Thursday, 2 Oct 2025

Online Safety

Ceisteanna (422)

Barry Ward

Ceist:

422. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding to support online safety programmes for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52710/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Funding to support programmes for schools is the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Youth. Separately, and as part of its public health remit, the HSE provides funding to a number of organizations that offer digital support services, including online safety supports. As these are operational matters I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (423)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

423. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently review the guidelines for the treatment abroad scheme; if she is aware that the level of support through this scheme is currently very limited (details supplied); if she agrees that measures such as those outlined should be included as refundable costs given their unavoidable nature. [52718/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (424)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

424. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will receive an appointment at Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52722/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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. The Minister for Health is prohibited 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.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (425, 426, 427, 428, 429)

Grace Boland

Ceist:

425. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for an update on the establishment of Ireland’s first inpatient Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit at St. Vincent’s University Hospital; the expected timeframe for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52724/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

426. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department plans to ensure equitable access to specialist perinatal mental health services for women in larger towns such as Skerries and Balbriggan; and if outreach or satellite services are being considered. [52725/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

427. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels of specialist perinatal mental health teams in Dublin maternity hospitals; if additional funding will be allocated to expand these services in line with population growth and demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52726/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

428. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the way in which perinatal mental health services are being integrated with primary care, public health nursing, and community mental health teams to ensure continuity of care for mothers before and after birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52727/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

429. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if her Department has considered extending postnatal mental health follow-up beyond the current six-week period, in line with recommendations from the MAMMI study and HIQA’s National Maternity Experience Survey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52728/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 429, inclusive, together.

The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) is now available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide, SPMHS provides support to pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old, with an existing or new mental health problem. Funding to date of €3.6 million has resulted in 6 consultant led multidisciplinary teams are in place across major maternity hospitals (Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Cork, Limerick), with 13 spoke sites staffed by perinatal mental health midwife posts.

A key priority in the Model of Care is to develop a Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit. Work is ongoing by the HSE to progress the development of a Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit (PMBU) for Ireland, an inpatient mental health service with relevant maternity support to allow women to stay with their babies during their mental health treatment. A feasibility study on the PMBU at St Vincent’s Hospital is currently under consideration by the HSE. My Department continues to support the HSE as it aims to put in place a PMBU as soon as possible.

With reference to the additional specific information requested as this is an operational issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.

Question No. 426 answered with Question No. 425.

Question No. 427 answered with Question No. 425.

Question No. 428 answered with Question No. 425.

Question No. 429 answered with Question No. 425.

Disease Management

Ceisteanna (430, 431, 433, 435)

Grace Boland

Ceist:

430. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the practical steps being taken, and future planned actions, to expand specialist endometriosis services and improve support services for women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52729/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

431. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the implementation of the National Endometriosis Framework; the status of the five regional hubs and two supra-regional centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52730/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

433. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to funding and expanding access to expert-led excision surgery for endometriosis patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52732/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Grace Boland

Ceist:

435. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department is ensuring that endometriosis patients have access to multidisciplinary care teams, including physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, and pain specialists; if additional funding will be allocated to expand these supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52735/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 430, 431, 433 and 435 together.

The HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme has led on the development of the National Endometriosis Framework and on the expansion of existing endometriosis services. The Framework formalises a defined clinical pathway for women with endometriosis.

Following extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, the Framework is ready for publication.

The Model of Care will ensure that women receive timely, and effective treatment through two supra-regional specialist centres in Dublin (Tallaght) and Cork (Cork University Maternity Hospital), supported by five regional endometriosis specialist centres in the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway.

Additional funding has been provided this year to expand these services through the recruitment of more personnel to provide multidisciplinary care at both supra-regional and regional level, including clinical nurse specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists and psychologists.

On 1st September a Patient Voice Forum was held in the Department of Health. The Minister met with more than 50 advocates who shared their experiences of endometriosis. This forum was also attended by the HSE CEO Bernard Gloster and Department officials.

Patient voices have directly influenced changes to the completed framework. Following the forum, an immediate action plan was mandated by the Minister.

More than 100 additional surgeries will now be carried out across all regions this year. Over €0.5m has been provided to support this. In addition to facilitate complex surgeries, an additional colorectal surgeon is being recruited to our specialist services.

The HSE is providing additional support for women within the Treatment Abroad Schemes. A dedicated email address has been set up to assist women with this service.

An Endometriosis Group with patient advocates and Women's Health Taskforce members has been established. International endometriosis experts will be invited to collaborate and engage with our clinicians. The Minister will write to all GPs, consultants and other clinicians. Alongside the framework, this will serve to further raise awareness of endometriosis.

The HSE is working to improve long-term expertise in diagnostics and treatment, and to build future capacity.

A GP Practice Update and an endometriosis awareness campaign will maintain focus following from the publication of the Framework.

We will continue to listen and support women impacted by endometriosis.

Question No. 431 answered with Question No. 430.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (432)

Grace Boland

Ceist:

432. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of funded posts currently filled in each of the regional and supra-regional endometriosis centres; if her Department has a timeframe for full staffing of these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52731/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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. 433 answered with Question No. 430.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (434)

Grace Boland

Ceist:

434. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if her Department collects data on the number of women travelling abroad for endometriosis treatment under the EU cross-border directive; if not, whether she will commit to tracking this data to better understand unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52733/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible