Written Answers Nos. 266-278
266. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health in view of the requirement for a GP referral to access services at the Balbriggan Primary Care Centre, the specific measures her Department is taking to improve access to services at the centre, particularly for patients facing barriers to GP access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36490/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
267. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dental nurses and dental hygienists based at Coolock Primary Care Centre in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [36506/25]
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.
268. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of surgeries cancelled at University Hospital Limerick, by surgery type and reason for cancellation, in tabular form, since January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36580/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments are cancelled, particularly in the case of clinically urgent procedures.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way, hospitals follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Cancelled hospital procedures/appointments are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment. Patients that are cancelled are rescheduled with the next available appointment based on their clinical prioritisation, with urgent patients prioritised for access.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
269. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department pays third-party ambulance providers such as St. John of God to deliver pre-hospital emergency care on behalf of the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36589/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
270. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will implement the terms of a recent Labour Court recommendation to extend the temporary special scheme of paid leave for public health service employees unfit for work post-Covid-19 infection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36595/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-Covid. At the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation a number of times, on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it. The Special Scheme was due to conclude on 30th June 2025.
After a hearing in the Labour Court in June, it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support. Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme. The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides 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 if granted.
271. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if an urgent case concerning a patient in County Kerry (details supplied) can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36608/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
272. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of qualified radiographers from third level institutions in the State who have graduated in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36609/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Minister for Health is primarily to deal with legislation, policy, overall budgetary allocation, and corporate governance. The HSE is a separate entity to the Department of Health and as such, the HSE has responsibility for matters relating to the staff within their employ or staff going through the process of recruitment with the HSE's National Recruitment Service. The department have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
273. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health that considering 31% of patients from an NAI survey reported waiting times of one to two years to see a neurologist, the measures she is taking to increase capacity and reduce waiting times; and the number of consultant neurologists there were in 2024 and to date in 2025. [36613/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
274. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have not been able to access community neurorehabilitation services over the past 12 months. [36614/25]
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.
275. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of neurology nurse specialists in place; and the number by which she is going to increase this. [36615/25]
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.
276. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to funding an additional 25 specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation beds for the Dublin-midlands region; and if she will commit to funding an additional 20 impatient neurorehabilitation beds for the HSE south-west region. [36616/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis PQ is not for the Department of Health and should be redirected to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
277. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours will be put in place for a person (details supplied) as a matter of urgency. [36617/25]
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.
278. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for surgery can be scheduled for a person as soon as possible (details supplied). [36618/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
