Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:476. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on her Department’s progress on publishing its new statement of strategy. [31663/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (476)
Freagraí scríofa
The Department commenced work on developing its Statement of Strategy following the completion of the transfer of integration functions the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration and youth functions to the Department of Education and Youth. It expects to publish the Statement of Strategy during quarter 3 of 2025.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (477)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:477. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when her Department’s statement of strategy is expected to be published. [31664/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department commenced work on developing its Statement of Strategy following the completion of the transfer of integration functions the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration and youth functions to the Department of Education and Youth. It expects to publish the Statement of Strategy during quarter 3 of 2025.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (478)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:478. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when her Department will release the National Disability Strategy. [31665/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Publication of the next National Disability Strategy is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government more broadly, and I expect it to be finalised and published shortly.
The development of the next National Disability Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment and will be a milestone achievement, representing a step-change in how we deliver disability policy in Ireland. It will be Ireland's first National Disability Strategy to be published since we ratified the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018 and will be explicitly framed as an implementation plan for Ireland's advancement of its human rights obligations under the Convention.
A robust and extensive consultation process launched in late 2023 included 34 focus groups, 18 interviews, more than 80 written submissions, 484 submissions to a national survey and 5 town hall events. Feedback from consultation has coalesced around a range of thematic pillars that, collectively, will capture the spectrum of issues affecting the day-to-day lives of disabled people:
• Inclusive learning and education.
• Employment.
• Independent living and active participation in society.
• Wellbeing and health.
• Transport and mobility.
Actions under these thematic pillars will be delivered on a sectoral basis, with departments and agencies taking responsibility as befits their remit.
The development of this Strategy has also been substantively guided by regular ongoing engagement with key disability stakeholders, including Disabled Persons’ Organisations, disability umbrella organisations and service providers, and collaboration across government.
Development work is ongoing across government and with disability stakeholders toward finalisation of the Strategy in early course.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (479)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:479. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on her Department’s progress in developing a new national policy for personal assistance services. [31666/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Personal assistance is a service primarily for adults with physical disabilities that enables them to live their lives as independently as possible and to take decision making control. Typically, the person with the disability either directly employs their personal assistant or is involved in the process of selecting a personal assistant to work with them. The person with the disability determines the support they need and the activities they need support with.
In collaboration with my Department, service providers and disabled people, a Health Service Executive-led Review Group is progressing a crucial programme of work with the central aim of developing of a national policy and service description for personal assistance services which specifies eligibility and allocation protocols. To date, the Group have:
• Agreed a working definition for personal assistance services.
• Examined the legal and regulatory framework governing personal assistance services in Ireland.
• Conducted a survey of the current personal assistance services in each CHO.
• Consulted with providers of personal assistance services as well as disabled people in receipt of personal assistance services to inform future policy development.
• Commissioned an evidence review to identify and evaluate best practices in personal assistance services from international contexts including Sweden, Norway, Canada and Australia. The review focuses on approaches that promote independence, choice and dignity for disabled people in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (480)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:480. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on her Department’s work in the development of a personalised budget demonstrator pilot. [31667/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A personalised budget is an amount of funding allocated to an eligible person with a disability to enable them to make their own arrangements to meet specified support needs.
On foot of a commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government (2016) to introduce personalised budgets for persons with disabilities in Ireland, bringing about the establishment of the Personalised Budgets Taskforce on 20 September 2016.
Published in 2018, the report of the Taskforce on Personalised Budgets recommended that the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive should establish demonstration projects to test the delivery of personalised budgets in an Irish context with a view to identifying the best approach for the wider roll-out of the model following the initial demonstration phase.
In 2019, the Department of Health formed an Oversight Group for the demonstration project which included representatives from the Health Service Executive and the National Disability Authority. Following the Group’s completion of an implementation plan, the first phase of the demonstrator pilot was launched in August 2019 with expressions of interest for participation sought from disabled adults in receipt of Health Service Executive funded specialist disability services.
In 2023, responsibility for specialist disability services transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (now the Department of Children, Disability and Equality), and with it, responsibility for the Personalised Budget Demonstrator Pilot.
As of 12 February 2025, there are 130 active participants in the Pilot, with 50 people participating in the final Stage 4, the “Living Life Phase”.
The evaluation of the Pilot has commenced, led by the National Disability Authority, and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The evaluation will inform next steps in developing an effective model of personalised budgets in Ireland.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (481)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:481. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the targeted incentives that will be employed to improve recruitment and retention for children’s disability network teams. [31669/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government – “Securing Ireland’s Future” sets out a clear commitment to increase staffing, train more therapists and prioritise Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) to deliver supports and services.
