Tuesday, 14 Jul 2026

Written Answers Nos. 719-738

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Health Services

Questions (719)

Donna McGettigan

Question:

719. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health to outline the circumstances in which a person (details supplied) was injured in a healthcare setting; the details of the injuries sustained; to confirm that the person's mother had to resort to contacting wall padding companies and that this compelled the HSE to install padding in the person's room; if she is satisfied that no other patients are lacking the wall coverings they require; to outline any other measures being put in place to prevent further injuries to the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52762/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (720)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

720. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who having been referred to the orthodontic waiting list at St. Camillus Hospital Limerick, has been advised that they will be waiting 18-months for an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52770/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (721)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

721. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an ENT outpatient appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital; if they are on the routine or urgent waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52771/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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 HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Questions (722)

David Cullinane

Question:

722. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if funding for private orthodontic treatment for long waiters has been stopped (details supplied); the level of sanctioned funding for this for each region; if funding limits have been reached in any region; the amount spent in each region; the contingency in place for long waiters should funding limits be reached, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52772/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Health Services

Questions (723, 726, 727, 728)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

723. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 705 of 28 May 2026, whether the Department or the HSE can confirm definitively whether any minutes, file notes, or correspondence concerning the WPATH Standards of Care Version 7 decision exist; and if none exist, to confirm this explicitly. [52792/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

726. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 707 of 28 May 2026,to confirm directly, by yes or no, whether any external organisation, advocacy group, academic institution, or clinical body was consulted prior to the inclusion of WPATH Standards of Care Version 7 in the December 2019 submission [52795/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

727. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 713 of 28 May 2026, to name the expert clinician leading the updated Model of Care, to provide a timeline for its completion, and to confirm whether a revised job description or governance structure has been drafted to date. [52796/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

728. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1943 of 9 June 2026, to name the specific body or individuals responsible for approving the 2021 consultant post, given that the reply referred only to service need and workforce planning considerations without identifying an accountable party. [52797/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 723 and 726 to 728, inclusive, together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (724)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

724. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 704 of 28 May 2026, given that no formal audit or governance review was cited, whether the Department will commit to commissioning a retrospective governance assessment of the 2018 to 2019 approval process. [52793/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (725)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

725. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 706 of 28 May 2026, to confirm directly, by yes or no, whether legal advice was sought or obtained concerning reliance on WPATH Standards of Care Version 7 in the December 2019 consultant application. [52794/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 726 answered with Question No. 723.

Question No. 727 answered with Question No. 723.

Question No. 728 answered with Question No. 723.

Health Services

Questions (729)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

729. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1945 of 9 June 2026 to confirm directly, by yes or no, whether any external expert or peer review was sought prior to the December 2019 application. [52798/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (730)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

730. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1946 of 9 June 2026, to confirm directly, by yes or no, whether the HSE retains any record identifying the individuals or committee that approved the reference to WPATH Standards of Care Version 7; and if no such record is retained, to confirm this explicitly and state why. [52799/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

National Children's Hospital

Questions (731, 732, 733, 735, 736)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

731. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific readiness criteria, metrics and pass/fail thresholds contained within the Go-Live Readiness Assessment (GLRA) and Hospital Commissioning Readiness Level (HCRL) frameworks being applied to the National Children's Hospital; to confirm which body or individual has final sign-off authority on Day 1 readiness; to confirm whether the results of these assessments will be published prior to opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52800/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

732. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.2222 of 9 June 2026, in which Children's Health Ireland did not address whether a copy of the readiness framework, checklist, scorecard or assessment tool used for the opening of the National Children's Hospital will be published, if this material will be published; if not, the reason it will not be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52801/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

733. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.2221 of 9 June 2026, in which the Minister was asked to provide the full list of clinical, operational, governance and patient safety criteria used by Children's Health Ireland in determining readiness for day one opening of the National Children's Hospital, and in which no such list was provided, to now set out that list in full, in tabular or itemised form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52802/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

735. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2225 of 9 June 2026, the procurement route by which each company (details supplied) was engaged; whether either engagement was subject to public tender; the cost of each contract to date; the projected total cost of each contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52804/26]

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

736. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2225 of 9 June 2026, in which reference was made to an external review of Children's Health Ireland's operational readiness led by an international expert, to confirm the identity of that expert, the terms of reference of the review, the date the review was completed, whether the review report will be published in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52805/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 to 733, inclusive, 735 and 736 together.

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 732 answered with Question No. 731.

Question No. 733 answered with Question No. 731.

National Children's Hospital

Questions (734)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

734. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.2223 of 9 June 2026, in which onboarding timelines by phase were provided but no specific minimum staffing thresholds, clinical commissioning milestones, ICT readiness requirements, emergency preparedness exercise outcomes or patient safety indicators were disclosed for the National Children's Hospital, to now provide the specific thresholds, milestones, requirements and indicators that must be met before a Go-Live recommendation is made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52803/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 735 answered with Question No. 731.

Question No. 736 answered with Question No. 731.

Health Services Staff

Questions (737)

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

737. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts in Cashel CDNT; the length of time each of these posts has been vacant; the efforts taken to fill each of these vacant posts to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52811/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (738)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

738. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the arrangements and protocols in place for medical emergencies on offshore islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52818/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy's question concerns day-to-day service and operational matters I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

• Written Answers Nos. 699-718
• Written Answers Nos. 739-757