Written Answers Nos. 326-349
326. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of respite hours available to adults in County Mayo; the type of respite provided; the number who have availed of this service in 2023 and to-date in 2025; and the number on the waiting list to access such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64204/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
327. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE social workers, by grade, based at South Mayo Children's Disability Network Team in 2023 to-date in 2025, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64205/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
328. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to ensure that the two SLT posts which will become vacant in Clonmel CDNT due to maternity leaves which will be filled as a matter of urgency as the vacancy rate for posts in this CDNT Team will fall to over 70% vacancy; if she is aware that there are already 11 vacancies within this CDNT team out of 18 WTE; the specific action she will take to address this huge level of vacancies; the recruitment campaigns carried out for each of the vacant posts and the effort put in to filling these posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64207/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
329. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of an ongoing industrial relations dispute in a State agency (details supplied); if she is aware that while this dispute remains unresolved, the State agency in question has put out tender for a contract to commission a report into said industrial dispute; if she has any plans to intervene; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64260/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven that the entity in question does not fall under the remit of my Department, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the issue the Deputy has raised.
330. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the draft strategy for early years Irish-medium education is to be published. [64284/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and Agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector. The development of such a plan is a commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language.
The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First 5 (the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families): “Introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC provision” and “Develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish”.
The plan is also expected to support the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government to: “Support naíonraí and creches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond” and “Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí”.
A survey of Irish-medium ELC and SAC settings including childminders was undertaken in 2022-2023 to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector.
A public consultation and a programme of research, including a literature review, took place in 2024. A consultation with children has also recently been completed.
In addition to the focus on the provision of Irish-medium ELC and SAC services, it is anticipated that the new national plan will also include measures to support English-medium ELC services to work within the updated Aistear early childhood curriculum framework, which was published in December 2024. The updated Aistear includes an aim of supporting young children to have an awareness and appreciation of Gaeilge and our cultural and linguistic heritage.
It is intended that the Plan and associated consultation reports will be published in early 2026.
331. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE administrative staff, by grade, which have been filled in each children's disability network team within CHO5 in the years 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [64299/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
332. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how the €3 million announced in Budget 2026 compares to the level of investment needed for the national neurorehabilitation strategy for full implementation of community-based neurorehabilitation teams nationwide. [64300/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the assessment process for fee increase requests on behalf of childcare facilities participating in core funding will be announced; her views on whether it may have been premature to put in place a wage increase for practitioners without providing for an avenue where services can apply for fee increases simultaneously; and if she can commit to commencing this process without delay, ensuring that services have the opportunity to remain sustainable. [64325/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2025/2026 Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement includes provisions for the undertaking of a further Fee Increase Assessment-type exercise, which will seek to support the ongoing viability of services where fees are particularly low.
The details of this undertaking are being developed by the Department and as part of this development, every effort will be made to carefully manage the potential out-of-pocket expenses to families occasioned by this policy.
It should be noted that, as with 2024/2025 Fee Increase Assessment, the new exercise will be designed to identify and support those services whose fees may have been frozen at a very low level.
The details of the 2025/2026 fee increase process will be communicated to the sector once finalised.
Regarding staff pay, a new Core Funding element, the Staff Funding Additional Contribution, has been introduced to centre-based services in programme year 2025/2026 to facilitate the distribution of €45 million in funding ringfenced for staff pay and conditions in Budget 2025.
The Staff Funding Additional Contribution is intended to support early learning and childcare services to meet the increased minimum rates of pay in the sector as a result of new Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) negotiated by the independent Joint Labour Committee.
The EROs apply to workers who are wholly or mainly in direct contact with children and who are involved in the education and/or care of children, or who may work directly with children in addition to their day-to-day managerial duties and responsibilities.
The Staff Funding Additional Contribution is an additional contribution, and therefore will be allocated to services in addition to their base rate, minimum base rate, and Graduate Premiums.
The Government is committed to supporting a new ERO process in the second half of 2026 and to making available a similar sum in 2026 for a further future round of pay improvements, subject to the deliberations of the independent Joint Labour Committee.
The State is providing Core Funding to promote the interests of children and their families and workers in a privately operated sector. A service’s Core Funding grant is designed to support the costs of:
• Staff pay and conditions, including contact and non-contact time, holiday pay, sick pay and other employer costs
• Administrative staff/time
• Non-staff overhead costs
An allocation of €405 million for the Scheme was secured in Budget 2026. This is an increase of €51 million on the 2025 allocation of €353.23 million – representing a 15% year-on-year increase and a 56% increase over the 2022 allocation of €259 million.
In addition, €20.6 million in brand new funding for a full programme year has been secured to support providers in adhering to the Scheme’s fee management conditions including reductions in the maximum fee caps in the 2026/2027 programme year. This will guarantee that Core Funding’s monetary protections will continue to be passed on to families while ensuring sustainability and stability for the sector.
Where there are concerns regarding the financial sustainability of a service, the Department oversees a system of case management through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) assist services. Supports can include help with cashflow, fee setting and completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
334. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an urgent update on the case of a vulnerable young woman with complex mental health needs (details supplied), whose clinical team recently advised that she requires 24-hour care and is not capable of living independently, but who is now being considered for discharge to temporary independent accommodation with limited home-support hours; the clinical basis on which this change in care plan has been made; whether a full multidisciplinary risk assessment has been carried out; to outline the long-term residential or high-support placements that have been explored; the reason an appropriate placement has not yet been secured despite repeated representations and previous assurances from the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64051/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
335. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Health when the procedure mid-urethral mesh sling will be available in Ireland for patients who currently have to travel abroad for the procedure. [64071/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department are currently liaising with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and other stakeholders as part of an evidence-based process to determine whether it is appropriate to re-introduce the use of uro-gynaecological (transvaginal) mesh.
I acknowledge the impact the pause on the use of uro-gynaecological mesh can have women who wish to avail of this surgery. This is an extremely complex and sensitive issue which requires a safety-first approach, therefore it is not possible to give a timeline for decision at present.
336. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health if there has been any change to the dermatology services in Monaghan Hospital; if the service has ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64073/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
337. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if there are any measures planned to combat the long waiting lists for physiotherapy services in the Market Street Wellness Centre, Killorglin, County Kerry (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64074/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
338. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health given the long waiting times for publicly funded speech and language therapy, what supports or funding are available for families to access private therapy when a child has been diagnosed as needing said therapy but may wait up to two years for public services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64080/25]
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.
339. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health with consideration for the findings of national and international research, the measures that will be implemented to deal with the impact of loneliness on all age groups, as loneliness is considered a major public health issue internationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64112/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if it is proposed to develop a strategy to help prevent loneliness as a public health policy priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64113/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question No.339 and Question No.340 together.
Given the detrimental impacts of loneliness, a significant body of work has been undertaken, across diverse areas of the Department of Health and the HSE, to address this.
National Mental Health Promotion Plan
The first National Mental Health Promotion Plan for Ireland was launched in December 2024. It was informed by national and international evidence and provides the foundation for the programme of work that will be required to deliver on the high-level goals and objectives aimed at promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for the whole population.
The Plan contains six high-level goals (with associated actions), two of which specifically aim to address loneliness and social exclusion.
A National Policy Lead for Mental Health Promotion within Department of Health was appointed in September 2025. The priority for 2025 is engagement with other government Departments to finalise actions and agree timelines for implementation.
Men’s Sheds/Sheds for Life
Men’s Sheds provide a space for men to come together, learn new skills and socialise with their peers. Healthy Ireland and the HSE supports the National Office for the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) which exists to support the growth and sustainability of men’s sheds on the island of Ireland and the Sheds for Life Programme, which focuses on improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the shedders. This includes the provision of resources, health and wellbeing programmes and men’s health information.
Social prescribing
Social prescribing recognises that health is heavily determined by social factors such as poverty, isolation and loneliness. Social prescribing offers GPs and other health professionals a means of referring people to a range of non-clinical community supports which can have significant benefits for their overall health and wellbeing. HSE-funded Social Prescribing services are now available in over 44 locations around the country. These services are delivered in partnership with community and voluntary organisations such as Family Resource Centres and Local Development Companies. The HSE Social Prescribing Framework outlines how social prescribing can be mainstreamed and integrated within the HSE. In 2024, over 4,714 adults accessed social prescribing services across the country. The majority of participants (59%) were referred as a result of loneliness or social isolation.
Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme
The goal of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme is to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of 24 communities across Ireland. The programme takes a place-based approach to tackling health inequalities with a focus on the determinants of health. Health inequality impacts on life expectancy, the risk of chronic disease and the general health of a person. The significant investment under the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme allow us to work in partnership with local authorities and local community groups to further enhance supports for tobacco cessation, healthy eating, parenting and social prescribing in the area. This investment and partnership approach will empower people to make healthier lifestyle choices to improve their overall physical and mental health and wellbeing.
As part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, Social Prescribing link workers have been employed by local community organisations to deliver an integrated social prescribing service with clear referral pathways from GPs, Mental Health Services, Primary Care and Older People’s Services in each of the 24 areas. People can also self-refer to these programmes and service. The aim is to empower individuals to access a range of community-based options and health service programmes and services to improve their health and wellbeing.
Meals on Wheels & Day Care Services:
Since its establishment, the Meals on Wheels service has been an invaluable resource in helping older people in our communities to maintain their health and independence through the provision of healthy meals.
The importance of the service and the social benefits both to the client and the wider community is clear with the Meals on Wheels service throughout the years proving itself to be a vital resource in many rural communities.
This service benefits not only the service users themselves but also their families by providing peace of mind that their loved ones have a friendly face visiting them regularly.
This service supports older people to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible which is a key priority for me and for the Government.
The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels – including dementia-specific supports – are a key factor in supporting older people to age well in their own homes.