I fully acknowledge that recruitment and retention of staff is a challenge across the disability sector overall, due to the international shortage of Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs). However, a significant priority for this Government is filling vacancies within the 93 Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), who are providing supports and services for over 43,000 children with complex needs. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that there was a significant net addition of 272 staff in CDNTs nationally in the year to October 2024, a 17% increase across all teams compared to 2023.
My Department is working with the HSE to introduce specific recruitment and retention incentives for therapists to work in CDNTs. One example is the CDNT Sponsorship Initiative, which is aimed at final year undergraduate and postgraduate Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work students in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland relevant courses, due to graduate in 2025. Pending graduation, these HSCPs will be eligible to register with CORU in 2025.
To continue growth and optimise recruitment into funded agencies, the HSE is facilitating direct access for funded agencies to existing HSE HSCP panels, which will shorten the recruitment process and provide direct access to candidates. Additionally, €10 million has been made available in 2025 for Children’s Services, to enhance the capacity of CDNTs and shorten the waiting times. Funding will be used to build on existing recruitment initiatives, with a focus on various additional posts across the CDNTs (including 20 Senior Therapist posts, 20 Staff Grade posts, 20 Health and Social Care Assistant posts and 15 Clinical Trainee posts). The overall HSE Disability Budget for 2025 has seen a growth to €3.2 billion, which equates to an 11.6% increase from the previous year.
The HSE advise that a national standard has been set of 1 student placement per 2 full time staff per discipline in post on the CDNT. Student placements provided in the academic year 2023/2024 increased 30.5% over the previous year, underpinned by concerted efforts of CDNT staff and leadership of their Children’s Disability Network Team Managers (CDNMs). Student placements are beneficial for student learning and for individual staff and team development. It is hoped that placements will lead to increased numbers of HSCPs applying to work in CDNTs post-graduation.
Placements on CDNTs will continue to be expanded, alongside a continued expansion in the number of places in higher education, to develop the pipeline of future therapists. Other ongoing recruitment and retention measures include a National CDNT Training Programme 2024/2025, in train for full delivery by December 2025 and an expediated CORU registration process.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (482)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:482. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on her Department’s progress on the development of targeted legislation to bring the AON in line with the UNCRPD. [31670/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018. The UNCRPD articulates a range of social, economic, and cultural rights, as well as civil and political rights, which the State is obliged to uphold and advance in relation to disabled people. Since ratification, the State’s approach to UNCRPD implementation has been one of progressive realisation, ensuring that advancements are made regarding its implementation over time.
One such advancement is the commitment to reforming the Assessment of Need process to streamline it for the benefit of children who need it. This is reflected in the current Programme for Government which includes a clear commitment to support families who are waiting for Assessments of Need and to ensure children and their families can access the supports they need.
It is important to be aware that, while children have a right to apply for an Assessment of Need, they do not need one in order to access health services, including those provided by Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services. However, it is accepted that the current system is not working as it should for children, many of whom are on long waiting lists for services. There are a number of key actions underway to address current delays children are facing and build capacity in the system for increasing demand.
Officials in my Department are working with HSE senior management and experienced clinicians to identify relevant legislative changes relating to Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which addresses Assessment of Need, with the intention of bringing forward legislation in the latter half of this year. I would emphasise this process is to support effectiveness and efficiency within the Assessment of Need process. It will not affect the statutory right of any individual to access an Assessment of Need.
The Programme for Government also commits to considering reforms to the Disability Act in consultation with stakeholders. This will involve more detailed consideration of the Part 2 of Disability Act 2005 and alignment with the UNCRPD.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (483)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:483. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on her Department’s work on a Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy for specialist community-based services. [31671/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (484)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:484. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality on her Department’s work to increase the provision of respite services. [31672/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (485)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:485. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out a timeline for the release of the working paper on respite services. [31673/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There has been significant investment in respite in recent years. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to continue the expansion of respite services, and the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 recommends that provision is increased by a third. While acknowledging that there is currently no formal policy underpinning Specialist Community Based Disability Respite Services, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is seeking to ensure that it supports a more coherent and equitable provision of service across the State.
A Stakeholder event with a focus on Respite was held by the Department in September 2024. The event included service providers and disability organisations as well as service users and family representatives.
The Department is now finalising a Working Paper on Respite which aims to assist in supporting and generating discussion on the future direction of respite (the paper will include the output from last year’s stakeholder event).
It is intended that the paper will be shared with the Disability Stakeholder Strategic Advisory Group in the first instance with further dissemination to be considered, including further engagement on respite services.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (486)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:486. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on the progress of implementing the actions set out in the autism innovation strategy. [31674/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Autism Innovation Strategy was published in August 2024. The Strategy contains 83 actions across four core pillars which will be delivered within the 18-month lifespan of the Strategy.
11 Government Departments and related public bodies have committed to leading on, or supporting, actions in the Strategy. This Government is committed to the full implementation of the Strategy, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. I am pleased to report that strong progress is being made across all thematic pillars by the lead Departments and agencies.
To ensure delivery of this ambitious Strategy, a robust oversight and monitoring architecture is required. At the centre of this is the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group. This stakeholder group, which is majority neurodivergent, plays a key role in monitoring the implementation of the Strategy, and in providing constructive advice to guide whole-of-Government work on autism based on the lived experience and expertise of group members. This group meets quarterly.
At 6-month intervals, the Oversight and Advisory Group will consider progress reports prepared by the relevant Departments and Agencies. The first round of reports has been received by the Group for their consideration, highlighting progress made over the first 6 months of the Strategy. Where the Oversight and Advisory Group has identified priority areas for delivery, these have been, and will continue to be, escalated to the Strategy Steering Committee. This Group is chaired by the Minister of State for Disability and comprises representatives from relevant departments and agencies as well as representatives from the Oversight and Advisory Group. This Group meets at 6 month intervals, with the first meeting being held in March of this year.
With respect to the seven actions within the remit of my own Department, I am pleased to say that we are on track to deliver upon these commitments within the projected implementation timeframe.
Departmental Budgets
Ceisteanna (487)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:487. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report the budget for her Department’s disability, governance and performance unit. [31675/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Disability Governance and Performance Unit is one of seven business units within the Department’s Disability Division.
The unit works in collaboration with the Disability Finance and Reform Unit and relevant policy and corporate support units to ensure a legally and operationally robust governance framework is in place. Since transfer of responsibility for specialist disability functions to the Department in 2023, an Oversight Agreement and Performance Engagement model have been agreed and implemented with the Health Service Executive (HSE). These arrangements provide for appropriate budgetary and performance management oversight of specialist disability services delivered by or on behalf of the HSE.
The pay and non-pay costs associated with these governance functions are funded from the Department’s general administration budget, so there is no separate budget allocation for these functions.
In addition to the oversight arrangements in place between the Department and the HSE, the HSE has its own internal controls procedures, as well as specific arrangements with external service providers, and it continues to implement and monitor these processes on an ongoing basis.
These governance arrangements are reviewed periodically to reflect the significant transformation of the HSE’s internal accountability and service delivery structures through the Sláintecare reform programme. The Department is contributing to these developments to ensure new HSE Regional structures enable enhanced service planning, delivery and oversight capabilities.
Child and Family Agency
Ceisteanna (488)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:488. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of special emergency arrangements used by Tusla since 2020. [31676/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Ceisteanna (489)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:489. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her Department’s work to address Tusla's difficulties in hiring sufficient staff for special care units. [31677/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tusla have indicated that difficulties in the recruitment and retention of staff is the primary limiting factor on capacity in Special Care Units. Officials from my Department continue to work with Tusla to support them in addressing the immediate staffing shortages in special care provision.
Following extensive engagements between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform a new grade and pay scale for Special Care has been sanctioned in an effort to increase staff numbers. Tusla commenced advertisement of this new grade in January 2025 and is in the process of onboarding the first successful candidates. This new Tusla Special Care Worker grade offers an improved salary scale, offering 19.4% higher pay at top-of-scale compared to the Social Care Worker grade and a 3.4% higher pay at top-of-scale than the Social Care Leader grade.
My Department also supports the ongoing work by Tusla to develop and introduce a Social Care Worker apprenticeship scheme. The scheme is currently being formulated in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Tusla and the Higher Education Institutes and will serve as a further pipeline of recruitment into social care settings, including Special Care.
A record investment of over €1.2 billion was secured for Tusla in Budget 2025. This builds on a significant increase in Tusla’s allocation in 2024. An additional €1 million has been made available in Budget 2025 to support Tusla to address staffing issues in special care. Furthermore, an additional €1.55 million was also made available for the provision of supplementary step-down placements and the capital funding to purchase, renovate and equip those units.
