Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:102. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed upgrade to the health centre in Freshford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34437/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (102)
Freagraí scríofa
The HSE have appointed a Design Team for the extension to Freshford Health Centre, Co. Kilkenny. These works will include an internal reconfiguration of the existing health centre, including minor upgrade works and a proposed new extension with new clinical rooms for practice nurses and GPs, an expansion of the carpark and entrance realignment.
A planning application was submitted and a Request for Further Information (RFI’S) from Kilkenny County Council has been received. The Design Team are currently working through these requests for further information in order to submit this information by Q3 2025.
Subject to statutory approvals, the availability of funding and prioritisation, it is the intention of the HSE to be in a position to commence construction on Freshford Health Centre in Q1 2026.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (103)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health for an update on the establishment of an ambulance base at Recess, County Galway; if the design team has now completed the tender documentation; if the project has gone to tender; the timeline for the delivery of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34919/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public health infrastructure, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (104)
Catherine Ardagh
Ceist:104. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health if she has had any discussions in relation to the recruitment of HSE-employed GPs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34867/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (105)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:105. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of practising GPs currently in the State; the number taking contracts under the general medical scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34862/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (106)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:106. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when phase two of works and the extension for St. Vincent’s Hospital Mountmellick, County Laois will be approved; the timeline for completion of phase one of the re-development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34866/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The development of St Vincent’s Community Nursing Unit, Mountmellick is a phased approach. Phase one of this project consists of a new two storey development containing fifty single rooms of en-suite accommodation.
Construction on the new 50 bed Community Nursing Unit, at St Vincent’s Hospital, Mountmellick is ongoing. It is anticipated that construction is due for completion in Q3 2025, followed by the equipping and commissioning phase.
The next phase of works at St Vincent’s Hospital, Mountmellick is at an early stage of development. Service requirements are being reviewed at present in order to progress the next phase.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (107)
John Clendennen
Ceist:107. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the progress in transforming the health service into a seven-days-a-week service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34812/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (108)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:108. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department has taken to implement the report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants, particularly recommendations five, six, and seven; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34929/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was established in March 2022. The Group was charged with examining strategic workforce challenges in publicly and privately provided front line carer roles in home support and nursing homes and with making recommendations to address these.
The Group, which was chaired by the Department of Health, comprised representatives from seven government departments (Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Health; Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Justice; Public Expenditure and Reform; and Social Protection), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and SOLAS.
Providing an overview of the work of the Group and its key findings, the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants, which was published in October 2022, presented a suite of 16 recommendations spanning the areas of areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development and sectoral reform.
Implementation of the 16 recommendations is underway, led by a cross departmental group, chaired by the Department of Health. Significant reform has been delivered. A new HSE home support tender has been in place since August 2023. This delivers on commitments for sectoral reform such as payment for travel time for home support providers, paying carers the National Living Wage at a minimum, and bringing legacy rates in line with the new revised rates of funding.
A table containing implementation updates can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/66dd1-strategic-workforce-advisory-group-on-home-carers-and-nursing-home-healthcare-assistants/
The group’s most recent meeting took place on October 8th 2024. The updates from this meeting will be published in due course.
My Department will be launching a National Survey of the Experience of Home Support Workers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants shortly. The survey aims to gain insights into the experiences of front-line carers in home support and residential care across public, private and not-for-profit organisations to inform the Department's understanding of the impact of the recommendations and to inform future developments.
Health Strategies
Ceisteanna (109)
Peter Roche
Ceist:109. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health if she will detail the level of funding allocated to implement all actions under a plan (details supplied); if she is confident that the strategy is fully funded and resourced; and if any challenges have arisen in relation to funding or resourcing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34537/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, the National Men’s Health Action Plan was launched on November 18th, 2024. To support the implementation of the actions contained within, the HSE received €200,000 in Budget 2024 to recruit a National Lead for Men’s Health and a further €100,000 to support programme development. The recruitment process to appoint the National Lead for Men’s Health is currently underway and is expected to be finalised over the coming period.
In addition, the Department of Health provides approximately €400,000 in funding to support the national office of the Irish Men’s Shed Association and the Sheds for Life Programme, a 10-week community-based health promotion programme aimed at supporting the physical, mental and social well-being of men’s sheds members by engaging them to successfully facilitate more open and meaningful discussions around their physical and mental well-being.
