Written Answers Nos. 145-176
145. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the work of the steering group for the development of a national policy regarding Kinship Care; and if a timeline is available for the completion of the work. [67477/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment with regard to kinship carers. Accordingly, the Department is in the process of developing a national policy on the rights of children living in informal kinship care. Considerable work has taken place to date, with the aim of finalising the policy by in 2026.
To date, as part of the development of the national policy the Department:
• is finalising the scoping exercise on informal kinship care in Ireland. This exercise covers a review of:
• the existing relevant legislation
• the current reality for families in informal kinship care arrangements including their current access to supports
• national and international literature and international perspectives and examples of best practice.
• is ensuring that the voice of the child is present from the earliest possible stage. Consultations carried out with children and young people with experience of informal kinship care arrangements, concluded in September 2025. This approach is aligned with Article 12 of the UNCRC and the requirement that the child's views must be considered and taken into account, in all matters affecting him or her.
• has completed a consultation, via survey, with parents of children with experience of informal kinship care.
• has completed research to better understand the experiences of kinship carers.
This is a very sensitive and complex issue, and the Department is working closely with stakeholders such as Kinship Care Ireland.
The Department is now preparing draft policy recommendations. These are informed by the scoping exercise, findings from the consultations and research activities and are being developed in consultation with the Steering and Advisory Groups for the development of the policy. I expect the policy to be finalised in 2026, and this will pave the way for associated implementation plans. This timeline is dependent on the engagement and agreement of other Departments.
146. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the waiting lists for and approved staffing complement of Waterford South City Children's Disability Network Team at 31 August 2026; the sanctioned, filled and vacant WTE posts by team, discipline, grade; the number of agency WTEs and agency expenditure; the number of children waiting for each service and waiting-time band; the number assigned and unassigned to a key contact or case manager where recorded; and the average and median time to initial contact and commencement of intervention, in tabular form. [67602/26]
View answer147. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the approved staffing complement of each Children's Disability Network Team at 31 August 2026; the sanctioned, filled and vacant WTE posts by team, discipline, grade and lead agency; the number of agency WTEs and agency expenditure; the number of children waiting for each service by team and waiting-time band; the number assigned and unassigned to a key contact or case manager where recorded; and the average and median time to initial contact and commencement of intervention, in tabular form. [67597/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
148. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of additional home support hours that have been assessed as clinically required but remain undelivered nationally, and by county. [67229/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
149. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 866 of 6 May 2026, and the HSE response, if she is aware that certified athletic therapists are qualified to manage patients under the criteria outlined by the HSE, but are prevented from assisting due to a lack of regulation; if she will urgently progress regulation of the profession, given that 300 ARTI certified athletic therapists currently practice in Ireland and approximately 150 honours degree students graduate from four Irish universities each year, so they can support physiotherapy services and help reduce waiting lists. [67119/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
150. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of home-support hours approved but undelivered due to workforce shortages. [67240/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
151. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether an analysis has been conducted on the relationship between home-support worker pay rates and unfilled home-support hours nationally. [67238/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
152. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the proportion of State-funded home-support expenditure that reaches frontline care staff as wages [67236/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
153. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average gross margin retained by home-support providers for each €32.73 home-support hour funded by the HSE. [67235/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
154. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health for a report on the take up by nursing homes of the resident environment enhancement scheme. [67258/26]
View answerThe new €10m Nursing Home Resident Environment Enhancement (REE) Scheme opened for applications on 16 April 2026 and will close on 20 November 2026.
The REE Scheme aims to support private and voluntary nursing homes to carry out structural and other improvements that enhance the day-to-day living environments for residents, and to improve compliance with Regulation 17 (Premises) as it applies to residents’ bedrooms and bathrooms, personal living spaces, communal areas, and equipment, furniture and furnishings for use by residents.
Each qualifying nursing home can claim up to €25,000 for eligible works carried out under the Scheme between 1 January 2025 and 20 November 2026.
To date, €3.88 million has already been paid to 159 nursing homes for eligible works under the Scheme.