While the operation of special care and the provision of special care beds is the statutory responsibility of Tusla, my Department is actively engaging with Tusla in relation to the challenges impacting special care. My Department will continue to provide support to Tusla that is necessary to address the current very significant challenges facing this service.
Child and Family Agency
Ceisteanna (490)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:490. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the external review of Tusla's special care will be released. [31678/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2024 Tusla commissioned a review of Special Care by an external review group to examine the future configuration of Special Care. The Report of the External Review Group on Special Care was published on 20 May 2025. The report presents recommendations for the future delivery of Special Care and is available to view on the Tusla website.
Considerable work continues to be undertaken to address the complex challenges in the provision of special care. While the operation of special care and the provision of special care beds is the statutory responsibility of Tusla, my Department is actively engaging with Tusla in relation to the issues impacting on special care. My Department will continue to provide support to Tusla that is necessary to address the current very significant challenges impacting on this service, and examine longer term actions for the future provision of special care, informed by the Report of the External Review Group on Special Care.
One of the findings of the review group relates to capacity challenges due to difficulties in staff recruitment and retention. Officials from my Department continue to work with Tusla to support them in addressing the immediate staffing shortages in special care provision.
Following extensive engagements between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform a new grade and pay scale for Special Care has been sanctioned in an effort to increase staff numbers. Tusla commenced advertisement of this new grade in January 2025 and is in the process of onboarding the first successful candidates. This new Tusla Special Care Worker grade offers an improved salary scale, offering 19.4% higher pay at top-of-scale compared to the Social Care Worker grade and a 3.4% higher pay at top-of-scale than the Social Care Leader grade.
My Department also supports the ongoing work by Tusla to develop and introduce a Social Care Worker apprenticeship scheme. The scheme is currently being formulated in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Tusla and the Higher Education Institutes and will serve as a further pipeline of recruitment into social care settings, including Special Care.
A record investment of over €1.2 billion was secured for Tusla in Budget 2025. This builds on a significant increase in Tusla’s allocation in 2024. An additional €1 million has been made available in Budget 2025 to support Tusla to address staffing issues in special care. Furthermore, an additional €1.55 million was also made available for the provision of supplementary step-down placements and the capital funding to purchase, renovate and equip those units.
Legislative Reviews
Ceisteanna (491)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:491. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out a timeline for the updating of the Childcare Act 1991. [31679/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has made a commitment to update the Child Care Act, 1991.
My Department is engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Attorney General’s Office and other relevant Government Departments and Agencies to finalise the priority drafting of an amendment Bill to revise and update the 1991 Act, to better reflect changes in child welfare and protection services in the 30 years since its enactment, as well as capturing current legislative, policy and practice developments.
Subject to Government approval, the Bill will be published later this year and introduced into the Houses of the Oireachtas. While it is my intention to have this Bill enacted as quickly as possible, the length of time the legislative process will take, and its outcome, are matters solely for the Oireachtas to determine.
I look forward to progressing this legislation.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (492)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:492. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report the number of facilities in Dublin that received Building Blocks capital funding. [31680/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4th November 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January.
A total of 78 applications were received. These applications came from a variety of locations across the country. All applications received were appraised carefully against the objectives and criteria of the programme in a fair and impartial process.
Of these 78 applications, six were from services based in Dublin. Of these six, three were shortlisted for progression to the next stage of the grant process - two Private Extension projects and one Community Construction project. The total project value of these applications is €2.1m. The projects shortlisted for progression will create an additional 70 full time places for 1-3 year olds in Dublin once complete.
The Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme, which operated in 2024, provided funding for projects valued at between €50,000 and €100,000 for the internal renovation or reconfiguration of existing services to deliver additional capacity. Twenty two services were awarded funding under the scheme. Of these 22 services, six were based in Dublin.
The Building Blocks Improvement Grant Scheme operated in 2023. Over €9m was set aside for grants under this scheme, with 151 services originally being awarded funding. Grants awarded range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. The Green Energy Strand supports the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aimed to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. Under this Strand, grants were provided to help services to increase their energy efficiency by utilising renewables, where feasible, through the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and insulation. The Retrofit Strand supported existing services in need of upgrading. Eligible works included kitchen refurbishment, upgrading of sanitary facilities for children and adults, roof repairs, and the replacement and upgrading of flooring. 21 Dublin based services were granted funding under this scheme.
