Thursday, 16 Jul 2026

Written Answers Nos. 501-520

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Health Service Executive

Questions (501)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

501. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 769 and 770 of 23 June 2026, if a person or body, independent of the HSE, will review the governance failures which left the former HSE CEO unaware of both incidents; the person or unit within her Department or the Department of An Taoiseach responsible for ensuring that governance concerns were answered (details supplied) rather than administratively routed back to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54385/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As previously advised in June, the Department of Health was contacted last year in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. Given the nature of the correspondence, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the HSE was requested to examine the matter and meet with the person raising the concerns. That meeting took place in November 2025.

Following that, the former CEO confirmed to the Department that he was satisfied that he had appropriately enquired into and taken action in relation to the concerns expressed to him. My Department considers that this matter has been examined at the most senior level in the HSE and appropriately addressed through the relevant processes.

As this is an operational matter for the HSE, I have asked the HSE to also respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.

Hospital Staff

Questions (502)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

502. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the present governance structure for the management of projects, construction works and changes to building infrastructure within the management structure of Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54388/26]

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 Staff

Questions (503)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

503. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the written, documented policy governing the management of projects, construction works and building alterations at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, including an organogram, setting out clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each post identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54389/26]

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 Staff

Questions (504)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

504. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the post within Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, other than the hospital manager, which holds lead responsibility for projects, construction works and building alterations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54390/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Staff

Questions (505)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

505. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the current governance structure for the management of projects, construction works and building alterations at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, is considered fit for purpose; if this structure was informed by any external review, audit or report benchmarked against best practice; if so, if she will provide same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54391/26]

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 Staff

Questions (506)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

506. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the job descriptions of any post at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, identified as holding responsibility for projects, construction works or building alterations, as evidence of an embedded governance structure and clear lines of accountability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54392/26]

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 Equipment

Questions (507)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

507. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the date on which the most recently installed CT scanner at Beaumont Hospital was commissioned and became operational; the current number of CT scanners available at the hospital; the hours during which each scanner operates; whether CT scanning services are available on a 24-hour basis for emergency patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54402/26]

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.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (508)

George Lawlor

Question:

508. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the funding available to help support families and individuals with the purchase of seizure detection devices (details supplied); her plans to introduce a fund to assist families with the cost of purchasing seizure detection devices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54404/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions, through Community Funded Schemes(CFS) - also referred to as Local Demand Led Schemes (LDLS). These schemes support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case.

Aids and appliances are provided to eligible service users in line with the established processes and procedures in place in local health areas. The criteria for accessing aids and appliances are varied and can be based on clinical need, demand, medical card eligibility, Long Term Illness (LTI) eligibility, priority listing, compassionate grounds, or a combination of these.

In addition, under the Long-Term Illness Scheme, patients with one of sixteen conditions, which includes epilepsy, receive approved drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.

In addition to these supports, if an individual cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants, they may be eligible to apply to the HSE for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme.

As the Deputy raises questions regarding the provision of services, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (509)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

509. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs participating in the free contraception scheme, by county, in tabular form. [54412/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (510)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

510. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs in the State, by county, in tabular form. [54413/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Please note that GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold at least one contract with the HSE for the provision of medical services on its behalf, such as the GMS contract for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Accordingly, it may only be possible for the HSE to respond in relation to HSE contracted GPs.

Pharmacy Services

Questions (511)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

511. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of pharmacies participating in the free contraception scheme, by county, in tabular form. [54414/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Free Contraception Scheme (FCS) for women ordinarily resident in Ireland, was launched in 2022. Its remit has been expanded gradually from 17-25 initially to include women aged from 17 to 35 inclusive currently. Approximately €45m is allocated to support the scheme in 2026 and approximately 2,450 GPs, primary care, family planning and student health centres and just over 1,900 community pharmacies across the country are participating in the scheme currently.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to provide additional detail, directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Pharmacy Services

Questions (512)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

512. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of pharmacies in the State, by county, in tabular form. [54415/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I thank the Deputy for his question. The number of pharmacies in the State, by county, verified by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is as follows:

County	No. of Pharmacies
Carlow	28
Cavan	35
Clare	45
Cork	229
Donegal	67
Dublin	534
Galway	122
Kerry	63
Kildare	78
Kilkenny	41
Laois	33
Leitrim	15
Limerick	98
Longford	19
Louth	67
Mayo	63
Meath	68
Monaghan	25
Offaly	30
Roscommon	21
Sligo	32
Tipperary	77
Waterford	50
Westmeath	45
Wexford	58
Wicklow	56
Total	1999

Health Services

Questions (513)

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

513. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be considered for the SATU network in 2027, for both the continuity of its essential services and the expansion of its services and the network itself; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54421/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter, this PQ is referred to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Questions (514)

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

514. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the difficulties faced by nursing and midwifery applicants who trained in the North of Ireland when registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; her views on whether it is acceptable that barriers are in place for nurses who wish to practise in Ireland at a time of staffing shortages; the plans to streamline the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54422/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Responsibility for the registration of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).  The NMBI is an independent regulatory body established under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.

As the query raised by the Deputy is a matter for the NMBI, I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Questions (515, 516)

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

515. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health the reason a Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, applicant (details supplied), who is an Irish citizen with English as their native language, who sat the leaving certificate and who has completed their studies in an English-speaking college, has been asked to submit English language test results to NMBI as part of their registration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54423/26]

Ryan O'Meara

Question:

516. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health the reason a compensation measure has been requested by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, on an application (details supplied); to clarify the specific "quantitative and qualitative deficits" that were identified in the programme by NMBI, and the NMBI/EU Directive 2005/36/EC standards and requirements that were identified as having not been met by the programme in order that the applicant may be fully informed should they wish to appeal the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54424/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.

Responsibility for the registration of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).  The NMBI is an independent regulatory body established under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.

As the query raised by the Deputy is a matter for the NMBI, I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.

Question No. 516 answered with Question No. 515.

Primary Care Centres

Questions (517)

Michael Cahill

Question:

517. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the progress report in regard to the new Cahersiveen primary care centre; when this project will be delivered for the people of Cahersiveen, Iveragh and south Kerry; when work will commence and when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54432/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (518)

Michael Cahill

Question:

518. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed progress report with regard to the new minor injuries unit in Killarney; when this long-awaited project will be delivered for the people of Killarney and mid-, east and south Kerry; when work will commence and when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54433/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Minister for Health and this government is committed to improving access to urgent and emergency care services and to ensuring that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting, as close to home as possible. Injury Units have an important role in this regard by providing timely care for patients with non-life-threatening or limb-threatening injuries, while also helping to reduce avoidable attendances at Emergency Departments.

The Health Service Executive has confirmed that the proposed Injury Unit for Killarney remains a priority development as part of the wider programme to expand access to Injury Unit services nationally. The objective of this programme is to provide more equitable access to urgent care services, support patients to receive care in the most appropriate setting, and reduce pressure on Emergency Departments, including University Hospital Kerry.

In relation to the Killarney project, the HSE has advised that the delivery of the Injury Unit is dependent on the completion of the Community Nursing Unit in Killarney.

Subject to the completion of the Community Nursing Unit and the progression of the associated enabling works and approvals, the current timeline is that the Killarney Injury Unit will be completed in late 2027.

The Department will continue to engage with the HSE on the progression of this project and on the wider Injury Unit expansion programme. The Minister recognises the importance of this development for the people of Killarney and the surrounding region, and is keen to see the project advanced as quickly as possible, while ensuring that it is delivered in a safe, planned and sustainable manner.

Disability Services

Questions (519)

Catherine Callaghan

Question:

519. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of section 39 disability service providers in the HSE Dublin and south-east region that received sustainability funding in budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54441/26]

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.

Disability Services

Questions (520)

Catherine Callaghan

Question:

520. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of section 39 disability service providers in the HSE Dublin and south-east region that applied for but did not receive sustainability funding in budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54442/26]

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.

• Written Answers Nos. 480-500
• Written Answers Nos. 521-540