This 2026 measure reflects the Government's commitment to supporting improvements in residential care settings and enhancing the quality of life of nursing home residents.
155. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current NAS policy governing eligibility for shift allowance or shift premium for paramedics, including the minimum number and type of qualifying shifts required, for each grade and cohort; the details of circulars or similar governing this; and whether there a different rules for new paramedics in any service area compared to existing staff. [67255/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of a medication (details supplied) for the treatment of Phenylketonuria (PKU) in Ireland. [67252/26]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds.
To commence the pricing and reimbursement process, a pharmaceutical company must submit an application for a new medicine or a new use of an existing medicine to the HSE’s Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit. European Medicines Agency (EMA) or Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) authorisation is required for the medicine prior to submission to the HSE for reimbursement as reimbursement only applies to licensed uses (indications) of the medicine.
Ireland is ‘open for business’ and all pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to submit applications for reimbursement for new medicines that are granted marketing authorisation in Europe.
Further information on the progress of assessment and approval processes is available via the Pricing and Reimbursement Application tracker available at HSE - PCRS (www.sspcrs.ie/portal/rdt/pub/application/home)
As of the 20th of September 2026, no pricing and reimbursement application has been received by the HSE for sepiapterin (Sephience®). The national assessment and decision process cannot commence in the absence of a pricing and reimbursement application submission.
157. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the chronic disease management programme and implementation across all areas; the number of GPs providing services in each area; the number of other workers associated with the programme in whole time equivalent in each area; the number of unfilled posts associated with the programme by area; the spend on the scheme in each year since inception and to date in 2026, by area, in tabular form; if she has considered making the scheme universal; and the potential cost of making the scheme universal. [67246/26]
View answerUnder the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and was rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period.
The specified chronic conditions included in the Programme are Type 2 Diabetes; Asthma; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (including Heart Failure, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Atrial Fibrillation).
In 2023, the programme was expanded to include adult GMS patients with hypertension, and all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. Work is currently underway to further expand the programme to include chronic kidney disease, among other conditions.
It is not currently planned to expand eligibility for the Programme to all patients on a universal basis. However, this may be considered in the context of broader expansions of eligibility and the implementation of Sláintecare. It is important to note that any expansion of the Programme requires careful clinical consideration and consultation with GPs and other stakeholders to ensure that the expansion can be rolled out effectively and to define the phasing and time-scale of the expansion. The cost of the expansion could be determined only once those elements are defined.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to the number of GPs contracted to provide the CDM programme and the expenditure on the programme to date.
In relation to the number of other workers associated with the programme, it is not possible to provide a definitive number of practice nurses directly engaged in the delivery of the CDM programme. GPs privately employ practice staff as they see fit and as suitable to the particular needs of their practice.
158. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health If she will ensure an urgent surgery appointment is expedited for a patient (details supplied). [67346/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
159. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Health whether she has considered adding a home INR monitoring system (details supplied) to the HSE reimbursement list for patients who require regular anticoagulation monitoring; whether an assessment has been undertaken of the potential benefits of home INR self-testing in improving patient outcomes, reducing demand on primary and secondary care services, and enhancing patients' quality of life. [67340/26]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. The Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.
The HSE have advised that CoaguChek® meters and International Normalised Ratio (INR) self-testing strips are not reimbursable under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme, the Community Drug Schemes, or the Community Funded Schemes.
Whilst a range of diagnostics are available on the HSE's formal Reimbursement List for use in Diabetes, a change in HSE policy would be required to expand this to other therapeutic areas such as INR testing ancillaries.
The HSE have further advised that on very rare occasions, CoaguChek® strips were approved for reimbursement in the most exceptional circumstances under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements where it was clear that there was no other option for the patient i.e., the person was bed bound or could not travel to the INR clinic.
160. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 5 March 2026, for an update on the formal business case concerning orthodontic staffing in HSE South West; whether approval has been granted for additional consultant orthodontist posts and succession planning for the anticipated retirement; the current number of consultant orthodontists employed in whole-time equivalent terms; the number of children awaiting assessment and treatment in Cork and Kerry, respectively; the current waiting times; and the measures being taken to reduce these waiting lists. [67335/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
161. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the rationale for the decommissioning of the administrative post supporting physiotherapy and speech and language therapy services in Swinford; and if she will provide details of any impact or risk assessment carried out prior to this decision. [67353/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
162. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1922 of 4 November 2025, for an update on the proposed enhanced community care facility in Mallow, County Cork; whether the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework analysis referred to in the response to this Parliamentary Question has been completed; the outcome of that analysis; the services now proposed for the facility; and the current position regarding its location and delivery through a lease model; the expected timeline for a new tender process and the opening of the facility. [67334/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
163. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health for an update on the contingency arrangements the HSE has put in place to ensure continuity of care for physiotherapy and speech and language therapy patients in Swinford, given that clinicians will be required to undertake non clinical administrative duties in the absence of dedicated administrative staff. [67355/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
164. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns raised by families affected by paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections; whether consideration is being given to the development of clinical guidance or care pathways for affected children; whether officials from her Department, the HSE, or relevant clinical specialties will attend forthcoming educational and awareness events relating to these conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67333/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
165. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the health and safety requirements that must be met for the proposed chiropody clinic in Swinford; and the reason the clinic cannot proceed in the absence of administrative support. [67359/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
166. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health whether the planned rollout of the CRNT Physiotherapy service in Swinford at the end of September is now at risk due to the withdrawal of administrative support; and the steps will be taken to ensure the service proceeds as scheduled. [67358/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
167. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average hourly rate paid to frontline home-support workers employed by private providers contracted by the HSE. [67234/26]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
168. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the criteria used by the HSE when deciding to decommission administrative posts; and whether the option of recommissioning the existing administrative role in Swinford was considered as an alternative to reliance on agency staff. [67361/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has undertaken any review of primary care service provision in East Mayo; and if she will address concerns that the withdrawal of administrative support in Swinford represents a systematic wind down of local services. [67360/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
170. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to resolve administrative and multidisciplinary assessment delays for a child (details supplied) caught between the HSE primary care and children’s disability network teams (CDNT); the specific measures in place to ensure families receive timely updates and liaison officer engagement following multidisciplinary review meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67378/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
171. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments regarding pharmacists and pharmacy services. [67415/26]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the day-to-day operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health services is a matter for HSE. The parts of this query which relate to streamlining community pharmacy HSE reimbursement procedures, as a Programme for Government commitment, .have therefore been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. In relation to the three other Programme for Government Commitments related to pharmacy and pharmacists (i.e. appointment of a Chief Pharmaceutical officer, expansion of pharmacy services and reviewing the pharmacy fee structure) please see the response below.
There are 5 important commitments regarding pharmacists and pharmacy services in the Programme for Government, namely:
Appoint a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer within the Department of Health.
Introduce a Common Conditions Service and further expand the services provided by pharmacists.
Streamline community pharmacy HSE reimbursement procedures.
Review the pharmacy fee structure.
Increase the number of healthcare college places in nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health and social care professions (including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy).
Update on the implementation of these commitments:
Appointment of Chief Pharmaceutical Officer within the Department of Health: The Department has successfully completed the appointment process for the role of Chief Pharmaceutical Officer. A formal statement from the Minister for Health will issue shortly.
Expansion of pharmacy services:
Common Conditions Service (CCS) :
Following on from the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, medicines and pharmacy legislation has been changed to enable community pharmacists to provide treatment, including prescription treatments, for eight specified common conditions under the Common Conditions Service, in accordance with clinical protocols. A public awareness campaign launched on 19 January 2026. Over 95% of pharmacies have signed up to provide this private, fee- based consultation service to help treat some common health conditions such as conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections and shingles.
