Written Answers Nos. 166-186
166. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Leanaí, Míchumais agus Comhionannais an bhfuil sé mar riachtanas ag naíonraí atá ag feidhmiú trí Ghaeilge i gceantair Ghaeltachta go mbeidh tús áite ag páistí atá á dtógáil trí Ghaeilge, ó tharla gurb é sin an dea-chleachtas; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34587/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs eintitis phríobháideacha iad seirbhísí Luathfhoghlama agus Cúraim agus socraíonn siad a polasaithe iontrála féin agus níl aon ról ag an Roinn maidir leis.
Áfach, tá tuismitheoirí agus soláthraithe in ann dul i dteangmháil lena Coistí Contae nó Cathrach i gCúram Leanaí chun níos mó eolais agus tacaíocht a fháil. Cuireann na Coistí Contae agus Cathrach i gCúram Leanaí atá maoinithe ag mo Roinn, treoir ar fáil maidir le rochtain ar chúram leanaí, cabhair le háit a fháil (áit a bhfuil sé ar fáil), agus comhairle faoi tacaíochtaí atá ar fáil chun a chinntiú go dtéann páiste i le tuiscint sa luathfhoghlaim agus cúram. Tá sonraí teagmhála i gcomhair na CCCanna le fáil ar: www.gov.ie/ga/an-roinn-leana%C3%AD-m%C3%ADchumais-agus-comhionannais/feachtais/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
Tá mo Roinn in éineacht le ranna agus gníomhaíochtaí ábhartha eile, ag obair chun plean náisiúnta chun forbairt ar sholáthar Gaeilge san éarnáil Luathfhoghlama agus Cúram (ELC) agus Cúram Leanaí d’Aois Scoile (SAC).
Tá forbairt an phlean seo mar gealltanas sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta 5 Bliana don Ghaeilge.
Táthar ag súil go thacóidh an plean náisiúnta le dhá gealltanas i An Chéad 5: Straitéis Uile-Rialtais do Naíonáin, Leanaí Óga agus a dTeaghlaigh: “Tabhair isteach bearta chun deimhniú go mbíonn teacht ag leanaí i gceantair Gaeltachta ar sholáthar ELC i nGaeilge” agus “Forbair córais chun tacaí a chur ar fáil san ELC i nGaeilge nuair a bhíonn cionnranna arda de na leanaí ann atá ag foghlaim trí mheán na Gaeilge”.
Freisin, táthar ag súil go thacóidh an plean le soláthar ghealltanais i Clár an Rialtais chun: “Tacú le naíonraí agus le naíolanna chun rochtain na luathfhoghlama a chinntiú i bpobail Ghaeltachta agus níos faide ar shiúl” agus “Pleanáil ar forbairt ar áiseanna atá faoi treoir an Stáit i gcomhar leis an clár tógála scoileanna, naíonraí trí Ghaeilge san áireamh”.
Tugadh faoi thogra suirbhé ar shuímh Foghlaim agus Cúram na Luath-Óige agus Cúram Leanaí in Aois-Scoile, á reáchtáil suíomh trí mheán na Gaeilge, le feighlithe linbh san áireamh i rith 2022 – 2023 chun bunlíne a fháil ar an leibhéal reatha de soláthair trí mheán na Gaeilge san earnáil.
I 2024, tharla comhairliúchán poiblí agus clár taighde le léirbhreithniú ar an litríocht san áireamh. Le deanaí, cuireadh comhairliúchán le leanaí i gcrích.
Chomh maith leis an béim atá ar seirbhísí ELC agus SAC trí Ghaeilge, beifear ag súil go mbeadh beartanna sa phlean náisiúnta chun tacú le seirbhísí Bhéarla ELC ag obair le linn Aistear, an curaclam creatlach na luath-óige nuashonraithe, a foilsíodh i Nollaig 2024. Tá aidhm leagtha amach san Aistear nuashonraithe chun tacaíocht a thabhair do leanaí óga tuiscint agus buíochas a bheith acú don Ghaeilge agus ar ár n-oidhreacht chultúrtha agus teangeolaíochta.
Tá sé beartaithe go foilseoidh an Plean agus tuairiscí comhairliúcháin a bhaineann leis níos deanaí i 2025.
167. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the roll out of regional assessment hubs; the location and status of each; details of who will be working out of these hubs, and their roles; the completion date for roll out, as per location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34611/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
168. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to funding a community neuro-rehabilitation team for the south east in this Budget 2026 in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to complete the nationwide roll out of community neuro-rehabilitation teams as a team for the south east was promised in 2019, since then no funding has been provided to establish a team in the south east. [34629/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if funding will be provided in Budget 2026 to deliver a community neurorehabilitation team for the midlands and northeast in line with the Programme for Government commitment to complete the rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 170 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.
169. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons a child (details supplied) who was referred for an assessment of need (AON) three years ago has still not received an appointment; the specific action she is taking to prioritise long waiting children such as the child concerned, especially given that schools are reporting persistent behavioural issues linked to lack of supports, and the child's family is under severe pressure as a result; if she will provide a binding commitment that the child will be allocated a date for a full AON by the end of July 2025, and that their school-family needs will be fully supported pending completion of the assessment. [34679/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for services provided by children’s disability network teams, by CHO area and by CDNT, at the end of each year from 2015 to 2024 and at the end of May 2025; the average length of time children have been waiting for services in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34821/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
172. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the approved full staffing complement, in WTEs, for each children’s disability network team, by staff role, for example, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, social worker, team coordinator, and so on; the actual staffing level, in WTEs, in each CDNT at the end of May 2025, by role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34822/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
173. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacancies, in WTEs, for each children’s disability network team, by staff role, for example, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, social worker, team coordinator, and so on; the duration to date of each vacancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34823/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
174. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to reduce waiting times for services provided by children’s disability network teams and to ensure that all CDNTs are fully and properly staffed; if she is concerned about the current level of unmet need; at what threshold or volume of children waiting she would consider the situation to constitute a crisis; the specific plans she is putting in place to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34824/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
175. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently waiting for services from children’s disability network teams, by length of time waiting, i.e., under 1 month; 1–3 months; 3–6 months; 6–12 months; 12–18 months; and over 18 months, with a full breakdown for each CDNT and for each CHO area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34825/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
176. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the progress made in providing respite at a location in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34873/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
177. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for a detailed update on Tusla’s plans for a sport complex (details supplied) just outside Clonmel, in particular, the future of the swimming pool which has served the wider community of Clonmel and surrounding areas for many decades, with more than 500 children taking swimming lessons up to February 2025. [34885/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
178. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what measures she is taking to support workers at Oberstown Detention Centre in light of recent incidents (details supplied); the measures she is taking to prevent similar incidents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34922/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOberstown Children Detention Campus is the State’s only detention centre for children. The maximum occupancy at Oberstown is certified by the Minister under the Children Act 2001. This is currently set at 46 (40 boys and 6 girls) including children on detention and remand.
Children in Oberstown often have complex needs and may display aggressive behaviours. Oberstown has multidisciplinary teams help children address such behaviours.
In June 2025, two unconnected incidents occurred that resulted in some injuries to staff. While minor incidents among the children (the majority of whom are boys aged 16 and 17) are not uncommon in terms of crisis management, it is very unusual for staff to have to face the levels of aggression seen in these two incidents. The response involved the management of said incidents, attending to the immediate needs of all concerned, providing space for recovery and a reset, in order to resume operations. Following both incidents, debriefs were conducted and both are now the subject of an After Incident Review in order to capture learning. Campus support services for staff have also been very active in response to these, thankfully isolated, incidents.
It is important that Oberstown staff are safe and feel safe going to work. They do a vital and challenging job and their safety and the safety of the children they care for is paramount.
Fortunately, incidents such as this are rare. Any changes needed to policy or practice at Oberstown will emerge from the After Incident Review process.
Oberstown is independently inspected every year by HIQA and reports are made public. Any areas that HIQA inspectors identify as requiring improvement are prioritised by Oberstown management.
The 2024 HIQA Report found that “Oberstown was a well-managed service with clear lines of authority and accountability, which promoted the safe care of the young people.”
The CPT (the UN Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) visited Ireland in May 2024 and inspected a variety of facilities including Oberstown. The CPT highlighted that in Oberstown “young persons spoke positively of the staff, highlighting their caring and young-person-centred approach”.
Oberstown management recognise the need for ongoing investment in staff training and well-being. Learning and development programmes at Oberstown maintain a strong focus on Safety Intervention training for all front-line staff, with 104 staff members participating in such training during 2024. A further eight staff members and three teachers from the Oberstown Campus School renewed their Safety Intervention Instructor certification, enhancing the strong team of trainers in this critical area of safety on campus.
The Oberstown Health and Safety team was strengthened to further develop risk management systems and processes for the Campus. In 2024 a new model of practice supervision was rolled out in Oberstown. Led by the Occupational Psychologist, this development highlights Oberstown’s continued progressive approach to staff well-being and development, providing a space to discuss and process emotional reactions. Oberstown offers in-house campus support by providing access to counselling services for staff. A Health screening programme is also available for all staff.
179. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of community nursing home beds specifically available to individuals with Alzheimer's, per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34579/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
180. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to provide clarity regarding the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 on who will have the authority to make the decision on whether a person is brain dead or not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34571/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 2 of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024, which commenced on 17 June 2025, provides for the first time a national legislative framework for organ donation and transplantation services in Ireland.
Section 16 sets out the specific steps which must be followed ahead of donation and transplantation involving a deceased donor. This applies to all deceased donations, including following brain stem death.
Under the Act, it is for a registered medical practitioner to be satisfied, following a medical examination, that a donor is no longer alive.
According to Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, brain stem death, which is defined as the permanent loss of function of the brain stem, is ascertained through tests carried out by two senior doctors to determine absence of brain function. When these tests show that there is no brain function and no chance of recovery, the patient is declared dead.
Insofar as it is clinically appropriate, the registered medical practitioner who certifies the death of the donor will not have a primary role or responsibility in relation to:
• the removal of the organ, tissue or cells from the donor
• transplantation activities in respect of the donor or recipient, or
• the medical treatment of the potential recipients.
Organs or tissues and cells will not be removed from a deceased donor unless the registered medical practitioner is satisfied that the donor is no longer alive, the relevant confirmation of no objection or consent to donation has been provided, and the coroner has signed off on the retrieval in instances of death falling under the jurisdiction of the Coroner’s Acts. Failure to comply with these measures is an offence under the Act.
181. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health whether a person (details supplied) can be transferred from their present nursing home to another location. [34574/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe transfer of residents from one nursing home to another does not fall within scope of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and is a matter between the resident and the respective nursing homes.
In order to secure a transfer, the resident and/or their representatives must first establish whether there is any vacancies at their preferred nursing home and whether they can be accommodated. The nursing homes in question should then be in a position to organise the transfer of the resident.
An important consideration is there may be contractual arrangements between the resident and the nursing home within the contract of care in respect of notice period for discharge which must be adhered to in order to avoid paying unnecessary fees. It is also important to keep your local Nursing Home Support Office informed to ensure that NHSS funding continues to follow the resident. It is important to note that transfer from one facility to another will have no impact on the resident’s contribution to the cost of their own care, which will remain the same regardless of the nursing home they chose to reside in.
182. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by her Department to increase awareness about sickle cell disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34575/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, a National Rare Disease Steering Group was established in December 2023 and have finished their work on the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030. I have approved the plan, and it is currently waiting for cabinet approval. Historic funding of €1.5m has been provided for rare diseases in Budget 2025 with an additional €5m provided to support the implementation of this Strategy.
Raising awareness about rare diseases is one of the core tenants of the new National Rare Disease Strategy. This includes increasing awareness amongst the public, healthcare professionals and policy makers about all rare diseases including Sickle Cell Disease.
Additionally, the Health Service Executive is currently working to develop a Model of Care for Haemoglobinopathies including sickle cell disease. Advocates for people with sickle cell disease are contributing to the development of the model of care and have highlighted raising awareness as one area for improvement.
This Model of Care document, which will provide a basis for planning services for people with haemoglobinopathies including those with sickle cell disease will support improving awareness of sickle cell disease. The HSE has advised that arising from a suggestion made by patients and patient advocates at a recent meeting it is planning to add a section on sickle cell disease to the HSE Health A to Z pages as an initial step in raising awareness.
183. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the funding provided from the years 2020 to 2025 for the employment of HSE-salaried general practitioners, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34576/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
184. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the 2025 funding allocation for the National Genetics and Genomics Office on a full-year basis; the 2025 funding allocation for the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland 2022 on a full-year basis; the funding required to implement the strategy in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34580/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO) was established in 2023 to implement the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland. In 2023, an initial allocation of €2.7 million was provided to support the Strategy's initial implementation, which included the establishment of the National Office and the recruitment of key front-line staff. The total budget for Genetics and Genomics for 2025 is €4,572,280, which includes pay and non-pay costs.
Ongoing implementation of the strategy involves a comprehensive and evolving transformation of services, encompassing workforce development, infrastructure enhancements, the establishment of a National Genomic Processing Service, and ongoing research integration.
The dynamic nature of genomic medicine, coupled with the phased implementation approach of the strategy, makes it difficult to provide a definitive total cost for full implementation of the strategy. Full implementation will require sustained, substantial investment over several years, with funding needs likely to be continuously assessed and refined as new services are rolled out and capabilities expanded.
185. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34592/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
186. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the recruitment of the six WTE public health nursing posts in the Dublin midlands region as allocated under Budget 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34593/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
