Emer Currie
Ceist:166. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the strategies in place to reduce response times for ambulances in the Dublin metropolitan area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52176/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAmbulance Service
Ceisteanna (166)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin City on behalf of Dublin City Council (DCC). The National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides emergency ambulance and intermediate care services nationally, including emergency ambulance responses on behalf of the DFB in Dublin as and when requested.
There is a high level of cooperation between Dublin Fire Brigade and the NAS on day-to-day operational matters, and efforts continue to build on this cooperation to strengthen further arrangements for ambulances services in Dublin.
In late 2022 an HSE/DCC Joint Ambulance Service Delivery Task & Finish Group was established to identify a more effective ambulance service delivery model for the citizens of Dublin. The Task and Finish Group made a number of recommendations to strengthen collaboration between the NAS and DFB to improve overall emergency ambulance service delivery in Dublin.
The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to implement the recommendations of the HSE/DCC Joint Ambulance Service Delivery, Task and Finish Group and work towards this commitment is ongoing with a Joint NAS/DFB Emergency Ambulance Collaboration Group established in August 2024 to review current collaborative arrangements and to develop processes to implement the Task and Finish Group's approved recommendations.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (167)
Tony McCormack
Ceist:167. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that current recruitment and retention strategies are sufficient to address staffing shortages across the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52502/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There has been an unprecedented level of investment by this Government in the health service workforce in recent years.
Growth in the number of staff in our health service has never been so high, with the recruitment over the past 5 years being the highest since the foundation of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
There are over 29,000 more staff working in the health service than there were at the beginning of 2020, more than a 24% increase. This includes and additional 9,949 nurses and midwives; 4,961 health and social care professionals; and 3,973 doctors and dentists.
It is true that attracting and retaining healthcare workforce is becoming more challenging. There is a competitive global market for talent across all health and care professions in which the mobility of healthcare workers across the globe has increased. In response to these challenges, the Department of Health and HSE are looking towards opportunities not only to attract and recruit talent, but also to develop, engage and retain the workforce to meet current and emerging patient and service needs.
The resourcing of the HSE workforce is anchored in the HSE Strategic Resourcing Plan which was launched in 2023.
With continued drive to digitisation and process simplification to reduce hiring times and improve candidate experience, the new systems enable targeted recruitment and retention strategies. The expansion of regional and national collaboration will grow candidate pools and address hard-to-fill roles. The HSE continues to maintain and enhance engagement with both domestic and international candidates through tailored supports and outreach. The regionalisation of HSE has enabled 90% of recruitment to be devolved to regional teams, bringing recruitment decisions closer to services.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (168)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:168. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the provision of orthodontal services in the north-east region; the reasons for delays in accessing services; and her proposals to ensure adequate service levels. [52349/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Question No. 169 answered with Question No. 130.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (170)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:170. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health for an update on the number of individuals on the waiting list for home help in County Mayo; the plans in place to reduce this list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52555/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Alcohol Advertising
Ceisteanna (171)
Barry Ward
Ceist:171. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of amending the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 to remove the loophole that allows alcohol companies to advertise 0.0% versions of their products on TV, radio and at sporting events; if her Department has carried out any research into this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51128/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 regulates alcohol products in order to reduce the health harms associated with their consumption. Non-alcohol products do not cause those health harms.
Non-alcohol products and the significant promotion of those products are relatively recent developments and as yet there is insufficient evidence to determine whether they may have a negative public health impact or a positive one, by encouraging consumers to substitute non-alcoholic products for those containing alcohol. As such the overall public health impact is as yet unclear.
My Department continues to monitor the emerging evidence and it is expected that a current review of the existing research will be concluded by the end of quarter 2 of 2026.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (172)
William Aird
Ceist:172. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language therapists, by grade, based in County Laois, for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; the current average waiting times for a speech and language therapy appointment in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52182/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational issue this PQ has been properly referred to the HSE to respond with the necessary details.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (173)
Séamus McGrath
Ceist:173. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the medical card scheme does not cover the cost of providing a GP medical cert, which is a requirement for over 70-year-old applicants to a renew a driving licence (details supplied). [52388/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients, persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card, with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner...". Eligible persons are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. The contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract. Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patient.
The requirements for the submission of a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner with driving licence applications for certain categories of persons are governed by the National Driver Licence Service under the Department of Transport. As GPs are private practitioners, it is a matter for the relevant Department or body under the aegis of a Department whether medical certificates that are required by them should be provided without charge.