A focus group of Common Conditions Service Data Champion pharmacists (to gather feedback and insights on delivery of service) was held on 30 July 2026. In addition, 110 of the 150 Data Champion pharmacists have completed and submitted their pharmacist surveys to the DoH to date. Quantitative data submission from these 150 data champion pharmacies will commence in October 2026 and will be used in conjunction with the qualitative data to evaluate the implementation of the service. An online public survey is available to capture patient’s perspectives of the service. PROCS unit are considering other conditions to include in a potential expansion of the service in future, following the success of the first eight conditions.
PPV23 Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination: The Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 formally expands the role of Community Pharmacists in public Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) administration as part of the national immunisation programme. From 1 May 2026, Community Pharmacists are now enabled and funded to administer the PPV23 to healthy over 65-year olds who hold a GMS Card, GP Visit Card (GPVC) or Health Amendment Act (HAA) Card.
The Medicines Optimisation Support Service: a significant reform of phased dispensing arrangements alongside the introduction of a new patient-centred Medicine Optimisation Support Service, came into effect on 1 June 2026. The reforms see rigid phased dispensing fees replaced with a more flexible patient focused model - which empowers pharmacists to use their professional judgement to support patients most in need.
MediBack: this Disposal of Unused Medicines service, alongside a public communications campaign launched on 28 August 2026. This is a nationwide service, available in every community pharmacy in Ireland and will ensure the safe return and disposal of unused or expired medicines via community pharmacies. It is free of charge for the public.
National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS): The NCDS is being expanded on a phased basis to pharmacy consultation rooms, to further enable contraception availability through pharmacies. Phased introduction to pharmacies is almost complete.
The Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 was signed into law by President Connolly on 21 July 2026, enabling pharmacists to extend prescriptions for contraception. Secondary legislation, regulatory guidance and education and training for pharmacists is being prepared to support operationalisation of this service by pharmacists.
BowelScreen Programme Support - Community pharmacies are now playing an important role in supporting the National BowelScreen Programme. Through their accessibility and trusted relationships with patients, pharmacists and pharmacy teams are helping to increase awareness of bowel cancer screening and improve participation rates across the country. More than 1,550 pharmacies have signed up to provide this service.
Streamline community pharmacy HSE reimbursement procedures:
This particular Programme for Government commitment is led by the HSE. Accordingly, this part of the PQ has been forwarded to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.
Review the pharmacy fee structure:
The Department, HSE and Irish Pharmacy Union concluded pharmacy contract negotiations in September 2025, resulting in the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025. This Agreement includes commitments to commence a range of new services, provides an uplift in the core dispensing fees, secures the cooperation of community pharmacy with the eHealth agenda, and provides a process for ongoing strategic engagement between the three parties. Two meetings of the Strategic Collaboration Group (which includes colleagues from the Department of Health, HSE and Irish Pharmacy Union) have occurred in 2026.
A statutory review of pharmacy fees has commenced, in accordance with section 42 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.
5. Increased the numbers of pharmacy places in universities:
• Significant Government investment is being provided to expand healthcare education provision from 2025–2026 as a key part of addressing future supply of healthcare professionals and ensuring Ireland can meet growing healthcare needs.
• In February 2026, Minister for Further and Higher Education announced €28.5 million investment to support the delivery of more than 1,100 additional healthcare training places over the next three years across medicine, nursing, therapy professions, pharmacy, and dentistry.
• This investment supports the creation of 151 additional pharmacy places annually across University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University and Southeast Technological University.
172. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to completing and publishing a national model of care for acute and chronic pain services, together with a funded, time-bound implementation plan. [67494/26]
View answer173. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will implement the ICD-11 chronic-pain classifications; and to outline her plans to improve national chronic-pain data on need, service capacity, access, waiting times and outcomes. [67493/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together.
As this relates to clinical and operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
175. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason for a tender (details supplied); the cost and duration of same. [67491/26]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
176. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will request the HSE to release an outstanding assessment report to a child's parent (details supplied); the reasons it was omitted from the disclosure schedule; if any formal decision was taken to withhold it; and if so, the basis for this decision. [67490/26]
View answerI have asked the Health Service Executive to respond direct to the Deputy as soon as possible in relation to the detailed operational information sought.