Day Centres are a crucial part of social care provision in our communities, providing invaluable support for people who may, for any number of reasons, be experiencing isolation and loneliness. Currently day care services are provided across the country by private, voluntary and HSE funded Day Care centres across the country.
There are currently 318 Meals on Wheels Organisations (based on Quarter One 2025 data) who are funded to deliver 2.7 million meals in 2025. They operate across the country delivering on average 236,000 meals monthly to 18,000 clients monthly, 281 are Grant Aided and 37 are HSE Services.
Meals on Wheels funding has increased by close to 80% over the last number of years, from €3.5m in 2022, to a current budget of €6.25m for 2025. Budget 2026 secured a further €2 million in funding for Meals on Wheels services.
An additional €10 million in capital funding was also recently made available for the Community Capital Funding initiative to support improvements to service provision for HSE-funded Meals on Wheels and Day Centres. This supported capital projects such as upgrades to kitchens for increased food production and quality and food safety improvements at these sites.
There are approximately 313 Day Care services in operation across the country with approximately 15,657 service users registered who avail of these services nationally.
Mental Health Services
Mental health service developments are guided by Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone, Ireland’s national mental health policy. This framework emphasizes the need for tailored mental health services for older adults, including better integration between specialist psychiatry of later life teams and general primary care services. The policy advocates for community-based approaches to care that address not only clinical needs but also social isolation, physical health and loneliness—significant factors affecting mental health in older age.
Ongoing work includes the development of integrated care pathways between primary care and mental health services, including consultation-liaison psychiatry, shared care models, and efforts to better address the physical health needs of people accessing specialist mental health services within the primary care context.
341. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the work to date of the Loneliness Taskforce, which was established in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64114/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Loneliness Taskforce does not fall within the remit of the Department and therefore I cannot provide an update on the work of same.
Alone is a national charity organisation that supports older people and enables them to age at home. They have a dedicated website and can be contacted for information if required.
342. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1088 of 12 November 2025, the number of such procedures completed from 2023 to date in 2025, by year, in tabular form; the average wait time for patients at point of treatment; the number of patients in each time band to date in 2025 before treatment and removal from waiting lists. [64123/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1,088 of 12 November 2025, in relation to the number of procedures completed from 2023 to date this year, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
With regard to the information about waiting time to treatment and removal requested by the Deputy, I wish to clarify that the health system does not collect data related to the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care.? The National Treatment Purchase Fund collects data on patients on waiting lists at a point in time. The number of patients waiting for the specific procedure referred to in the previous question and how long they had been waiting by time band at the end of September in 2025, was provided to the Deputy in the response to the previous question.
343. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of whole time equivalent grades providing hernia surgical services at University Hospital Waterford, in tabular form; if there are vacant or otherwise unfilled or absent posts; whether a request has been made for additional posts, the details of that request; and the number of clinic hours provided to date in 2025. [64124/25]
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.
344. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the number of pre-diabetes clinics in each health area; the location and the number of dietitians at each location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64126/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
345. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the current position with the roll out of a national diabetes prevention programme; the number of and locations of where this programme is located; the expected delivery time for all locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64127/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
346. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1168 on 13 May 2025, to provide an update on the progress of a comprehensive assessment of the physician associate role internationally which will make recommendations for standardisation, scope of practice and appropriate deployment in Ireland; and her views on if this review will be completed by quarter 4 of 2025 or quarter 1 of 2026; and if she will lift the recruitment ban on physician assistants. [64137/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra348. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1168 of 13 May 2025, if the review undertaken deems that the role of physician associate is not viable in the State; the measures which will be taken to support students who undertook this master's degree provided by the HSE and RCSI; and the position students will qualify for, having completed this degree, taking into consideration, the considerable time spent on work placement in hospitals in Ireland. [64139/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 348 together.
The HSE committed in the 2025 National Service Plan to undertake an independent assessment of the Physician Assistant role. The HSE commissioned an assessment of the Physician Assistant role with the aim of making recommendations regarding the governance of the role, scope of practice, and appropriate and safe deployment in Ireland. The assessment is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and the HSE will consider its recommendations.
Given the commitment to carry out an assessment of the Physician Assistant role, the HSE paused the recruitment of Physician Assistants. Recruitment is a service matter for the HSE.
I expect that patient safety in service delivery will continue to be prioritised by the HSE in relation to any workforce roles, including Physician Assistant. My officials and I continue to engage with colleagues in the HSE on the Physician Assistant role in Ireland.
347. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of physician associates currently employed across the State, by county, in tabular form. [64138/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
349. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health her views on the recent reduction in funding for a company (details supplied); if she is aware that discontinuing the twelve-week introductory programme for new members has significantly reduced accessibility; if she will give consideration to restoring funding to ensure affordability for older participants, given that current costs are prohibitive; if private health insurance typically covers the programmes, given members report they are not reimbursed; and her views that the company provides an important social outlet for participants, helping to combat isolation among those living with chronic illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64141/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to him.