Question No. 174 answered with Question No. 157.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (175)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:175. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to expand the provision of health services in the Iveragh Peninsula; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52238/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (176)
John Paul O'Shea
Ceist:176. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of primary care centres for Millstreet and Kanturk towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52408/25]
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.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (177)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:177. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department, along with the national ambulance service, proposes to increase the availability of ambulances and skilled paramedics in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52184/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (178)
Tom Brabazon
Ceist:178. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health for an update on the new emergency department at Beaumont Hospital. [52389/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am pleased to update you on the progress of key capital developments at Beaumont Hospital.
There are a number of significant proposals for capital investment, and all are progressing through the requisite design and planning stages. All of these proposals are being managed through the HSE capital development process in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines. As a live hospital campus there is an added complexity in terms of planning, sequencing and enabling each of these projects. Our Model 4 acute hospitals require a significant amount of enabling works to prepare for larger projects. These key enabling pieces are ongoing at Beaumont.
In October 2024, planning permission for a 95-bed ward block was granted. The proposal is now at detailed design. Proposals for a 64-bed Critical Care Unit (CCU) are dependent on the relocation of the existing Endoscopy Department. In March 2025, final grant of planning was received for this new Endoscopy Department. It is now progressing through to detailed design stage. In parallel, design of the 64 bed CCU is underway at preliminary design stage.
In May 2025, the proposed new Emergency Department received a final grant of planning. The project is now progressing to detailed design stage.
Finally, a Pre-tender Business Case for the Radiation Oncology Unit has recently been submitted to the HSE’s Capital Planning Expert Group (CPEG) for review.
Disease Management
Ceisteanna (179)
Catherine Callaghan
Ceist:179. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Health her plans for the expansion of the Chronic Disease Management Plan to include other conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52185/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period.
The CDM Programme represents a new approach in Ireland to working with patients to manage their healthcare. It has brought the care for chronic disease further into the community and closer to the patient, and has reduced hospital attendance by patients with one or more of the specified conditions.
The Programme was expanded in 2023 to include women who have had gestational diabetes, and a further expansion of the Programme, to include the addition of chronic kidney disease and a number of other conditions will be rolled out over the coming months.
Expansion of the Programme to include additional conditions would require rigorous clinical assessment and engagement with stakeholders, including the GPs delivering the service. Nonetheless, this could be considered in the future in the context of resource availability.
Patient Safety
Ceisteanna (180)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:180. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Nayagam report, including when and whether it will be published; the reasons it is taking so long to complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52558/25]
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 first phase of the review took longer than anticipated mostly because of the time required for due process and fair procedures. 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.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (181)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:181. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the timeline and delivery of the new elective hospital for Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52195/25]
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 South Dublin in February this year. The surgical hubs in Cork, North Dublin (Swords), Galway, 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.
Timelines for the design process and subsequent programme development are closely related to engagement with planning and other regulatory authorities. It is important to ensure that these processes are rigorous and fully consider all options in developing the most appropriate solutions for the chosen sites.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (182)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:182. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health when interviews for the recently advertised post for a radiographer clinical specialist at the Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, will take place; when the appointed person is expected to be in the post; the reason for the delay in bringing about the interviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52403/25]
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.
Disease Management
Ceisteanna (183)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:183. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health her views on the development of standard protocols for the identification and management of PANS/PANDAS in paediatric hospitals given that PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day is upcoming on the 9 October 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52240/25]
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.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (184)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:184. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health for an update on safe staffing levels in the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital; the plans to address recruitment and retention at the emergency department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52554/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to ensuring adequate and safe staffing across our health service, ensuring that the workforce keeps pace with population and demographic changes.
Mayo University Hospital (MUH) has had an increase of over 30% of its overall staffing levels, an additional 352 staff since December 2019.
The Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix provides an evidence-based flexible approach to determine the number of nurses and healthcare assistants required to provide safe and quality care based on patient need. Phase 2 of the Framework applies to adult emergency departments.
Implementation of the Framework nationally is overseen by the HSE's national lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix.
Implementing the Framework in the emergency department within Mayo University Hospital (MUH) is incorporated within the national implementation plan.
Data received by the HSE National lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix identified that Mayo University Hospital (MUH) required an additional 18.5 WTE for the emergency department. The HSE have recently approved these additional WTE for recruitment and have informed the Department that recruitment is underway.
I have requested the Chief Nursing Officer in my Department to conduct a site visit to MUH in the coming weeks to review safe nurse staffing implementation to date and provide additional supports as appropriate. Progress and remaining requirements will be confirmed on the site visit. Both the CEO of the HSE and I are committed to Framework implementation.
Question No. 185 answered with Question No. 133.