My Department is currently considering the possibilities for future capital programmes, including potentially operating another initiative next year to support the expansion of provision by existing providers. As soon as those details are finalised, I will communicate to the sector.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (493)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:493. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report how funding from the Building Blocks capital scheme was allocated between the scheme’s four strands. [31681/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4th November 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January.
A total of 78 applications were received. These applications came from a variety of locations across the country. All applications received were appraised carefully against the objectives and criteria of the programme in a fair and impartial process.
There were four strands to the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme - Community Purchase, Community Extension, Community Construction and Private Extension.
The table below outlines the number of applications shortlisted for progression to the next stage of the grant process, alongside the total grant value for each strand:
|
Strand |
Applications Shortlisted |
Total Grant Value € |
|
Community Extension |
24 |
9,597,170 |
|
Private Extension |
7 |
1,188,850 |
|
Community Purchasing |
4 |
3,000,000 |
|
Community Construction |
14 |
9,430,659 |
|
Total: |
49 |
23,216,679 |
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (494)
Mark Ward
Ceist:494. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if HIQA has the ability to prosecute entities under its remit who act outside of regulations in a nursing home setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31343/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (495)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:495. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently address the long delay in treatment in respect of a child (details supplied); if a surgery appointment will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31348/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health 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 Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (496)
Seán Canney
Ceist:496. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE makes enteral feeding syringes available free to patients in public nursing homes but not in private nursing homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31357/25]
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 Expenditure
Ceisteanna (497)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:497. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total estimated cost to the Exchequer associated with the recent renaming and rebranding of her Department, including, but not limited to, cost categories (details supplied); the breakdown of the incurred or projected costs; and if a cost-benefit analysis or any assessment of public value was carried out prior to approving these changes. [31368/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health has not been recently renamed. As such none of the costs outlined have been incurred.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (498, 499, 500)
James O'Connor
Ceist:498. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the National Strategy on Genetics and Genomics, specifically the timeline for the establishment of the National Genomic Processing Service (NGPS); the current status of its development; the means by which the NGPS will support the retention and expansion of accredited genomic testing capacity within Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31378/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraJames O'Connor
Ceist:499. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if the Prior Information Notice issued by the HSE’s National Genetics and Genomics Office for a National Genomic Processing Service was conducted as an open competition; whether it was accessible to both public and commercial laboratories in accordance with HSE procurement policy and EU competition law; if not, the reasons for the exclusion of any potential tenderer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31379/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraJames O'Connor
Ceist:500. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if the HSE’s National Genetics and Genomics Office ensured that the principles of fair and open competition were upheld in the issuance of the Prior Information Notice for a National Genomic Processing Service; whether the process aligns with the commitment to value for money and equal access by all suitably accredited providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31380/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 to 500, inclusive, together.
The HSE’s National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO) was established in 2023 to implement the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland (2022). Its activities include coordinating a national approach to genetics and genomics, ensuring patient and public involvement (PPI) and partnerships, building the genetics and genomics workforce for the future, enhancing genetic and genomic clinical services, and strengthening infrastructures to drive advances in genetics and genomics.
As part of strategy implementation, at the end of 2024 the NGGO published the first version of the National Genomic Test Directory for Rare and Inherited Disease (the Test Directory) as an advisory document. Version 1 of the Test Directory includes tests for clinical indications from the specialties of Cardiology, Lipids, Metabolic, Mitochondrial, and Ophthalmology. Throughout 2025 and 2026, the NGGO will work to develop further versions of the Test Directory.
The NGGO, with support from my Department, is advancing the development of a centralised National Genomic Processing Service (NGPS). The NGGO sought the advice of HSE Procurement to develop a transparent and objective process to identify a service provider for the NGPS from HSE funded hospitals.
The NGPS will support the use of the Test Directory and will be a hub for receipt of specimens from hospitals across Ireland to refer for genomic testing by quality assured laboratories abroad. The service will also coordinate the reporting of results back to the requesting hospitals and consultants. Earlier this year an Expression of Interest and Invitation to Participate process was opened to all publicly funded Model 3 and Model 4 hospitals and it is projected that the NGPS will be established in 2025.
Separate to the development of the NGPS, the NGGO will work with HSE procurement to identify a process for the procurement of genomic tests included in the Test Directory. The procurement of testing will be governed by the Office of Government Procurement’s guidelines to ensure transparency, efficiency, and value for money.
The NGGO and my Department continues to work closely on the implementation of the Genomics Strategy including options for enhancing genomic testing capacity.