Claire Kerrane
Ceist:918. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on a CAMHS appointment in counties Roscommon and Galway, in tabular form. [51939/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (918)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (919)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:919. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of vacancies in primary care in counties Roscommon and Galway. [51940/25]
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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (920)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:920. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of vacancies in CAMHS in counties Roscommon and Galway. [51941/25]
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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (921)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:921. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of vacancies in CDNTs in counties Roscommon and Galway. [51942/25]
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.
Question No. 922 answered with Question No. 900.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (923)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:923. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the elective hospital for Cork as of the end of September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51948/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is actively working to increase elective care capacity in Ireland, ensuring that high-quality and timely scheduled care is available to all. New elective facilities will support the separation of scheduled (elective) and emergency care. This can lead to improved care for patients with fewer cancellations and delays for elective care caused by seasonal surges, localised outbreaks, and surges in emergency attendances.
The Programme for Government committed to building four new elective hospitals (Cork, Galway and Dublin – 2 sites), establishing six new Surgical Hubs (South Dublin, North Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford), and exploring the feasibility of a hub in the northwest. I was delighted to open the first of our new surgical hubs at Mount Carmel in February this year. The surgical hubs in Swords, Galway, Cork, Waterford and Limerick are all under construction and expected to become operational in 2026. In July I also announced plans for two new surgical hubs in the North West, to be located in Sligo and Letterkenny. The HSE is now planning for these.
The recently announced NDP funding envelope (€9.25 billion for 2026 – 2030) will support the progression of key health sector priorities over the next 5 years including delivery of the surgical hub programme and progressing detailed design and statutory planning for the new elective hospitals.
The NDP review commits to progressing Programme for Government commitments on a phased basis over the course of the NDP and allows for flexibility to prioritise ‘shovel-ready’ projects that have received all necessary final statutory approvals and are under, or ready to begin, construction.
In relation to the elective hospitals, sites have been identified for development in Cork (St Stephen's), Galway (Merlin Park) and Dublin (2 sites – Connolly Hospital and Crumlin).
The HSE is currently actively undertaking significant design for Cork and Galway, with Dublin to follow in due course. An Integrated Design Team is progressing design and engagement to inform statutory planning submissions and the regulatory approvals required for the elective treatment centres. Surveys and site investigations have been conducted, and these are informing the design and planning applications for enabling works on the sites in Cork and Galway.
The HSE is also progressing Enabling Packages in advance of main construction and is engaging with statutory planning authorities to progress the necessary planning permission applications.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (924)
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Ceist:924. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the proposed start date for the new 92 bed community nursing unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Athy, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51949/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (925)
Brian Brennan
Ceist:925. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that some GP surgeries are implementing charges on medical card holders for various tests such as essential blood tests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51953/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services (blood tests) is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should be taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card to be charged for clinically necessary blood tests.
In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of the GP Chronic Disease Management programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes they have been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services (i.e. a blood test to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition) by their GP, or has been charged for a blood test provided under the Chronic Disease Management programme, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of a GMS patient, shall contact the GP concerned and carry out an investigation into the complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by that GP.
Fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contracts (and other HSE GP held contracts) are a matter of private contract between the clinician and their patient.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (926)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:926. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the current average phone answering times for Caredoc services in Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of calls currently waiting at peak times; the steps being taken to address delays; and the future plans to ensure timely access to out of hours care. [51971/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the questions raised about Caredoc relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy on these matters directly, as soon as possible.
Please note that a Strategic Review of General Practice is currently underway, led by officials from my Department with support from the HSE and input from relevant stakeholders. The review is examining a range of issues affecting general practice including Out of Hours services. As per the Review's Terms of Reference, the Review is to identify the requirements necessary to reform Out of Hours GP services to ensure delivery of an accessible, high quality service throughout the country.
Significant progress has been made under the review which is to be completed this year. When completed, 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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (927)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:927. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason for the omission of mandatory personal therapy from CORU's training requirements; if she is satisfied that the omission of this training requirement will not be detrimental to the care provided to CORU's clients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52003/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).
Counsellors and psychotherapists perform a vital role, providing therapeutic care to often vulnerable people. Regulation is being introduced to these professions to protect the public, ensuring that care provided is of a consistently high standard and always by suitably qualified individuals.
Following designation of the two professions to be regulated in 2017 the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in 2019 and since that time has been working to progress regulation of both professions.
The CPRB undertook extensive research, analysis, and public consultation to introduce regulation of each profession for the first time. The public consultation process received over 700 submissions, including educators, professional bodies and existing practitioners. This comprehensive process recognised the differences in scope and complexity of practice between the two professions and ensures that the threshold standards and qualification levels set for each accurately reflect the competencies required for safe and effective practice, while strengthening public protection. This consultation process has been published by CORU and is available on their web site.
In July 2025 CORU published two key documents for each of these professions.
• Standards of Proficiency: These outline the threshold knowledge and skills required for entry to the register. They define what a counsellor or psychotherapist must be able to do at the point of entry into practice.
• Criteria for Education and Training Programmes: These set out the systems and processes education providers must implement in the design and management of education and training programmes. They provide assurance that all graduates have achieved all the Standards of Proficiency upon successful completion of an education and training programme.
