Claire Kerrane
Ceist:391. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all healthcare vacancies unable to be filled in County Roscommon due to the recruitment embargo. [14793/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services Staff
Ceisteanna (391)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (392)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:392. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all healthcare vacancies unable to be filled in County Galway due to the recruitment embargo. [14794/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Referred to HSE for reply.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (393)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:393. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all ambulance base locations with rapid response vehicles (RRVs) in the West of Ireland; the current makeup of the crew for each RRV; and to provide a list of current vacancies on the roster for RRVs. [14795/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter for the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in the first instance, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Office of the Attorney General
Ceisteanna (394)
Ged Nash
Ceist:394. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if her Department has received legal advice requested by her predecessor in September 2024 from the Attorney General in relation to the publication of the 'Drogheda Review' undertaken by Judge TC Smyth in 2009; the date on which the formal advice was received by her Department from the Attorney General; if she will outline her next steps on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14796/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In October 2009, the Minister for Health and Children announced the establishment of an independent non-statutory review - the “Drogheda Review”.
The purpose of the review was to advise on whether a further investigation into the procedures and practices at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda during the period 1964 to 1995 would be of significant public benefit in helping to improve best practice guidelines and policies. The review was carried out by retired High Court Judge T.C. Smyth.
Judge Smyth submitted his report to the then Minister in September 2010. The report recommended that a further investigation should not be held and that, in order to avoid prejudicing any civil or criminal cases, the report should not be published. A short summary of the report was, however, prepared and supplied to the patient support groups in January 2011.
In order to ensure that the publication does not adversely impact those who contributed to the report, or undermine future civil or criminal cases, legal advice has been sought on the matter of publishing the report. This legal advice has not yet been received by my Department.
State Properties
Ceisteanna (395)
John McGuinness
Ceist:395. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of the sale of the old health centre, Tinnahinch, County Carlow, to Carlow County Council; and if the sale will be expedited, as the plan is to provide social housing on the site. [14799/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (396)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:396. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a new maternity unit will be provided at University Hospital Kerry as there are clinical risks to both mother and baby due to the location of the existing maternity unit, as it is too far from theatre there and is a major health and safety issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14800/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (397)
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:397. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health her views on the co-location of Limerick University Maternity Hospital to the Dooradoyle University Hospital Limerick campus; to provide an expected timeframe for co-location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14805/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is Government policy, in line with international best practice and as re-iterated in the National Maternity Strategy, to co-locate our remaining standalone maternity hospitals with adult acute hospitals.
Co-location of maternity services with adult services provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services should the need arise. The availability of these services helps ensure the delivery of an optimum, safe service, particularly for high-risk mothers and babies.
Co-location of the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent’s Hospital campus, which is the first maternity hospital to be co-located under the National Maternity Strategy, is currently subject to a tender process to select the contractor to build that new facility.
The co-location of University Maternity Hospital Limerick to University Hospital Limerick campus in Dooradoyle is considered to be the next maternity co-location project. The scale and complexity of delivering a new maternity hospital means that the co-location will be considered a major capital project and subject to . This proposal is currently at an early appraisal stage with a Strategic Assessment Report/ Preliminary Business Case under development.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (398)
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:398. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the status of the home birth service in Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14806/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (399)
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:399. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the strategic infrastructure development planning process needs to be reformed; her views on whether the HSE should be able to submit planning applications directly to local authorities for hospital developments of over 100 beds; if the new planning and development Bill, when enacted, will address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14807/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is of utmost importance that we progress and deliver required health infrastructure, including hospital beds, in a manner in which timeliness of delivery and value for money is paramount. This includes consideration and engagement on opportunities to reform provisions and processes in the statutory planning process.
Officials in my Department have engaged with the HSE on the correct application planning process in-patient bed developments in the context of the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024–2031.
In this engagement it was noted that a particular interpretation of clause 4 of the Seventh Schedule to the Planning and Development Act 2000 (No. 30 of 2000) (the "2000 Act") could lead to delays in obtaining planning approval for proposals due to the potential perception of a need by Local Authorities to refer in-patient bed capacity proposals to An Board Pleanála on the basis of the proposed works could constitute Strategic Infrastructure Development under the 2000 Act.
In 2024, clarification was sought on this area from the Attorney General in order to maximise the delivery of developments on a hospital campus in parallel. It was queried whether the Strategic Infrastructure Development process under the 2000 Act applies if two developments of less than 100 beds at a given location are proposed that are cumulatively greater than 100 beds. The Attorney noted that, for example, a development consisting of 96 beds falls below the threshold of 100 beds set out in the Seventh Schedule. The Attorney was clear that, if there is a subsequent proposal for 96 beds at the same location, this is a separate development which does not fall within the Seventh Schedule merely by reason of the existence of the first development.
I and my officials continue to explore opportunities to streamline and speed the planning and delivery of health infrastructure projects, including engaging on the statutory planning process with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and officials in his Department.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (400)
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:400. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health when the UL Hospitals Group will submit a planning application for an additional 96-bed unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14808/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (401)
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:401. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE vacant posts in the UL Hospitals Group, by job title; the cost of filling these vacancies; the estimated timeframe in which each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14809/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (402)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:402. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the action that will be taken to address the long waiting lists/times for orthodontic treatment in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14828/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
State Properties
Ceisteanna (403)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:403. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant and or derelict buildings in the ownership of, or leased by, her Department, by the HSE or by other agencies reporting to her Department in Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14832/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health does not have a property portfolio and therefore holds no vacant or derelict buildings. The Department of Health occupies one building, Block 1 Miesian Plaza, 50 - 58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin, D02, as a tenant of OPW.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Details for other bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (404)
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:404. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the status of, and her views on, the interim HIQA briefing she received into emergency care capacity in the mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14833/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
HIQA submitted an interim briefing to the Department of Health on 28th February on their review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the HSE Mid-West region. After reviewing this briefing with officials, I published it on March 19th. The interim briefing provides a progress update on the various workstreams of the ongoing work programme.
The final review is expected to be completed by the end of May 2025.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (405)
John McGuinness
Ceist:405. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a warfarin monitoring instrument will be provided as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14839/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (406)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:406. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of continuous glucose monitor applications submitted for people with Type 2 diabetes, by county, by HSE regional health area, by hospital, from 1 December 2023 to 31 December 2024; the number of these applications that were successful; the number of these applications that were unsuccessful; the number appealed; the number successful following appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14870/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (407)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:407. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of each type of continuous glucose monitor provided to people with Type 1 diabetes, by county, by HSE regional health area, by hospital from 1 December 2023 to 31 December 2024; the total cost the continuous glucose monitors provided, by HSE regional health area, by hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14871/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (408)
Ged Nash
Ceist:408. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when she expects the review currently being undertaken in relation to issues pertaining to the indemnity agreement signed off by the Medical Missionaries of Mary in the context of the transfer of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to the former North Eastern Health Board in 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14897/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.