The Department of Health also provides €50,000 in annual funding to support the On Feirm Ground Project which is a partnership initiative with the Department of Agriculture who provide the core funding. The On Feirm Ground initiative provides training on health and well-being for agricultural advisors and service providers including veterinary staff to enable them to support and signpost farmers, for appropriate help in relation to health issues.
The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland is supported by the Department of Health through the provision of €10,000 to assist with the publication costs of the “Action Man” Men’s Health Manual which is distributed throughout Men’s Health Week across workplaces and within community and voluntary groups. A further €37,000 in funding was provided to the Men’s Health Forum to facilitate the implementation and evaluation of the CAIRDE initiative, which aims to improve the mental fitness of construction workers, help them combat suicide ideation, offer signposting and ‘first aid’ support and equip construction companies with the tools to effectively manage the mental health issues of their workforce.
Further, the HSE have an additional €400k in base funding that is utilised to support the ongoing work in relation to Men’s Health and drive the implementation of the Men’s Health Action plan and we will continue to bid for additional funding as required through the estimates process.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (110)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:110. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the date by which the long-Covid payments for health care workers will cease; her plans in relation to the closure of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33617/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter.
It is important to recognise the role that our healthcare workers played during the pandemic. They went beyond the call of duty, working in front-line environments, treating COVID-19 positive patients, particularly in the early days when the control measures that we now take for granted were not yet in place.
In response to this, a Temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-COVID in the public health sector.
The intention of this scheme was to support those employees working in COVID-19 environments in the time before PPE and vaccinations were readily available.
It is my understanding that there are approximately 159 employees currently on the Special Scheme, the majority of whom have been supported on full pay for almost 5 years now.
My Department has always worked hard to ensure supports have been in place for those workers impacted by long-COVID, and at our request, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER), have agreed to extend the scheme on four occasions already, most recently at the end of June 2024 when it was extended for a further 12 months for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it.
However, I understand DPER have been clear that this is the final extension that would be granted, and as such, the Special Scheme will conclude on 30th June 2025.
I would like to re-assure those 159 employees who have been supported by the scheme for up to 5 years now, that they will continue to be supported, and the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme will apply for anyone who remains unable to return to work.
The sick leave scheme provides:
- Full pay for three months
- Half pay for three months, followed by:
- Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration (TRR) can provide up to a further 547 days of paid leave.
- The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports for up to 3 years.
I am aware that concerns have been raised by a number of unions about the scheme ending, and I know that the matter was before the Labour Court again on the 11th of June 2025. The findings from this Court hearing are currently awaited.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (111)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:111. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health her plans on the ESRI’s publication of the second health service capacity report, and specifically, the plans to increase the number of GPs and nurses nationally to meet the needs of rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34892/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The ESRI report on future GP capacity requirements provides a welcome contribution to our general practice workforce planning. The report highlights that as our population grows and ages, and as we continue to provide more services in the community, we need to continue to increase our general practice workforce to meet the resulting additional demand on general practice.
A number of measures have already been taken to increase the number of GPs practising across the country, this includes improving supports to increase practice staff capacity, including practice nurses.
Significant increases in investment in general practice have been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP Agreements. Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice was increased by €211m. This provided for increased in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, new fees for additional services, and increased practice supports, including the introduction of a support for practices in urban areas of social deprivation.
The GP Agreement 2023 further increased GP capitation fees, increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a grant support for additional staff capacity as well a practice staff maternity leave support.
In addition, specific supports are in place to support GPs in rural areas. The practice support package for rural GP practices was increased by 10% under the 2019 GP Agreement. Practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking.
Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available from 2024. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years.
Furthermore, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 118 IMG doctors are currently in practice here with a further 18 having completed the new 2-year programme. Funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs to Ireland this year under the programme.
Lastly, a Strategic Review of General Practice is underway. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity and will consider possible mechanisms to attract GPs to rural and underserved areas. Following its completion, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (112)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:112. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the new elective hospital for Glanmire, Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34978/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
To progress Government Ambulatory Care policy, the construction of the Surgical Hub at Cork University Hospital is progressing well and due to commence operations in 2026. This new facility will play an important role in separating scheduled and unscheduled care, reducing waiting times and improving care for patients.
