will emphasise the importance and impact of the EU’s approach to integrating mental health into all policies and will explore ways of strengthening Europe’s health security architecture by ensuring mental health remains integral to resilience, crisis preparedness and the management of cross border health threats.
• Third, Ireland will prioritise the implementation of digital health systems and data sharing. Progressing the European Health Data Space will be key, enabling secure, interoperable data use to support research, innovation, and the development of safe and effective AI in healthcare.
The Presidency Conference: Resilient Europe: Mental Health as a Strategic Asset for Europe’s Strength and Competitiveness, planned for the 15/10/2026 in Cork, will emphasise the importance and impact of the EU’s approach to integrating mental health into all policies. The conference aims to explore ways of strengthening Europe’s health security architecture by ensuring mental health remains integral to resilience, crisis preparedness and response, and to the management of cross border health threats.
It will be followed by the Presidency Associated Event: Voices in Recovery - Celebrating Lived Experience, on 16/10/2026 in Waterford. This conference will reflect the significance of lived experience as an innovative approach to service delivery. Incorporating lived experience redefines the power dynamic between professionals and service users, replacing traditional hierarchy with collaborative partnerships that drive meaningful, tailored, and compassionate care.
Finally, the High-Level Ministerial Presidency Conference on Maximising EU potential through Health - Securing Our Future Through Prevention, Innovation and Equity, on 16-17/11/2026 in Dublin is proposed as a dynamic forum that will bring Member States together to drive forward innovative, evidence-based approaches for prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’s). Aligned with Irelands Presidency priorities our aim is to promote a proactive approach to population health across the EU, focusing on equitable access and innovation for preventative care. This event will convene politicians, policymakers, researchers, civil society, clinicians, patients and advocates to collaborate for a healthier, more equitable future for health in Europe. Mental health will be the focus of one of the breakout sessions.
709. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) in County Donegal can have treatment under the HSE dental services, the treatment pathway for the HSE and every possible avenue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52693/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
710. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE psychologist posts filled at Grove Court primary care centre as of 6 July 2026, in tabular form. [52716/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
711. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical nurse managers two and one posts that have been filled within accident and emergency department of Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown as of 3 July 2026, in tabular form. [52717/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
712. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health to ensure assessments of needs are completed as quickly as possible for children (details supplied); that they receive funding for SNA hours and home tuition due to lack of school places suitable for their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52725/26]
View answerThis PQ is not for the Department of Health. We respectfully request that this Parliamentary Question be redirected to the Department of Education and Youth as the matters raised fall under their remit.
713. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of conditions (details supplied) per annum from 2015 to 2019 and 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52726/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
714. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a person (details supplied) who currently receives no respite and whose parent is struggling with escalating behaviours. [52729/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
715. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health if the head of service of the HSE mid-west disability services (details supplied) has resigned, and that they have not yet been replaced; when they will be replaced; if they have moved to a different position in the HSE; when their role as head of service was advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52731/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
716. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a child (details supplied) who has yet to receive a primary school pre-dental screening and is now entering first year of secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52754/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
717. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department and the HSE have agreed to put in place a tendering process for teledermatology; the date when tenders were invited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52760/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department and the HSE have agreed on the standards and governance structures which will be put in place in respect of teledermatology to ensure that the State receives good quality outcomes when the system is in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52761/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