The adopted Standards and Criteria reflect the threshold knowledge and skills required for safe practice at entry to the professions of Counselling and Psychotherapy. The introduction of consistent standards for the education and training of counsellors and psychotherapists marks a significant milestone, ensuring that those seeking support can have confidence in accessing appropriately trained and qualified practitioners
In relation to mandatory personal therapy, CORU concluded that while the Standards of Proficiency clearly outline the required competencies, including self-reflectivity, it is not within the regulator’s remit to prescribe how education providers design programmes or assessments to achieve those outcomes. Following this decision, the CPRB proceeded to finalise its Criteria for Education and Training Programmes on the understanding that education providers and professional bodies may still choose to require personal therapy as part of their programmes, independent of regulatory mandate.
CORU supports a flexible, competency-based training model that allows for diverse paths to personal and professional development. Core competencies like self-awareness, reflectivity, and ethical judgment can be assessed through structured alternatives, including reflective journals, clinical supervision, experiential group work, and self-practice/self-reflection tasks.
CORU remains committed to transparent, fair, and proportionate regulation that protects the public and supports practitioners and will continue to engage closely with education providers, professional bodies, and other stakeholders as the regulatory process advances, keeping public protection at the centre of this work.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (928)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:928. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has received the risk assessment part of a review (details supplied; and if she will commit to publishing it in full and unredacted. [52024/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In September 2023, a comprehensive patient safety review and assurance process was commissioned by the HSE into the paediatric orthopaedic surgery service. This review is being undertaken by Mr Nayagam.
The HSE have advised that the risk assessment aspect of the review has been completed and is being considered. The completion of the full report in compliance with the terms of reference is not expected until early 2026. As per the terms of reference, the final report will be submitted to the Commissioner at the conclusion of the Independent Review and published thereafter.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (929)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:929. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if delays are occurring across the HSE in regard to the issuing of medical licences; the medical disciplines most impacted by same, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52075/25]
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 Investigations
Ceisteanna (930)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:930. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health why was there no investigation into a matter (details supplied) regarding the sale of a property [52079/25]
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 Funding
Ceisteanna (931)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:931. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if there has been any audit of social inclusion and addiction funding in IHA Dublin north county and Dublin City and west from 2019, following on from a programme (details supplied) broadcast on 28 May 2024. [52080/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am referring this to the HSE for direct response as the programme referred to related to a staff matter.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (932)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:932. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the supports that will be put in place for a person (details supplied) who received a medication (details supplied) under the hardship scheme, but is no longer receiving this medication because of a negative reimbursement decision, and who was advised not to stop this medication mid-course; if the HSE will continue to fund this medication for this patient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52082/25]
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.
Hospital Admissions
Ceisteanna (933)
Paul Lawless
Ceist:933. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the hospital readmission rates for each acute hospital under the remit of the HSE over the past five years, by readmissions occurring within 7 days, 30 days, and 6 months of discharge; and whether these figures indicate any systemic issues with discharge planning or post-discharge care. [52084/25]
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.
Hospital Admissions
Ceisteanna (934)
Paul Lawless
Ceist:934. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the hospital readmission rates for each acute hospital within the Saolta University Health Care Group over the past five years, by readmissions occurring within 7 days, 30 days, and 6 months of discharge; and whether these figures indicate any systemic issues with discharge planning or post-discharge care. [52085/25]
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (935)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:935. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2993 of 29 July 2025, to provide further details with respect to a tender for paediatric orthopaedic procedures for conditions such as spina bifida and scoliosis (details supplied); the services being tendered for; if this relates to the international outsourcing initiative [52101/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As a Government priority, significant additional investment has been allocated to help tackle waiting lists for spinal procedures by increasing capacity. Several initiatives are underway to help improve access to services including international outsourcing.
Since international outsourcing started in 2024, 19 patients who were considered suitable have had surgery completed abroad. For these 19 patients a total of 25 procedures were completed (15 in 2024 and 10 in 2025). Families are fully supported in accessing these pathways if it is the right option for their children.
As your query relates to an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Legislative Programme
Ceisteanna (936)
Micheál Carrigy
Ceist:936. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Health her plans to bring forward comprehensive adult safeguarding legislation; if she will confirm that the legislation will enshrine disabled persons right to live independently in the community, in line with Article 19 of the UNCRPD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52107/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Safeguarding adults who may be at risk of abuse is a key objective for me and my Department, every statutory body under its aegis, and for all health and social care services.
A framework of standards, policies and procedures for safeguarding adults in the health and social care sector is already in place. This includes a National Safeguarding Office in the HSE, specialist Safeguarding and Protection Teams in each health region, designated Safeguarding Officers within services and specific regulatory requirements for residential care services which are inspected against by HIQA and the Mental Health Commission. Further measures are now being developed to strengthen this framework.
The Programme for Government 2025 "Securing Ireland’s Future" includes a commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector. My Department, in liaison with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, is at an advanced stage of finalising this national policy, the first of its kind in this area. This is a very significant development and will provide a framework for strengthening safeguards across all care settings. Considerable work has already been undertaken to inform this policy, including an international evidence review, stakeholder engagement and a public consultation last year, which received over 250 responses. I hope to bring this policy to Government shortly.
The new policy will build on the structures and processes that are already in place to protect against abuse. Importantly, it will commit to the introduction of safeguarding legislation in the sector and will set out, at a high level, proposed new legislative provisions.
The Government has included a Health (Adult Safeguarding) Bill in its current Legislation Programme to facilitate underpinning legislation for this sectoral policy. Preparation of this legislation will commence once the national policy has been approved by Government.
I also assure the Deputy that the forthcoming policy and the related underpinning legislation will comply with the State’s obligations under relevant international Conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Ireland ratified on 20 March 2018.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (937)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:937. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when an orthopaedic appointment at CHI Crumlin will be made for a child (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52113/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As your query is regarding an individual case relating to service matters, I have requested the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.