In relation to the proposed elective hospital for Cork in Sarsfield Court Glanmire, the HSE has appointed an Integrated Design Team (IDT) and Project Control Team (PCT) for the Elective Hospitals supported by a Design Oversight Group. The IDT and PCT have concluded the final site location report for Cork and the IDT is progressing the development of the site concept design layouts and plan for the selected plot including engagement with local authorities. This also includes advancing their strategies for areas such as utility and infrastructural connections and traffic management required to serve the new facility. The draft Stage 1 Report for Cork has been concluded by the PCT and IDT and issued to the HSE and this will be taken into detailed design whilst design progressing on enabling works required for the site. Funding of the programme is subject to the ongoing NDP process.
I have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the Elective Care Programme to respond to you directly with further detail in relation to the matters raised.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (113)
Joe Cooney
Ceist:113. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health for an update on the HIQA report on Mid-West Emergency Health Services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34324/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It was expected that the final report regarding HIQA’s review of urgent and emergency care in the Mid West region would be provided to me by the end of May 2025. However, HIQA has recently updated me of a revised timeline for completion of the final report, which is now expected to be September 2025.
Overall, the HIQA work on the review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the Mid West region has progressed very well and the workstreams undertaken by HIQA to inform the advice to me, as Minister, are complete. A critical dependency for completion of the advice and a final report from HIQA is the input from the national and regional demand and capacity projections being undertaken by the ESRI for the Department.
The first of these three ESRI reports, on projections of national demand and bed capacity requirements for public acute hospitals, was published on 28 May 2025. The second report, on future capacity requirements for GP services, was published on 18 June 2025. The third report, on older persons care, will be published shortly. The ESRI will also publish further regional analysis over the coming months.
HIQA have updated me that, given the ESRI regional capacity projections work will not be completed until later in the summer, this will impact on the timeframe for delivery of HIQA’s final report and advice.
The revised timeline for completion of the HIQA final report will therefore be September 2025, contingent on the completion of the ESRI reports within the expected timeframe.
The completed workstreams by HIQA include:
• review of the national policy landscape;
• analysis of relevant health system data;
• regulatory inspections of UHL and of other hospitals and services in the Mid West;
• substantial stakeholder engagement including a public consultation which received 1,121 submissions; and
• a number of international evidence syntheses targeted to address relevant research questions have been undertaken.
I look forward to receiving the advice from HIQA once this important work is completed.
Disease Management
Ceisteanna (114)
Albert Dolan
Ceist:114. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the reason the cross-Border healthcare Directive does not cover inpatient treatment for chronic Lyme disease, given that patients suffering from this condition often require specialised care not readily available domestically, and that directive is intended to ensure access to necessary medical treatments within the EU; if there are plans to amend the current interpretation or implementation of the directive to better support these patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34995/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (115)
Barry Ward
Ceist:115. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the possible provision of public rapid injury clinics, similar to urgent care clinics provided by private insurance suppliers that would only treat cases such as broken bones, cuts and similar minor issues [33419/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Injury Units are to provide unscheduled emergency care to patients with non-life-threatening or limb-threatening injuries outside of the emergency department of the acute hospital facility. Injury Units are not intended to treat complex medical conditions, pregnancy-related or gynaecological problems, injuries to the chest, abdomen or pelvis, and serious head and spine injuries.
There are currently 15 Injury Units in operation nationally, including:
• 11 delivered from HSE model 2 hospitals or off-site from model 3 or 4 acute hospital settings,
• 3 delivered through private arrangements at Mullingar, Naas and Southside Cork City, and
• 1 community delivered service at Cashel, currently transitioning to acute governance.
In 2023, a National Injury Unit Review was undertaken by a HSE Working Group who examined existing Injury Units and made a series of recommendations to improve services, including:
• to expand geographical coverage and prioritise locations for the provisions of Injury units;
• to expand all existing acute hospital governed Injury Units to operate from 8am to 8pm.
The objective of the Injury Unit expansion programme is to provide more equitable access to Injury Units, to avoid longer waiting times in Emergency Departments, and reduce unnecessary Emergency Department attendances for lower acuity patients. Expansion of Injury Units will be underpinned by a safe model of care as recommended by the Emergency Medicine Programme. The criteria for this prioritisation include population, existing Injury Unit locations, and gaps in geographical coverage.
