Tuesday, 14 Jul 2026

Health Services

Questions (796)

Robert Troy

Question:

796. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment can be expedited for a person (details supplied). [53070/26]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Health Services

Questions (797)

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

797. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will get access to speech and language services within Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53071/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill)

This is a matter for the Department of Children, Disability and Inclusion to seek such answer.

Health Services

Questions (798)

Michael Lowry

Question:

798. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting will take place between CUH, UHL and CAMHS Limerick under the new Autism Rules and the National Autism Innovation Strategy, for a case involving suspected autistic catatonia; the statutory rights and obligations that require these services to share information quickly, including the Autism Innovation Strategy, the Health Act 2004, the Mental Health Act 2001, the Assisted Decision Making Act 2015, the Children First Act 2015, and GDPR Articles 6 and 9; the exact timeframe within which communication between CUH, UHL and CAMHS must occur under these rules; and to confirm the date communication began, or if not yet begun, the exact date it will commence [53093/26]

View answer

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.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (799)

James O'Connor

Question:

799. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the proposed opening of a facility (details supplied) to patients local to the area; if patients from other facilities are being accommodated in the same facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53107/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (800)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

800. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on an operation for a person (details supplied) [53111/26]

View answer

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.

Health Services

Questions (801)

Carol Nolan

Question:

801. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if a full review will be initiated into the clinical assessment and management of a patient (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53114/26]

View answer

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.

Suicide Prevention

Questions (802, 803, 804)

Carol Nolan

Question:

802. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was assessed solely by a trainee GP; whether this practice aligns with national clinical governance standards for acute psychiatric presentations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53115/26]

View answer

Carol Nolan

Question:

803. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the national protocols for managing acute presentations involving severe anxiety, self-harm behaviours and expressed feelings of being a burden, particularly in individuals with no prior psychiatric history; whether these protocols were followed in a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53116/26]

View answer

Carol Nolan

Question:

804. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to ensure continuity of mental health care for persons who relocate between CHO areas; whether gaps in continuity contributed to the deterioration of a patient (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53117/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 to 804, inclusive, together.

There has been sustained and significant investment in suicide reduction initiatives over the last number of years, underlining the high priority placed by Government on improving mental health services and supports and reducing suicide and self-harm across the population.

This commitment has been further reinforced in Budget 2026. The total allocation for mental health is almost €1.6 billion, representing a record level of funding and an increase for the sixth consecutive year, with overall mental health funding increasing by over 50% since 2020.

Budget 2026 also includes a major focus on improving supports for people in mental health crisis, with over €15 million in additional funding for crisis supports and suicide prevention measures.

The Government's new suicide and self-harm reduction strategy, Connecting for Life 2026–2035, places a strong emphasis on coordinated, person-centred care and includes a commitment that individuals presenting to HSE or HSE-funded mental health services should receive an individualised care plan which supports seamless transition between services throughout their recovery journey. The strategy also provides for integrated crisis response pathways and the consistent use of individualised recovery care plans to support continuity of care based on assessed need.

This funding is supporting a range of service developments, including expanded crisis resolution services and crisis cafés as alternatives to Emergency Departments, strengthened SCAN supports in primary care settings, specialist out-of-hours nursing provision in Emergency Departments, enhanced crisis pathways for children and young people, increased funding for community and voluntary organisations delivering suicide prevention services such as Pieta, and €1 million to support the initial implementation of the new suicide reduction strategy.

These measures are aligned with the objectives of Connecting for Life 2026–2035, including strengthening crisis responses across hospital and community settings, improving access to community-based supports, supporting continuity of care, and expanding alternatives to Emergency Departments. []

In addition, there has been sustained investment in suicide reduction initiatives through the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), with expenditure increasing significantly from approximately €5.19 million in 2012 to €14 million in 2024.

Crisis mental health supports, including those with 24/7 coverage, are currently provided across a number of settings and services, including hospital-based services, out-of-hours services such as CAMHS on-call, and non-governmental organisation services such as crisis phone and text supports, funded by HSE Mental Health Services.

The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee for Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone (2020–2030) is currently overseeing a piece of work by the HSE Implementation Group to bring together the range of available out-of-hours and crisis services and supports, with a view to aligning and streamlining supports and identifying any potential gaps in service provision. It is envisaged that this work will form the basis of an Adult Crisis Response Framework.

In addition, I have overseen the expansion of a range of community-based crisis supports as alternatives to Emergency Departments, including Crisis Resolution Teams, Crisis Cafés and the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse (SCAN) service. These supports are designed to provide timely assessment, intervention and follow-up for people experiencing mental health difficulties and are being further expanded through Budget 2026 funding.

As these Parliamentary Questions raise a number of operational and case-specific matters, including matters relating to the assessment and care of an individual service user, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.