The Programme for Government commitments on Urgent and Emergency Care include expansion of Injury Units, and this is being progressed across priority sites. The HSE undertook a study to inform regional and national decisions on the establishment of new Injury Unit services across Ireland by assessing the geospatial and population implications of site options under consideration. Locations for six additional Injury Units have been agreed, including Injury Units in Athlone, Tallaght, Carlow, Killarney, Ballina and Letterkenny. The Injury Units in Athlone and Carlow are expected to open in Q4 of 2025.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (116)
Cathy Bennett
Ceist:116. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health her proposals to provide adequate access to care for people with endometriosis. [34920/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government has invested over €5 million in specialist endometriosis care since 2021. This has funded 2 supra-regional tertiary centres and five supporting regional hubs. The supra-regional centres are managed from Cork University Maternity Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital. Regional hubs operate from the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, University Maternity Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway. Specialist sites are staffed by multidisciplinary teams delivering a patient centred service.
This investment has ensured that women with endometriosis can receive the level of care they need. The five regional hubs are accepting referrals for specialist services. Supra-regional sites are accepting referrals for complex, severe cases of endometriosis.
Over 1,150 new patients were seen through our specialist endometriosis services in 2024. More than 300 surgical interventions were provided between August and December 2024. On average, 72% of women on specialist endometriosis waiting lists were seen within 6 months in that time.
Investment in the waiting list action plan has positively impacted waiting times. In May 2025, 78% of women on the gynaecology waiting list were waiting less than 6 months. This compares to 55% in September 2021, when the waiting list action plan was introduced.
€2.175 million has been allocated to our specialist endometriosis services in 2025. Recruitment of 18.6 Whole Time Equivalents is ongoing. This investment underpins the Programme for Government commitment to continue to expand specialist services in endometriosis. As services continue to expand further investment may be needed as additional needs are identified.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (117)
Louis O'Hara
Ceist:117. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the efforts she is making to secure compensation for former patients of an orthodontist (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34124/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the case referred to by the Deputy is before the High Court and is subject to in-camera proceedings I am limited in the information that I can provide. The Department has, however, been advised that the process is nearing completion.
While I have every sympathy for the patients affected by this situation, consumer law is the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), and so issues relating to the refunding of fees are not within the remit of the Department of Health.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition and consumer protection law in Ireland and are best placed to advise on any concerns regarding refunding of professional fees.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (118)
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:118. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will review the enforcement of legislation banning the use of sunbeds by persons under the age of 18, in view of reports that some sunbed operators are failing to request proof of age or are accepting false identification; if her Department plans to conduct inspections or public awareness campaigns to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34990/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A key policy objective of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 (No. 12 of 2014) is to protect children and those under 18 years of age from the risk of skin damage, in view of their increased risk of developing skin cancer. Section 4 of the Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 provides for a prohibition on permitting the use of a sunbed by a person under 18 years of age on a sunbed premises; selling the use of a sunbed to such a person or on permitting such person in a restricted area (except in the course of employment in the business or the provision of services to the business). Acceptable forms of proof of age are: age card, passport or driving license, relating to the individual.
The HSE National Environmental Health Service (HSE/NEHS) enforces the Public Health (Sunbeds) legislation. To verify compliance, NEHS conducts an annual sunbed inspection programme, including inspections of establishments, mystery shopping, and test purchases. The HSE/NEHS takes action, as appropriate, when non-compliances of the legislation are identified. The primary focus is to address non-compliances through engagement with the sunbed business. Fixed Payment Notices may be served or legal proceedings instigated, as appropriate.
The HSE/NEHS regularly engages with sunbed business operators to emphasise the importance of compliance with the legislative requirements through messaging on the HSE website, through various direct written communications and during all routine inspections.
Officials in my Department are currently examining the commitment in the Programme for Government to ‘Explore ways to ban commercial sunbed use’. As part of this process targeted campaigns which may include public awareness campaigns are being considered.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (119)
Edward Timmins
Ceist:119. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Health her plans for service expansion in the Baltinglass and Blessington primary care centres in County Wicklow. [34974/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (120)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:120. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to publishing the Government’s negotiating stance on the World Health Assembly’s pandemic treaty; the legal advice underpinning Ireland’s position; and to guarantee that any treat will be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny and public debate before ratification. [26752/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (121)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:121. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the CAMHS unit based in the new children’s hospital will be fully staffed and operational on day one of operations, the actions undertaken by the HSE to ensure that this unit is fully staffed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34930/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.